Strand Bamboo Flooring: Natural And Beautiful

If you're considering new wood flooring, why not consider installing strand bamboo flooring or the similar woven bamboo flooring? Bamboo has been a gift for designers and consumers around the world. While hardwood floors have been used traditionally for hundreds of years, bamboo flooring is relatively new to the western world. If you're not familiar with bamboo wood flooring, there are some things you should take into account when you're making the decision of what material to install in your home.

The great thing about bamboo flooring is that they have a similar look to that of hardwood floors; some might even argue that bamboo floors are more beautiful. Certainly they are more unique. But there are several aspects to strand bamboo flooring that make it an even better option than hardwood.

First of all, bamboo floors cost less than traditional hardwoods, though as with any product the price varies. Bamboo floors are also generally easy to install, even for amateur home improvers. This means homeowners who are willing to do a little work and not hire professionals can save thousands.

While some people have fears and issues with the supposed softness of the wood, bamboo is actually stronger than maple. The secret is that it must be sealed correctly, as with any wood. If properly sealed and maintained, bamboo behaves just like any other hardwood.

Perhaps the most important aspect to bamboo floors is the green aspect. No, not the color. We're talking about the impact on the environment. Have you ever stopped to think about where all the wood in our homes comes from? We use hundreds of thousands of trees each year to put floors in our homes. Now think about how long it takes the average oak tree to mature. Oak trees grow slowly and can live for hundreds of years. The trees we cut down for our floors are about 120 years old.

Bamboo, on the other hand, is actually a grass. Bamboo for floors can be harvested at 3 years of age, though it is better not to harvest it until it is 5 years old, for the sake of the hardness of the wood. Either way, bamboo is a much easier to replace natural resource.

For all these reasons, strand bamboo flooring is a product to consider if you're about to build a new home, or are replacing the old floors in your home. Go to a showroom and check out their sample floors and see if they might work for you.