Timber flooring has been around for a long time, in the form of solid wood or veneered (floating timber) floors. It's the first choice for people who want their homes to include the warm look of wood, or who just don't like carpet. There haven't been a lot of other options.
Now, however, bamboo flooring offers a comparable, environmentally friendly, durable alternative to traditional timber. Here are some facts about how bamboo flooring performs against popular floating timber floors.
Floating timber floors are most popular because they're inexpensive. Unlike solid timber, they're made up of wood veneer just a few millimeters in thickness. This veneer is laminated onto less expensive wood, or onto a wood composite. Bamboo floors, on the other hand, can be made of solid bamboo. That means that they're more durable, and may be less expensive than a solid timber floor. As a plus, bamboo is harder to damage and much stronger than most woods.
A bamboo floor, unlike floating timber, is fixed permanently to the surface on which it sits. That makes it a lot more stable than timber. There's less movement or opening of the joints between the individual pieces.
Unlike both floating and solid timber floors, bamboo flooring doesn't sound hollow when walked upon. It's also a lot harder to scratch and easier to clean than either type of timber floor.
Since there's little to no movement between pieces of bamboo flooring, you can easily refinish your floor. Bamboo provides a better surface than solid timber, and veneered timber can't be resurfaced at all!
Veneered timber flooring must be replaced if it's damaged. Bamboo, on the other hand, can last another five to ten years if you have it resurfaced. It can even be resurfaced more times than just about any other floor type.
Those who are worried about the environment will probably choose bamboo over timber. Both are natural, renewable resources, but timber takes a long time to replace itself. Veneered timber flooring uses less hardwood, but other woods are still used, and composite fillers often involve toxic glues.
These types of practices occur mostly in countries that don't regulate or enforce their regulations. All you have to do to find out if your bamboo is being grown sustainably is do a little research. There are plenty of products out there that are made with environmentally sustainable bamboo - just find out what you can to be sure you're getting the product you're paying for.
If durability is a serious concern, bamboo is the better choice over hardwood. Bamboo stands up well to daily wear, and there are a number of floors that come with a warranty. You should, however, be willing to spend the money for a quality product that will last out the years.
You can find bamboo flooring in just about any finish or color - it'll go with any decorating scheme. Finding flooring that works well in your home is simple in most cases.
If you've been considering bamboo flooring, or just want to find out more, take a look online. There are lots of stores offering bamboo flooring that'll last for years, feel a lot like hardwood, and be kind to the world around you.
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While timber floors have always been popular in Australia, bamboo floors are now starting to take market share, due to a range of great reasons. Visit Bamboozle in Perth - www.bamboozle.com.au - to learn more.
