Bamboo Flooring FAQ’s

 Q. Are there any advantages to Bamboo flooring over the standard Hardwood flooring?

A. Absolutely, Bamboo is extremely versatile, durable, and has a much higher Janka Hardness rating than standard Hardwood flooring. The versatility allows for an above grade and below grade in any room.  Bamboo flooring has the same methods of installation as Hardwood flooring which include floating and glue down.  So with more versatility, a better Janka rating that shows more durability bamboo does have some distinct advantages over hardwood flooring.

Q. What is the difference between Horizontal and vertical Bamboo flooring?

A. Natural bamboo is different from trees, its hollow and thin so to create bamboo flooring the use strips of bamboo and bond them together. This is where the distinction between Horizontal and Vertical Bamboo is found. When making horizontal flooring the strips are laid flat so you can see the natural graining of the bamboo.  This gives the horizontal flooring a beautiful, natural look that shows you the growth rings and graining.  Vertical flooring gives you a cleaner more modern look with less variation.  The 2 types of flooring are vastly different from one another.   

Q. What does the term carbonized Bamboo mean?

A. Carbonized is a process where they steam the bamboo to caramelize the sugars in the bamboo, during this process the bamboo changes color naturally without having to use a stain. There is a downside to this, the byproduct is the bamboo loses some of its hardness level; up to 30%.

Q. What does the term strand woven bamboo mean?

A. Strand woven is when the bamboo is made into strands of bamboo and literally woven together and bonded together with resins and extreme pressure using heat. The results, a flooring that is 4x Harder than solid red oak Hardwood! Because of this, strand woven bamboo can be used anywhere that includes commercial use as well. 

Q. Can Bamboo flooring be used in the Kitchen?

A. Absolutely.  Just like traditional hardwood flooring it can be in the Kitchen.  Growing in popularity as well for its durability, a pan falls to the grounds usually creating a dent in traditional wood flooring.  NOT with bamboo, having a higher Janka rating gives you the extra hardness that comes in handy a lot giving your floors that added protection.