Bamboo flooring provides an excellent alternative to traditional hardwood flooring.

Growing in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has many attractive features that make it a viable option for modern homeowners. Although harvested mostly in China, bamboo flooring is now widely available in North America and Europe. Many of those that adopted bamboo flooring early on point out its environmental friendliness. The bamboo plant regrows very quickly when compared with the time it takes a forest to regrow. In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows far faster than a forest. When done responsibly, bamboo plant harvesting can be accomplished in a environmentally friendly manner.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods? High quality bamboo flooring is harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring. Moisture is also less of a problem for bamboo flooring. Where traditional hardwood may buckle and crack due to water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem. Bamboo flooring is engineered like a laminate and treated under extremely high pressure with a high quality glue. This makes bamboo flooring very resistant to abrasions and scratches, where a hardwood floor would end up showing scratches. Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past few years as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring can typically be installed at home without any professional assistance. Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is produced with a tongue and groove construction, making them considerably easier to install. Prior to laying down a bamboo floor, let the planks sit in their new environment for no less than 72 hours. Although bamboo flooring is very resistant to moisture, they do need some time to adjust to the new environment before installation.

What should be done to maintain a bamboo floor? Upkeep requirements are fairly easy for bamboo flooring. Be sure to clean the floor after installing it, using a mop with only a little bit of water. Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation. This will prevent dust and dirt from collecting on the finish. A mat should be placed at the entrance to prevent dust and dirt from coming into the room. Dirt and small rocks will end up damaging the finish, and a mat can go a long way in preventing this problem.