Bamboo Flooring

Selecting Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is an excellent choice when used for flooring applications because of its tough, resilient properties. Bamboo is normally prepared for flooring purposes by cutting bamboo stalks into long, narrow pieces. They are then further prepared by boiling, bonding together into panels, and then planed to a desired thickness.

To preserve the bamboo panels, the preservative boric acid is applied, and then laminated together with a urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. UF is a relatively powerful substance and is known to diminish the quality of indoor air, so very little of this substance is used in the process. However, there are more environmentally friendly bamboo products that do not contain UF which are available on the market.

Bamboo Flooring Styles

• Natural color, which has a very light tone.
• Amber color, which is achieved by pressure-steaming using carbon. Although this reduces the bamboo’s resiliency by approximately 10%, it is however still very durable compared to the majority of hardwoods available.
• Other colors such as orange, red, light grey. These colors are achieved with use of a variety of different chemicals; some which are quite toxic.

Floating floor variations are also available as an alternative to the popular tongue-and-groove style flooring. Unfortunately, many floating floor systems involve the use of powerful adhesives which produce elevated levels of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds). To evade this issue, many floating floors are now available as a click-together variation which eliminates the need for VOC’s. However, most prefinished flooring products employ the use of minimal VOC’s which are UV (Ultra Violet) cured.

Bamboo’s rigidity is determined by its species, as well as its maturity when cut and collected. As a minimum standard, bamboo should be harvested no earlier than 3 years old. Although some businesses are alleged to offer only five to six year old bamboo sprouts. Younger bamboo is avoided for the use of hardwood flooring as it has the ability to warp and wear prematurely.

Phyllostachys pubescens, which is the Latin term for bamboo, is known to mature in approximately three years. It also has the ability to re-sprout very quickly after its initial cut, and requires no special care in order to grow quick and healthy. Chemicals are more frequently used in bamboo farms where edible bamboo shoots are produced.

The majority of bamboo flooring available on the market here in North America is commonly harvested in Hunan province, China where bamboo farms are plentiful, as well as natural plantations. Most bamboo flooring products are certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and meet the requirements set forth before being offered on the market. Most American importers of bamboo claim to advertise being environmentally responsible of the bamboo they offer, but most have little or no control over their Chinese suppliers.

It is common for Chinese bamboo manufacturers to use highly toxic adhesives and finishes while creating tons of waste as a result of preparing the finished product. Pollution from the transporting of the finished bamboo product from one country to another was also a concern by many. Nonetheless, cargo ships that transport the finished bamboo products are actually very environmentally friendly. This method of transport has been found to produce no more emissions then if it were shipped locally by truck.