There is just something wonderful about the look and the feel of wood floors. They can add a warm, country ambiance or contemporary flair. The concern has been for the loss of so many trees. It takes approximately 100 years for a hardwood tree to mature to the point it can be used for floors. There has to be a solution that is better than toxic fake wood floors.

Many people feel that there is. While it take a lifetime for hardwood to mature it typically takes bamboo only about 3-5 years to reach a size that can be used for the manufacture of wood flooring. It is a grass and there is no need to replant it. Bamboo regenerates readily from the rhizomes left in the ground. It does not even require pesticides to do well.

In addition, many people in third world countries rely on the bamboo industry to support their families.

Sounds like the perfect, earth-friendly alternative to wood, but is it?

Types of Bamboo Flooring
The bamboo is naturally hollow, with thin walls. It is very different from conventional wood in the way that it is formed. Strips of the bamboo are laminated to make the desired size of flooring. Some floors are termed “horizontal”. This means that the bamboo strips are laminated together so that the top shows the natural growth rings. This makes the wood look like short, choppy rows. Some manufacturers offer three foot lengths while others make bamboo flooring in six foot lengths. Most people prefer the longer lengths because it seems to just look better once it is installed. When bamboo is described as “vertical” the strips are laid on their sides and laminated to create a look of long, thin rows of wood.

Engineered bamboo flooring is not 100% bamboo. This type of bamboo is more durable than other types, however, and resists cupping and is ultimately more stable than pure bamboo. If you live in an area with very high humidity the increased moisture resistance of engineered bamboo flooring may make this a good choice for you. Engineered flooring is described in terms of plies. The number of plies indicated more stability due to the layering of the bamboo.

Stranded bamboo floors are created with bamboo fibers. These fibers are shredded and blended with an adhesive and pressure treated. This is probably the most durable of the bamboo floors. Because of the density of the flooring it is also the hardest to install properly.