By Eva Finkelstein
Eco-friendly bamboo is harvested at maturity every five to six years. In contrast, an oak tree is harvested at maturity every 60-70 years, and after re-planting, takes 60-70 more years to grow. That’s 120 years, at least, renewable! The bamboo plant, which is a grass variety, does not need to be re-planted since the plant is cut above the extensive root systems. Cutting this grass allows it to send up new shoots for decades!
Most of our Green Design Expo bamboo products come from the well-managed Moso bamboo forests of China, using environmentally responsible processes. Unfortunately, the U.S. does not have bamboo forests. Traditional horizontal and vertical bamboo floors are still available, and, in both, strips of bamboo are laminated together. The Janka rating, or hardness rating, of these floors are slightly less than oak. To create a horizontal floor, the wide edge of the bamboo strip faces up, exposing the growth rings. For a vertical lamination, the strips are placed on their sides to create a lined look.
Can a bamboo floor stand up to years of children, pets, and high traffic use in a residence or commercial space? If it is strandwoven, the answer is, “Yes!” Unlike traditional horizontal and vertical bamboo floors, strandwoven bamboo is made by weaving strips of bamboo together, resulting in one of the most stable products on the market…twice as hard as oak! The woven strips come prefinished, so there is no need to add polyurethane when they are installed, saving time, money and indoor air quality.
Strandwoven bamboo can be bought in a cornsilk or natural color, or stained into pecan, walnut, marbled, burlwood and nutmeg colors, creating what looks like traditional and exotic hardwood floors! Distressed stained bamboo creates a more rustic décor with textured surfaces and color options like chestnut and java. Some types are available as wideboard flooring as well. Depending on the subfloor, the strandwoven pieces may be clicked together, glued down or nailed into place.
Bamboo floors are not only affordable, but are usually manufactured and finished in a socially responsible manner. But, as always, buyer beware…with the right purchasing and application, bamboo can be a great choice for floors that are both beautiful and durable!
