Nowadays, we are all looking for ways that we can help out the environment and do our bit. But with carpets being a lot more difficult to look after and keep clean, we often resort to laminate, despite the fact that deforestation is causing numerous problems for the world.

So, what alternative do we have? Well, grasses take a quarter of the time to mature than a tree (timber) does and Bamboo is a solid and sturdy grass that can be used to provide an alternative to hardwood. It is both strong and flexible so is an ideal replacement of wood, for flooring.

Not only that, but it looks unique and very stylish and is usually cheaper than solid wood flooring. It brings character to the room and feels warm but still bright. Buying furniture and accessories to compliment the bamboo flooring can also help make the most of your unique decor. Items such as sea-grass baskets, wooden arm chairs and a bamboo and glass coffee table are all good investments. As are curtains which have a bamboo type leaf print on them and are very popular and easy to locate right now.

Bamboo has been used in the East for many years, but it is the Eco-friendly lifestyle and global warming epidemic that has brought us in the West to consider it.

It is important that we take a few factors into account and try to research them as best we can before going ahead and purchasing this alternative flooring.

The two main factors are:
1. Urea Formaldehyde: This is a resin, or plastic that provides strength to all sorts of textiles and wood. The use of it in the past (before regulations formed) could result in toxic vapors being emitted. The use of this in bamboo floor manufacturing is inevitable. Almost all of the products that will be for sale will be regulated properly, but it is important that you check out that it definitely complies with the strict standards which are set for our safety.
2. Check that the type of bamboo your flooring is made from, is not limited and that it came from non-harmful harvesting.

Fitting.
· To create a floating bamboo floor effect with the tongue and groove type panels, you need to lay a good quality underlay and (optional) waterproof membrane. Then quite simply glue the joints together.
· You can also glue bamboo panels straight onto a sub-floor if desired.
· Or alternatively, you can nail the floor down onto wooden floorboards beneath.

Bamboo Flooring is a modern day alternative to using up our precious resources, while giving you a great looking, easy to care for floor, at the same time.

Bamboo Flooring Review is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Strand woven bamboo flooring, while being very beautiful, is also durable enough for a high traffic commercial setting. One type of strand woven bamboo has a Janka hardness rating of 3000 PSI.

Janka hardness measures the pound per inch density of a specified type of wood flooring. The higher the density rating the harder it is to indent or gouge the flooring material. Strand woven bamboos Janka hardness rating is actually about two times higher than the hardwood oak trees Janka rating.

There are several steps in the process of making raw bamboo into strand woven bamboo flooring. After the bamboo is harvested, the poles are cut and shredded into strands. The strands are then fused into a tightly compact bundle by applying 2,500 tons of pressure using a cold press. At this point, the compressed bundle resembles a railroad tie or landscape timber, and can actually be cut into different size planks just as real hardwood can. The compact bundle is usually cut into planks 6” long. These 6” long planks are then mill processed so all four sides are tongue and groove. The tongue and groove construction allows the planks to slide into each other and join together perfectly.

Rather than use ecologically dangerous stains and varnishes, carbonization is used to obtain varying shades of the bamboos natural color. The strand woven bamboo is processed with heat and steam which causes the sugar in the strands to melt or caramelize. This caramelization causes the bamboo strands to become darker and richer looking in color. Another positive feature of this type color attaining process is that even when sanded, the strand woven bamboo flooring retains its color, because it is the same color all the way through it.

This type of bamboo flooring may be installed by using any of the approved bamboo flooring installation methods. It can be nailed, glued, stapled, or even floated over an existing sub-floor or a thin foam mat.

Any type, style, make, or model of bamboo flooring is ultimately, extremely, eco-friendly. Bamboo replenishes (replaces) itself, so it just keeps going, and going, and going. Strand woven bamboo flooring is the newest type of flooring in the bamboo flooring choices. It seems that the choices just keep getting better with every new type developed.

Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring such as Morning Star Bamboo Flooring is rapidly becoming one of the most popular flooring choices across the globe. There are two main reasons for this rapidly growing popularity, both in remodels and new house construction.

Cost, is of course one of the main reasons. In today’s global recession, economical is a key word when linked with a product. The other reason is the ‘greenness’ of bamboo flooring. Trees which have been harvested for hardwood flooring, may take ten, twenty, or even one hundred years to regrow. In a very noticeable contrast, bamboo matures in only four to five years, and does not even have to be replanted as the hardwood forests do.

When considering the purchase of a bamboo floor, the buyer should evaluate and compare several suppliers and the products of each. Only after careful consideration and study should a supplier be selected. Morning Star Bamboo Flooring should be included in this study, as they are one of the oldest and most reputable bamboo flooring suppliers today. This company has attained a high level of excellence in their reputation for supplying a high quality product as well as maintaining a high rate of customer satisfaction.

After growing the bamboo, the first step in the actual production of bamboo flooring is the harvest of the bamboo plants. Morning Star Bamboo Flooring is manufactured using only mature bamboo stalks which are four years old or older. The use of mature plants ensures the product will be a high quality floor that will resist warping.

Morning Star colors their bamboo naturally without using any artificial or processed stains. Variations in the natural bamboo color are attained by heating the bamboo until the natural sugar contained in the bamboo caramelizes, resulting in different colored shades.

The addition of aluminum oxide as the pre-finish material is also an important step in Morning Stars production of bamboo flooring. This addition of aluminum oxide to the bamboo greatly increases its durability, thus making it last and last. At the same time this process reduces maintenance time, so the floor can be kept looking beautiful with less work than other brands.

Morning Star Bamboo Flooring is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is quickly rising in popularity in the wood industry. It is now being considered as a substitute for other conventional hardwood flooring and has caught the eye of many modern-day home and office owners. Bamboo is definitely climbing fast to become the latest trend in flooring.

The interesting part of the rise of bamboo is that it’s the fastest growing woody plant in the world, but is actually the largest member of the grass family. It may not be considered as wood but as solid bamboo floors, it is valued highly due to bamboo’s ability to resist denting so the floors wear exceptionally well.

Bamboo is also a great source of renewal energy since bamboo plants mature in 3 to 5 years. Other hardwoods take about fifty to a hundred years before they are in their prime. Harvesting the stalks on their third year does not even affect the growth of the entire bamboo plant.

Compared to oak, solid bamboo floors act similarly as hardwoods in terms of dent resistance. But compared to other types of flooring they have greater dimensional stability. Bamboo may differ slightly in appearance from the usual hardwoods used but is a stronger product overall. Solid Bamboo flooring also comes in both vertical and horizontal grain.

The colors of the finished product are very attractive. They may be a dark shade of amber or light golden which greatly depends on the finish. Light golden is bamboo’s natural color while the darker amber shade is achieved through carbonization.

The installation process of solid bamboo floors is quite similar to the installation of any other ‘hardwood’ flooring that you may use. It can be nailed or glued to the sub flooring, installed over plywood, particle board, OSB or floated. It can even be installed over a radiant floor heating system.

Moisture equilibrium is no longer needed with solid bamboo flooring since it is manufactured with 6 percent to 9 percent of moisture content. This type of flooring is very easy to install so new buyers should not have a problem with it. Some may have heard of complaints about using a regular floor nailer but any DIYer can easily remedy this by using pneumatic nail gun.

New home or office owners are no longer afraid to veer from the status quo, in terms of decorating. Most like to stand out and show their individuality and upbeat personalities to everyone. Solid bamboo flooring can easily provide their new owners with a rich and smooth look that will definitely make their image look better. So don’t be afraid to try something new! Try the new trend of bamboo and stand out!

Solid Bamboo Floors is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Home Legend Bamboo Flooring is the product line of the reputable Home Depot home improvement store chain.

Home Legend is known for producing a quality product at an economical price, with a warranty the company honors and stands behind completely.

Home Legend’s bamboo flooring has many options available to the purchaser. The process used during manufacturing produces three choices of construction. The three choices are: vertical, horizontal, or woven. Vertical construction is just as it sounds; the bamboo pieces are laid vertically and glued. The horizontal method is just as self explanatory; one inch strips of bamboo are horizontally laid and glued. To obtain woven bamboo flooring is a harder process, but it also produces a harder floor. The bamboo is thrashed and then compressed into logs by tons of pressure. The logs actually resemble railroad ties or landscaping timbers. These logs are cut into flooring planks usually six inches in length. Strand woven bamboo flooring actually has a Janka hardness rating of over twice the Janka hardness rating of oak flooring. Janka hardness rating measures the pound per inch of density of a specified type of wood flooring.

Another available option is the finish of the bamboo floor. Home Legend bamboo flooring is available in two finishes; the familiar, smooth, flat finish, or the hand-scraped finish, where the flooring is actually individually sculpted by hand.

Bamboo flooring comes in a wide variety of beautiful colors or shades. The lightest shade available in the Home Legend Bamboo Flooring line is Natural; it is a light blonde color. There are also several elegant shades of cherry; ranging from the lightest Pacific Cherry to a darker Sonoma Cherry. Also available are a medium dark Brazilian Hickory and a lighter Pecan Natural. There is a color shade available to fit perfectly in any décor.

Affordability and availability are huge selling factors in the Home Legend Bamboo Flooring line from Home Depot. This line of bamboo flooring is one of the most economical on the market today. As for availability? Home Depots are coast to coast in the United States, and the internet makes the Home Legend Bamboo Flooring line available anywhere.

Home Legend Bamboo Flooring is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Teragren are the leading production company for bamboo flooring, their manufacturing process is trustworthy and flooring of superb standard and beauty.

You will be able to find suppliers of Teragren bamboo floors in a number of places and as the company grows, so will the availability of their products. Read on for a little more information on why Teragren are great suppliers and manufacturers.

Excellent customer service is an important key in finding a good manufacturer and distributor – Teragren cannot be beaten in this field. Their advisors and other staff members are ready to consult and advise you when buying your new flooring. From color finishes, to matching products and ensuring that you buy the right amount, they are there to help.

Their passion for delivering a high standard of flooring is second to none. Not only do they consider the manufacturing process and keeping everything safe, but they care about where the bamboo comes from and monitor the harvesting themselves.

Teragren carefully selected what type of bamboo to use and make sure that all of their products are made from a sustainable resource in order to keep their company known for being environmentally friendly.

Teragren only use, what they have designated as, Optimum 5.5 Moso bamboo. This is a strong kind of bamboo and is only harvested once it reaches maturity at 5-6 years – so you wont be buying an immature product which is not strong enough to last through the daily pounds of a floor within a living space but instead a durable and reliable floor which will continue to look beautiful for many, many years.

Once they’ve harvested the best bamboo for the job, Teragren then manufacture the bamboo in an environmentally-friendly way and are aware what processes and procedures are best for minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

The finishing of all Teragren Bamboo floors is often the reason why so many buyers choose this company. With much controversy about the use of solvents and toxic chemicals to finish a bamboo floor, Teragren lead again but only offering floors which are coated in a solvent free coating – Klumps of Germany. This coating is not only applied because it is known to be a safe form, and low in formaldehyde, but because it is renowned for it’s ability to protect and strengthen materials. Seven layers are carefully applied to Teragren’s bamboo flooring and this is plenty to resist scratches, inevitable if laid in a family home.

Teragren products are available all over the US.  They are also leading providers for bamboo countertops and table tops – with bamboo being a moisture resistant flooring, using it in the kitchen,with a matching countertop is becoming more and more popular.

Teragren Bamboo Flooring is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Yanchi Bamboo Flooring is a well known name in the bamboo flooring product line.  Yanchi  is known both for producing a ‘green’ eco-friendly product, as well as also being known for the quality of its bamboo flooring.

Yanchi bamboo flooring is made from Mao Zhu bamboo species.   Mao Zhu can be translated to mean  ‘hairy bamboo’.

Panda lovers can breathe a sigh of relief here, because Mao Zhu is not the species of bamboo which is the main diet of the Panda.  Bamboo rejuvenates or regenerates very quickly.  It matures between four and six years of age, and actually rejuvenates itself, into another bamboo pole with no reseeding needed.  Production of bamboo is also environmentally friendly.  There is no waste during the processing of bamboo, as the entire plant is used in the production of bamboo flooring.

Yanchi Bamboo Flooring also complies with the strict European E1 standard which monitors formaldehyde emissions maintaining they are kept at safe levels.

To ensure stain and indentation resistant bamboo flooring, Yanchi  applys six coats of UV cured urethane including aluminum oxide to their flooring.

Yanchi also recommends a few easy to follow guidelines to maintain the beauty of their bamboo flooring product.

A soft, damp cloth or mop should be used to keep the bamboo flooring clean.

Large amounts of water or other liquids should not be used on bamboo flooring and any wet spills should be dried up immediately.

Continuous direct sunlight upon a bamboo floor should be avoided.  Drapes and/or mini-blinds should be used.

As with any type of flooring, preventative maintenance such as doormats and coasters for furniture legs should be used.

Yanchi bamboo flooring is available in two main colors.  Both colors are eco-friendly.  The first color which Yanchi Bamboo Flooring is available in is the natural bamboo color, which is called blonde.   The second Yanchi color is a darker brown color attained through caramelization.  To attain the darker brown color, the bamboo is heated so the natural sugar present in bamboo actually caramelizes, turning the bamboo itself a darker shade of brown than its original blonde color.

In the last few years, Yanchi bamboo flooring has acquired a reputation of producing bamboo flooring which is eco-friendly, beautiful, economical, easy to maintain, and durable.

Yanchi Bamboo Flooring is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo floor cleaner should be selected very carefully. Bamboo flooring is not hardwood flooring, and should not be treated as such. A lot of the cleaners recommended for hardwood flooring will not work, and may possibly even damage the bamboo floor.

Only the bamboo floor cleaner suggested by the bamboo flooring supplier should be used on bamboo floors. The manufacturer/supplier has researched and tested the various cleaners already. He knows which cleaner is best for his particular product. Therefore, follow his suggestions. Use of a cleaner other than the one recommended by the flooring supplier could void the warranty given with the bamboo flooring. There are numerous bamboo floor cleaners are the market today, two are listed below.

Ambient bamboo floor cleaner maintains the eco-friendly design of bamboo flooring.  Ambient bamboo floor cleaner is completely biodegradable and phosphate-free. It is also non-acidic, non-toxic, and has a neutral PH formula. Wow! Sounds like Ambient is totally green! Besides being so eco-friendly, Ambient is also easy to use and does a wonderful job in cleaning! For cleaning with Ambient Bamboo Floor Cleaner, just spray and mop. Spray and mop results? The bamboo floor is restored to its original beautiful luster!

Bona Wood Floor Cleaner is actually a cleaner that was developed for hardwood flooring but will actually work on bamboo flooring. It has been specially formulated for use on pre-lacquered wood and bamboo floors. It contains no harmful chemicals, is non-toxic, ph balanced, and is completely environmentally safe. With proper use, it will clean the floor without harming it.

There are two or three other products which need to be discussed in the bamboo floor cleaner section. They are not chemical or liquid cleaners, and so may easily go overlooked. Bamboo floors should be dust mopped, swept with a broom, and swept with a sweeper, same as a regular hardwood floor. To clean the bamboo floor, softness and dryness, are the keys. That means proper cleaning tools must be used or floor damage may result. The dust mop must have an extremely soft mop-head; most do. The broom must be extremely soft bristled if it is to be used on bamboo flooring. To thoroughly clean the floor, a soft-headed vacuum nozzle or soft-bristled brush should be used, not the vacuum itself.

Even though there are chemical bamboo floor cleaners on the market such as the two listed here, they are not necessary for day to day cleaning.

Bamboo Floor Cleaner is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring

A smart consumer will carefully evaluate a major purchase, before spending any money. This is just a short listing of bamboo flooring pros and cons, but it does show that the pros seem to far outweigh or outnumber the cons.

Bamboo flooring is extremely eco-friendly, perhaps one of the most eco-friendly products in existence. Why is bamboo flooring so eco-friendly? Because it is made out of bamboo poles which mature in just four to five years, and these poles actually replenish themselves. Wow! What a ‘pro’ for bamboo flooring.

Another eco-friendly ‘pro’ is the varying colors available in bamboo flooring are obtained through a process that darkens or lightens the bamboos natural color. There are no artificial or toxic stains used. There is, however, a ‘con’ side to this method of obtaining color in the flooring. If exposed to sunlight (through a window, day after day) the bamboo flooring will fade. A question needs to be asked here. What wouldn’t fade under direct sunlight day after day after day? The solution? Drapes or mini-blinds!

Bamboo flooring is hypo-allergenic. Bamboo flooring is mold resistant.

Durability seems to be questionable. The ‘con’ side being-some of the softer bamboo flooring systems aren’t very durable. Furniture indentations in the flooring become permanent, and high heel shoes can even press into the bamboo causing damage. The softer flooring systems are usually the cheaper systems on the market. The consumer must realize that in order for the cost to be very cheap, manufacturing must keep the processing costs extremely cheap. There is also a ‘pro’ side to the durability issue. When bamboo is processed into strand woven bamboo flooring, durability is outstanding! The newest type on the market, strand woven bamboo flooring has a Janka hardness rating of over two times the Janka hardness rating of oak flooring. (Janka hardness rating measures the pounds per inch density of a specified type of wood flooring).

Bamboo flooring pros and cons? It seems the pros far outweigh the few cons which have actually been found. In researching, it actually is difficult to find hardly any ‘cons’ against bamboo flooring. That would be another ‘pro’, wouldn’t it?

Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring is a post from: Cheap Bamboo Flooring