Everybody knows how expensive hardwood flooring can be. An affordable alternative to wood flooring is bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about opting for this flooring then you need to learn some real facts about it. Because, though this flooring is more affordable than hardwood flooring, and said to be eco-friendly compared to other wood flooring; there are many issues surrounding bamboo flooring that you need to take into consideration, before you make your choice.

• Different Bamboo Flooring Reviews
  • Natural Bamboo Flooring
  • Carbonized Bamboo Flooring
  • Stained Bamboo Flooring
  • Solid Bamboo Flooring
  • Engineered Bamboo Flooring
  • Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring
  • Floating Bamboo Flooring
  • Laminate Bamboo Flooring
• Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring
  • Eco-friendliness
  • Toughness
  • Affordability
• Important Shopping Tips

The natural color of bamboo is light-yellow (blonde). But it can be stained or carbonized to the color of your choice. Per square foot price of bamboo floors can be between $1.5 to $8, exclusive of the installation cost. The cheapest are the unfinished bamboo floors, which cost around $1.5 per square foot and the high-priced ones are the hand-scraped bamboo floors which cost around $8 per square foot. When you are buying wood flooring, you might get a free installation service or a discount on the installation. If you wish to get it done by a contractor, then look for a reputed one. You can always bargain for lower installation cost. Installation of bamboo flooring is easy and similar to any hardwood floor installation. The easiest installation is the click and lock type. Another easy installation method of bamboo flooring is the tongue and groove. In this, pieces of bamboo fit with each other like a jigsaw puzzle. Listed below are facts on bamboo used for manufacturing flooring.

• Though bamboo is considered a tree by many, it is actually a grass. Most of the bamboo used for manufacturing bamboo flooring comes from China.
• The species used for manufacturing the flooring is called moso. It is very strong and flexible. Growing moso is fast and easy, making it readily available.
• Being a grass, bamboo grows faster than trees used for making hardwood floors. Trees used in hardwood flooring are oak, maple, cherry, etc. The harvest period for a hardwood tree can be anywhere between 50-120 years. On the other hand, bamboo has a harvest period of around 7 years.
• As bamboo is a grass, it regenerates itself. After harvesting bamboo, its roots remain in the soil, and there is no need to replant it. For growing bamboo, very little amount of pesticides or fertilizers are required.

First of all, let us discuss the main issue regarding bamboo flooring. Do you think bamboo flooring is eco-friendly? Well, then think again. Listed above, were some of the facts of bamboo flooring. But, many manufacturers knowing the ever-growing demand of this flooring, are interested in larger and faster production.

• Many-a-times bamboo gets harvested before it reaches its ideal hardness. Bamboo reaches it's full growth within few months, but to reach the required hardness it needs many years. Manufacturer's harvest the bamboo within few months.
• This quickly gives them the raw material required for manufacturing. Doing this means soil erosion and use of lot of fertilizers and pesticides to boost the growth of bamboo.
• Also, bamboo comes from China, so one can't be sure of fair trade practices.
• Another important issue is that in the manufacturing process of bamboo flooring, formaldehyde-based glues are used. This glue is unhealthy for the environment and the consumer too.
• Lastly, it is shipped from China. This means a lot of fuel is used for transportation, which contributes to pollution.

So, it is clearly not as eco-friendly as you thought it was. Next comes another important question - Is bamboo floor really tough compared to other flooring types?

• As mentioned above, bamboo needs many years to harden. The hardened bamboo makes durable and tough flooring.
• However, bamboo which is harvested just after few months growth is not so durable.
• Bamboo surpasses many hardwood flooring in the hardness test. This is because bamboo is a grass and not a tree. It can resist round objects falling on it. However, anything sharp can just cause a lot of damage to bamboo flooring.
• It means this flooring is susceptible to denting and bending. Flooring made from bamboo which has been harvested after seven years is more durable. But early harvested bamboo can't be at all guaranteed against denting and bending.

Lastly, comes the question - Is bamboo flooring more affordable than other wood flooring?

• If you are going for a good hardened variety of flooring, then it will last longer. This type of bamboo flooring will cost more too.
• However, if you buy the inexpensive variety of flooring, then it will cost less. But, it will show wear and tear very easily. Also, refinishing such a flooring is not possible as the bamboo strips will fall out from the planks. So, instead of refinishing you will just need to replace planks. This adds to the cost of bamboo flooring.
• Refinishing this flooring is not such a good idea as the glue which is mostly formaldehyde, is toxic. One needs to wear mask and gloves while doing it, as the fumes released during refinishing can be quite harmful to the person working on it. So, the safest is to replace the damaged floor planks which will add up to the cost.

Given above were the various pros and cons of bamboo flooring and the most frequently asked questions answered. However, if you still wish to go for this flooring, then here are some practical shopping tips that you need to keep in mind.

• Go for bamboo flooring which is made from moso bamboo, which is at least 7 years old. This will ensure that you get the hardest and most durable flooring. Avoid going for carbonized bamboo, as this flooring tends to be soft. Strand woven stand out as the most durable flooring.
• You can get samples of bamboo flooring and check them for denting. Also, compare the samples so that you can choose the one that goes with your home decor.
• Do a good research on the supplier. It's very important to choose a reputed and trusted supplier, that sells you a quality product at an appropriate price.
• Check if the manufacturer has an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification.
• Bamboo floors are certainly cheaper than hardwood floors, but before you buy the bamboo floor planks, calculate the additional cost of installation. Also, if you are buying unfinished planks, the cost of staining the planks, beveling its edges, etc., should be taken into consideration.
• It is advised that you go with pre-finished bamboo planks as this will make your job easier. Also, leaving the finishing and installation to the professionals is a good idea if you are looking for optimum results.
• Bamboo floors come with a zero to lifetime warranty. Decide how long you want your wooden flooring to last and invest accordingly.
• Avoid formaldehyde glue-based bamboo flooring. Though, this glue is used by most manufacturers to produce bamboo flooring. If you can't find a formaldehyde-free variety, then go for a manufacturer which uses the least amount of this glue.

As you can see bamboo flooring has many disadvantages to it. So, one needs to take a very wise decision when selecting the bamboo flooring type and manufacturer. If you wish to be more eco-friendly, then you can also consider going with recycled wood flooring. It is a more durable and cost-effective solution.