Sep 30th 2009 How to Take Care of your Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring

Installing a new floor in your home is a significant investment, and proper bamboo floor care is important to ensure it lasts a long time and continues to look great. Below are a few essential things to remember about bamboo flooring maintenance and cleaning.

Proper cleaning your bamboo floor is very important and should be done as often as possible, at least once a week. This prevents stuff from sticking to the floor, and eventually leading to scratches and dents.

How to clean bamboo floors:

**Cleaning Bamboo floors is the same for stand woven bamboo flooring and regular bamboo flooring. The only difference is you need to be more careful with regular bamboo flooring, because it is softer and less durable**

For a basic cleaning, use a soft bristled broom, and preferable one that is only used for your bamboo flooring (and not in the kitchen, garage, etc). A vacuum can also be used, but use it with care, or you could end up scratching or denting the hardwood. Your floor should also be mopped from time to time, once every two weeks is usually enough, depending on the amount of traffic it receives. Microfiber floor mops are the best for removing dirt, and can easily be cleaned after each use. The best cleaning solutions are ones that are specific to bamboo floors, such as Ambient´s bamboo floor cleaner. They are often environmentally friendly, and are designed specifically for bamboo floors. If you are unable to find a floor cleaner that is made specifically for bamboo, other hardwood floor cleaners can be used. Refrain from using any ammonia based cleaners, or any cleaners that contain strong chemicals. Note that these cleaners are used by spraying small amounts on the floor, then mopping up the moisture. You should put large puddles of water on your floor. If you spill something on the floor, it is important to clean it up immediately. This will prevent any moisture from permanently damaging the wood, and from possible staining of the flooring. Bamboo floors should never be waxed, which will result in damage to the floor if done so.

Some things to remember about general bamboo flooring maintenance and care:

Now that you have a bamboo floor, you should consider monitoring the humidity levels in your house. These levels should never be below 30% or above 60% for extended periods of time. It could cause the bamboo to swell, shrink, or eventually crack. It may be necessary to install a humidifier/dehumidifier, to prevent this from happening.

To help prevent damage to your flooring, place mats and rugs in the areas that are used the most. Check the bottom of the mats and rugs you are using to make sure they do not have rubber bottoms, and to make sure there aren’t any pieces that could scratch the floor. Also, you may want to consider rugs that are colorfast, meaning their color will not leak out if they get wet. If they are small mats, it is wise to wash them first to help remove any dies that may end up leaking onto the floor. Make sure to keep all mats and rugs clean as much as possible. This helps prevent any dirt buildup from ending up on your nice, beautiful flooring, which can lead to damage.

A few final tips:

  • If you have a pet, be careful of your pet’s claws. Make sure they are trimmed regularly, as they can scratch the finish of the bamboo flooring.
  • All furniture should use protective pads to prevent any possible scratching.
  • People should refrain from walking around in spiky high heels, which can also damage the flooring.

Like any piece of furniture, you have to take care of your bamboo flooring to keep it looking great. By following these simple guidelines, you should have no problem keeping it looking as beautiful as the day that it was installed.

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Sep 15th 2009 Benefits of Bamboo Wood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has once again become the most popular home flooring option, and is also becoming a popular choice for luxury offices. The result is an increased demand for durable and aesthetically pleasing flooring options. There are more options than ever before, from different types of wood to laminates that look like wood. One of these options is bamboo, which is one of the best flooring options available.

Bamboo flooring can be broken down into two main categories, which are regular and strand woven bamboo flooring. Strand woven is the higher end of the two, and has many advantages, including excellent durability, good value, is pleasantly aesthetic, and environmentally friendly. Read on for more information on each one.

Strand woven bamboo is one of the hardest flooring options available, harder than traditional hardwoods such as cherry, oak and hickory. Although it is technically not a type of hardwood, the bamboo plant matures into a strong, hard, and durable plant. In fact, with regards to tension, bamboo flooring has the same strength-to-weight ratio as steel. Its stability is also better than that of other traditional hardwoods, leading it to be a great choice for a durable floor. Furthermore, strand woven bamboo is manufactured through a special process, making it even harder and more durable than regular bamboo.

One of the reasons that bamboo flooring has become popular is because it is harvested as a substitute to many other types of lumber. Bamboo is found in many regions throughout the world, and grows quickly, about 10 times faster than most trees. It is also easy to cultivate, because it can grow in many different climates and soil that has been overused or damaged. By using bamboo as an alternate source, woods such as oak and pine are being saved, slowing down the clearing of forests across the world. It is becoming more important every year to use renewable resources. By using bamboo flooring, you are helping to preserve the environment.

Strand woven bamboo has come a long way in recent years, and as its popularity grows, so does its versatility. It can be bought in many different colors, ranging from very light in color, to a fairly dark shade. The width and pattern also vary, which makes it possible to find flooring that will match any room. If you´re not too concerned about the hardness, you can purchase different types of bamboo flooring – such as regular or engineered bamboo.

Last and perhaps most importantly of all, strand woven bamboo flooring is a great value. Considering it is one of the more durable and aesthetically pleasing options available, it is very reasonable priced. You can usually buy it for about $3.50 per square foot. Bamboo is a easily grown in many parts of the world, and grows very quickly. This leads to a large supply of bamboo, therefore making it a relatively cheap flooring option.

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Mar 1st 2009 What is Strand Woven Bamboo?

What is Strand Woven Bamboo?

Strand woven bamboo flooring takes regular bamboo flooring one step further, to make a stronger, higher quality, and nicer looking flooring. It is made through a special manufacturing process, using bamboo shoots that are four to six years old. First, the shoots of bamboo are cut into long strips. These strips are boiled and ground down even further by a machine. Once dried, they are heated to a high temperature and woven together (hence strand woven bamboo). The woven bamboo is then put under very high pressure and laminated using a non-toxic, water resistant resin. This seals the bamboo flooring, adding to its strength, and making it more resistant to moisture.

Strand woven bamboo can be found in numerous shades, ranging from natural bamboo color to a fairly dark shade. The grain and “pattern” will vary slightly from dealer to dealer, so it is recommended you check out various suppliers to find one that will fit your house. Bamboo flooring can be installed in any room of one´s house. However, it is important to note that if bamboo gets wet and is not dried quickly, the wood can swell and will no longer sit properly. Furthermore, if you decide to install bamboo flooring in a bathroom, it will not usually be covered by warranty.

What is the difference regular bamboo flooring and strand woven bamboo flooring?

The main difference between the two is in how the plant is processed. As mentioned above, in strand woven bamboo the plant is shredded into small fibers which are then heated and compressed by high pressure. This makes strand woven bamboo flooring far more durable than regular bamboo flooring. Of course, it also makes it more expensive.  They also look slightly difference, but both can be very aesthetically pleasing. Keep in mind that strand woven is more compact, and is therefore a little harder to work with as well.

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