A recent trend in the world of flooring that has risen to some prominence in Nashville is the use of bamboo flooring. One of the reasons that bamboo is so popular is that it is a lot greener than many other flooring options. The bamboo tree grows back much quicker than pretty much anything else used in the making of hardwoods, with the lone exception being cork, since cork is harvested, not chopped down. But how do you know if bamboo flooring is the right decision for your home or business, especially when compared with other hardwood or non-hardwood flooring options? This is something that the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey have spent a lot of time thinking about, and now we are passing that information on to you. Bamboo flooring may not be for everyone, but at the end of this article you should be able to decide if it is right for you.
Eco-friendly and Easy Cleaning
There are a lot of advantages bamboo flooring has over its hardwood cousins. As mentioned before, one of the great selling points of bamboo as a flooring material is the ecological benefits, since it takes about three to five years for a bamboo plant to reach maturation. For comparison’s sake, most other hardwood trees take anywhere from 15 to 20 years to reach that point. Bamboo floor installation costs roughly the same, something that the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey are always happy to handle, and the nice lighter shade is going to add a naturally beautiful effect to any room it is placed in. Like most hardwoods, bamboo is pretty easy to maintain, just requiring a regular sweep to take care of the dirt particles, and it is fairly water resistant as well. In the long run, any scratches, scars, or other wood wounds suffered can be taken care of by sanding down the layer and reapplying a finishing agent, restoring it to its former glory.
Bamboozled
That does highlight one of the major issues with bamboo, which of course is the way bamboo can be easily scratched. Although the material is quite durable, it is easily dented, and those marks will add up after a couple of years if it is in a room with a lot of foot traffic or furniture.
Some concerns have been raised in recent years about just how environmentally friendly bamboo flooring actually is, due to some of the chemicals used in the installation process. Bamboo flooring is installed with a type of resin, which over time can lead to the release of what are known as volatile organic compounds, sometimes associated with minor respiratory problems. Bamboo is also affected by humidity more than other materials, which can cause the planks to buckle.
There are a lot of things to like about bamboo, such as the fact that it is a natural, organic material that grows back quickly. It is about the same price and has a lot of similar qualities as other hardwood materials, while maintaining a unique feel guaranteed to make any room it is installed in feel special. Of course, it isn’t as durable in the long run as other materials, so it might be reserved for a special room not used a lot, instead of in every room in your home. Regardless of your decision, we here at Ozburn-Hessey are happy to make it happen.