Bamboo Hardwood Flooring and Decking Materials

The Ecological Benefits of Bamboo Flooring

Forests are disappearing at a rate of almost 1 million acres each week. This staggering speed of deforestation is forcing many world lumber companies and governments to rethink their manufacturing policies and business practices. A 70-75 foot tree that is cut for lumber can take up to 65 years to replace. Bamboo, on the other hand, is considered the world's fastest growing plant and can be replaced in less than three months. Some species of bamboo can grow 3 feet per day.

There is a high consumer demand for green products that are environmentally friendly, durable, affordable and attractive. When given the choice of using high quality, ecologically friendly building materials over traditional products, consumers are overwhelmingly choosing products of a sustainable and environmentally conscious variety.

In general, the public is becoming more and more aware of the rapid decrease and reduction of hardwood forests and the threat that deforestation can pose to a delicate ecosystem. Bamboo flooring is a great choice for those who wish to not contribute to destruction of such an integral part of our global ecology. It is termite, rot and moisture resistant and functions as a top-notch flooring material.

There are many types of bamboo flooring available for to suit each homeowner's unique style. Distressed bamboo floors have an antique look. Strand woven bamboo has a hybrid grain between wood and bamboo and is extra resilient. Laminate bamboo flooring is ideal for rooms with varying humidity, like a basement.

A bamboo field can produce up to 30% more oxygen than a hardwood forest of similar size, while removing toxins from the soil and preventing erosion. It also helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Because bamboo is a type of grass, it can regenerate itself without replanting after harvesting. Since it is the fastest growing plant on earth, bamboo is quickly becoming a popular source for efficient and sustainable building materials.

Bamboo has a wide root system, making it a natural water control blockade. It reduces rain runoff, thereby preventing erosion. Bamboo can store water within its shoots and, because of its nitrogen consumption, can prevent water pollution. Often times, bamboo will be grown near wastewater from livestock farms and sewage treatment facilities because of its cleansing and detoxifying properties.

Traditional hardwood forest lumber such as maple, birch and oak take almost 50 years to be renewed. That, in turn, causes less oxygen to be produced, less greenhouse gases to be consumed, and more erosion and runoff in the cleared land. Instead of depleting our natural resources and contributing to a failing ecosystem, choose bamboo. It is the logical and environmentally friendly choice for flooring in a modern home.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of Better Green Technologies. The energy efficient builder provides quality eco-friendly building materials and supplies to customers throughout the United States. For more information on their Energy Efficient Building Products please visit their website.

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Why Should I Choose Bamboo Flooring?

Bamboo flooring is a very beautiful alternative to using hardwood flooring. Bamboo floors are very popular at the moment because they are so attractive, using bamboo is also an environmentally friendly material. There are a number of popular manufacturers such as Armstrong, Columbia and Mohawk flooring which produce these types of flooring.

Construction of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is a very strong material, it is much stronger than many other cheap flooring products. Bamboo is extremely durable which makes it perfect for wooden flooring. It is much stronger and durable than linoleum. It is also more comfortable than walking on stone floors.

Bamboo flooring is available in two different forms, either solid bamboo floors or engineered floors. Engineered bamboo floors use bamboo with another type of wood. Most engineered floors have a plywood base with a top layer made out of bamboo. Bamboo can be stained with urethane which is similar to other hardwood stains. I installed bamboo flooring throughout my home last year. The look of it with the granite countertop in the kitchen is amazing.

Bamboo floors are installed in the same way as other hardwood floors. These are normally nailed down to prevent them from moving. There are newer products which are simply clicked together, these do not need any glue or nails to fix the panels down.

Before installing the floor it is important to make sure that the ground and subfloor are completely level. If it's not level then you can level it out using asphalt shingles. You must ensure that the subfloor is dry, moistness can damage your bamboo floor.

Environmentally Friendly

Many people are starting to be worried about the world's health and the depletion of our natural resources. Trees can take a very long time to grow, especially some of the more expensive products such as oak or walnut. There just aren't enough of these trees being replanted to keep up with demand. People are trying to find alternative ways to protect the trees.

Bamboo is extremely fast growing, the plants only take five years before they are fully grown. Even after harvesting the bamboo new shoots will start to grow very quickly. The bamboo does not need to be replanted as long as care is taken when harvesting.

Caring for Bamboo Flooring

You need to make sure you remove all dirt and dust from your bamboo floor by using a mop or a broom. A great tip is to use a solution made from four parts water and one part vinegar. Soak a sponge or a cloth in this liquid and wipe it over the floor. As soon as you've finished dry the floor immediately using a towel. You should be careful not to wet the floor too much.

If you spill anything then make sure you use a damp cloth. Then dry the area using a towel straight away. If your floor does get dull then you can use a buff sander to improve the shine on the floor. By looking after your floor there is no reason why your floor can't last for many years to come.

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Carbonized Bamboo Flooring -- Things To Consider

The increase in number of floor material processing methods and advancement of technologies has made it possible to provide a vast choice for the regular home owner. That just goes to show how much involved the manufacturers are when it comes to satisfying just about any needs someone may have when it comes down to installing a modern floor in their houses. Carbonized bamboo flooring is one of those modern solutions and as such needs to be a understood a bit better to avoid any confusion.

1. What is carbonized bamboo flooring?

The natural light color of bamboo is not always a preferable solution to home owners. Therefore the process of carbonization, which consists of boiling the bamboo strips during the manufacturing stage, gives the end product a different finish color. The exact shade depends on how long the bamboo has been left to boil in the chamber, as well as by adding further substances that give the final stain.

2. Does carbonized bamboo differ than regular one?

Although bamboo is naturally extremely durable, especially when it's matured (5-7 years of growth), the process of carbonization softens it to some extent. The amount depends on a few factors and differs from one manufacturer to another, but usually it ends up being between 5% and 30% softer than normal. That should not put you off though, as the bamboo material still remains much stronger compared to other materials. Unless the floor is going to be put under severe strain, it is not something to worry about.

3. Is carbonized bamboo flooring more expensive?

Normally the price of bamboo floors is dependent on the amount of work that has gone through its manufacturing process. Luckily carbonization is not something complex or expensive, so it barely adds to the overall cost of a bamboo floor. Because top manufacturers realize it slightly compromises the strength of the material, but at the same time allows for much bigger choice of finishes and stains, the cost ends up balancing out and thus similar to naturally shaded bamboo floor covers.

If you are in need of bamboo floor that matches your room theme and design, it is very likely that a carbonized bamboo flooring is your only solution. Offering almost any kind of finishes and stains, it allows you to have unique looking, stylish and long-lasting floor in your home.

By: Hristo I.

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