In tropical areas, particularly where stilted houses are the norm, bamboo has been used as a housing and flooring material for centuries. In recent years, bamboo has become progressively mainstream in more urban areas.
The first thing you’ll notice about bamboo is that it looks good. Bamboo floors are an attractive alternative to more expensive wood flooring or less-appealing vinyl tiles. Bamboo shares many similarities with hardwood floors when it comes to strength, durability and ease-of-care. However, bamboo flooring is widely considered the leader in eco-friendly flooring options.
As a member of the grass family, the plants used to create bamboo flooring grows significantly faster than wood. While it takes wood anywhere from 20 to 100 years to fully mature, a bamboo can reach maturity in just 3-5 years. It is also possible to harvest the bamboo without needing to plant a new crop, making it very sustainable. The environmental-friendly factor increases because pesticides are rarely used in growing bamboo.
Don’t assume you’ll be missing out on variety and options by choosing bamboo — the plant is highly customizable. During the curing process, in which sugars and starches are removed and the bamboo is steamed, the bamboo can be altered to varying levels of hardness and coloring. Additionally, bamboo can be stained or varnished to fit your individual flooring tastes.
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