Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is made from various species of the bamboo plant. Bamboo is a grass that grows prevalently in Asia. Because it is a grass, it has a much shorter growth cycle than traditional hardwoods such as maple or oak. A thick bamboo forest, when harvested, will regenerate itself with no planting, fertilizer or irrigation. The same forest will be able to be harvested in as little as three years, making it a highly renewable resource when compared with the 100+ years it takes for oak trees to mature. Although it is a grass, it offers many of the same benefits as hard wood floors including durability, while giving a new, modern spin on traditional wood flooring.
Bamboo flooring is available in a wide array of colors and textures. Traditionally, there are two basic colors, natural and caramelized. The natural color is the color of the bamboo with just a clear sealant applied to it. It is a warm golden yellow that compliments a sleek modern aesthetic well. Caramelized bamboo is a richer, toasted color that is more reminiscent of the colors found in more traditional wood floors. The color is created by heating the bamboo, essentially cooking it to change the color of the bamboo. Current technology has allowed us to create custom stains that can be used to match a nearly any wood sample from cherry to ebony and anything in between.
Bamboo flooring comes in three standard textures: vertical grain, horizontal grain and strand woven. The textures are created in the manufacturing process and refer to the method of construction of each board. Vertical grain is very narrow in appearance, meaning, each board has a subtle texture of narrow lines running down it. It is created by turning the pieces of bamboo on their edge so that the narrow part of the grass is exposed. Vertical grain is also called edge grain. Horizontal grain, also called flat grain, has a wider appearance that is punctuated with dark spots indicating the growth spurts or “knuckles” of the bamboo stalk. It is created by laying the strips of bamboo flat so that the wider part of the grass is exposed.
Horizontal Grain, Caramelized Vertical Grain, Natural
Strand woven bamboo is created by shredding the grass into long strands. These strands are then pressed together using high heat and pressure to create an incredibly dense product. Strand woven bamboo floors are 30% denser than oak floors, and are highly water resistant. They are the heaviest and most durable of all bamboo floors. Strand woven bamboo also has a very distinct texture making it the perfect choice for those who appreciate the green aspects of bamboo but are seeking a more dynamic look.
