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Bamboo Laminate Flooring
Bamboo laminate flooring is a highly engineered product made of the veneer of the bamboo plant, bonded together with urea-formaldehyde based adhesive under heat and pressure. Because it is a laminate, the bamboo laminate flooring is durable, has a high tensile strength and is harder than many of the regular hardwood products.
Bamboo laminate flooring is slightly higher in price than some of the other hardwood flooring, but it is also a beautiful and uniquely patterned product which will give good wear and retain its beauty.
In order to produce the product, veneer formed from the split
canes of bamboo are layered together with UF adhesive then pressed and heated
for a solid wood product that is lightweight. The laminated boards can be shaped,
milled, and smoothed to any of the standard sizes and formations, just like
a hardwood board used for bamboo laminate
flooring. Part of the popularity
of the bamboo flooring is that utilization of the quick-growing bamboo plant
provides a product which is easier to produce than hardwood forests. The bamboo
stands can be harvested after only three years and are extremely plentiful
in areas such as the Hunan province in China’s
southern area.
Bamboo plants are highly resistant to insects, so do not require extensive insecticides. They grow rapidly, sometimes twenty feet in a season, without the benefit of fertilizers. Bamboo utilized in building products in this way is growing in popularity in the Western world, although bamboo building products have been used in China for centuries.
Bamboo flooring imports to the United States has grown significantly in the last decade due to the popularity of the unique product. Several companies import the product, including www.floorchamp.com.
There is a choice of board width, either 3-inch or 5-inch and generally one-half
inch in thickness in three or more layers of veneer. The grain can run either
vertically or horizontally. The bamboo
laminate flooring comes in a natural
light version, or a darkened or carbonized version which is a rich amber color.
The carbonized coloration is obtained by steaming the strips of veneer before
laminating. The pattern of light and dark strips plus the impact of the bamboo
joint which manifests as a variation and darkening of the grain makes for a
floor with a great deal of visual impact.
Installation of the bamboo
laminate flooring is similar to
that of any hardwood boards. It can be installed directly over the subfloor
and nailed or stapled into place, or it can be installed as a floating floor
over a concrete slab. The resistance to expansion and contraction due to moisture
or humidity variation is well known. The bamboo resists temperature caused
variations very well in either direction.
Choosing a pre-finished flooring product such as that of engineered
bamboo is not only a beautiful and simple way to complete the flooring on your
home, but it is great for the environment as well. You can utilize products
which are more easily and rapidly renewed than that of hardwood forests and
still end up with flooring that look attractive and is durable and strong as
well, such as our bamboo laminate flooring.
For more details contact us at:
FloorChamp, Inc
944-D Rochelle Ave
Charleston, SC 29407
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