The Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring can be a vertical or horizontal grain and laminated or engineered. The flooring may also come from older or younger species of bamboo.

Cons

  • Bamboo flooring can be easily scratched, dented and is susceptible to fading. It is also available in limited colors, is easily damaged by moisture and should not be used in kitchens or baths. Not all bamboo can be floated over subfloors.

    Cost

  • Compared to vinyl or linoleum, bamboo is expensive. The more durable the bamboo, the higher the price tag.

    Considerations

  • In general, bamboo floors are attractive, easy to clean and durable. They can be a long-lasting, less-expensive alternative to hardwood.

    What to Look for

  • When shopping for flooring, look for mature bamboo (older than five-year-old growth) and preferably a horizontal grain because it will be more durable. Test samples of the flooring by using materials to scratch or dent it and examine how it reacts from exposure to water.
  • Bamboo flooring is considered durable, eco-friendly and attractive. According to This Old House.com, however, bamboo is also one of the “most controversial” green building products. There are differing degrees of quality.

    Bamboo flooring installs for the same price as hardwood flooring and the methods are exactly the same. However, bamboo flooring is actually more durable than most hardwood flooring as well as cheaper. It is available in many finishes and is beautiful. From the environmental side, bamboo flooring is made from bamboo which matures in less than two years making it a very renewable resource, where as hardwood floors are made from trees often hundreds of years old (often rainforest woods) and contributes to deforestation. If you watch your local newspaper, you’ll find auctions from time to time of building materials that are closeouts from various stores and factories. I do bamboo flooring and have purchased it many times for well under $1 a square foot. I have never paid more than $2.25/sq ft for it. If you install it on new concrete, like all wood flooring, you need to do a moisture test first by taping a square of plastic to the floor for a couple days to see if water condensates under the plastic. If it does not, you are ready to paint a sealer on the floor, then glue the bamboo down. Most installers will push for you to go with hardwood, but that is because they make money from the sale of the hardwood, not just the installation. Don’t tell my customers, but bamboo is really simple to install. I did all of the cutting, but my 8 year old installed his own floor in his bedroom flawlessly, and is quite proud of his work as am I.
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