Solid Bamboo Flooring Solid bamboo flooring is made entirely of bamboo. You cannot get more natural or more eco-friendly than that. Aside from bamboo’s established reputation for being “green”, it is also very durable. Unlike wood, bamboo is moisture-resistant. It does not expand and contract as much as wood does when exposed to moisture. Thus, bamboo floors are less prone to unpleasant moisture-caused damages such as gaps between planks. You have to make sure that you buy only those that are carefully made by skilled manufacturers who used top-quality bamboo, adhesive, and milling equipment. Otherwise, you might run the risk of getting costly damages. However, how do you discriminate which is low quality and which is not? Here are some clues. Top quality solid bamboo floors are often 5/8 inch thick. Anything thinner than that is low quality. As for length, some manufacturers reserve their best cuts, the straightest and densest, for boards with longer lengths. Most top quality products are usually the “Premium” grade 6 feet long planks. One flooring plank consists of many layers of individual strips of bamboo. These should be glued together under heat and pressure by good adhesive. That is, the adhesive should be water resistant and should not contain toxic chemicals. It is helpful to find out the kind of adhesive your manufacturer used. As for the milling equipment used, you can ensure quality by looking at the end of a sample. If a substandard mill were used, there would be visible gaps between the individual strips of bamboo. Some manufacturers leave it as it is, perhaps hoping it would not be noticed. Some opt to fill it with adhesive, perhaps in an attempt to make it less noticeable. Quality bamboos are cut perfectly and are firmly glued together. This is important, as it would lessen movement in the bamboo. There you have it. Be a little meticulous in choosing structurally strong solid bamboo flooring. This would ensure you have a beautiful and lasting floor. |
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