Bamboo Flooring Solid

Bamboo flooring solid hardwood is becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst people concerned about buying green. The bamboo plant from which the bamboo flooring hardwood comes is a type of giant hollow jointed grass grown mainly in the Hunan province of China. The bamboo growing area is so extensive it is known as the “ Sea of Bamboo”. The forests are owned by the government who leases out the right of harvesting the crop to individuals. Selecting cutting of canes which are at least three years old insures that the original plant is protected.

Bamboo flooring solid hardwood flooring is from a plant which is known for its rapid growth rate. This means that a managed stand of bamboo is easily sustainable. Since the plant is naturally resistant to insects, the use of heavy and deadly insecticides is unnecessary. Neither does bamboo require fertilization. In fact, about all the plant needs is to have the older canes trimmed away periodically, which is done as the harvesting process.

Bamboo flooring solid hardwood is formed of three or more layers of veneer, which are the hollow canes, split in half lengthwise and soaked in water to remove the starch. Once dried, these dried and flattened pieces of bamboo veneer are glued together using a urea based adhesive. The solid pieces are then milled to standard lengths and widths. Typically the bamboo is treated with a non toxic preservative, usually boric acid one or more times before or after the laminating process.

Some bamboo flooring solid hardwood lumber is prefinished prior to marketing. A selection of typical colors and sizes can be seen at www.floorchamp.com. Being prefinished with a sealant or stain makes the flooring a contractor or handyman’s dream. It’s simple to install over a subfloor or wood, or on a concrete slab.

Even more efficient use of the earth’s resources is made by combining another product as the core. Some success using either worn out rubber tree wood or recycled tires as the core material, with just one layer of veneer has been reported.

There is some concern over the ecological impact of the urea glue, but tests are ongoing to come up with an alternative substance which will yield good quality, durability and strength with our bamboo flooring solid hardwood floors. In the meantime, the emissions from the UF bonding agent are still less than the legal limit.

Bamboo flooring can be applied in the same way as any other hardwood flooring product, either nailed or stapled to the subfloor, or glued together as a floating floor over a concrete base or subfloor with a foam pad. Since bamboo flooring is less affected by humidity and temperature variations, the finished flooring is more likely to go down smoothly and stay flat.

The beauty of a solid bamboo floor is undisputed. The laminate typically has light and darker strips with the bamboo joints appearing darker as well. Increasingly there are color choices, although the clear natural bamboo color is very attractive. Another popular choice is the natural bamboo which has been darkened or carbonized by steaming the strips before drying and laminating.

For more details contact us at:

FloorChamp, Inc
944-D Rochelle Ave
Charleston, SC 29407