For a long time, bamboo was utilized for cutting boards, salad bowls and other kitchen utensils, but in recent years, bamboo hardwood floors have become one of the hottest trends in home design. Although bamboo is technically not a wood but a type of grass, it is still classified as a hardwood when it comes to floors. However, the fact that it is grass means that it is an incredibly “green” source of flooring because bamboo grows incredibly quickly.
Hardwood floors made of bamboo are stronger than maple and have nearly double the strength of oak floors. The fact that they are made of grass gives them a unique appearance, slightly different than other hardwood floors. Bamboo also has a much tighter grain than wood, and although natural bamboo is lighter in color than other woods, it can be stained as dark as you prefer. However, some bamboo is carbonized, and this process darkens the sugar in the bamboo, turning the finished product into a honey color.
The high Janka rating, a determination of how hard hardwood is, for bamboo makes it extremely durable for hardwood floors. Thus, it can withstand foot traffic without denting much better than other hardwood materials. This makes bamboo perfect for families with children and pets. Its tropical origins also make it more moisture-resistant than other hardwood floors. Consequently, bamboo hardwood floors can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms, which are not recommended for other hardwood floors.
One of the biggest benefits of bamboo, however, is that it is a completely sustainable resource. As a type of grass, it can be re-harvested from the same plant over and over again. Bamboo is also one of the fastest-growing grasses in the world, reaching harvest age within five years of being planted. Hardwood floors are somewhat sustainable, but it can take the trees that provide the wood up to one hundred years to reach maturity, and once a tree is harvested, a new one must be planted in its place.
Many flooring companies in Dallas carry and install bamboo hardwood floors, and many Dallas residents are choosing this unparalleled flooring material. If you are interested in switching to durable, beautiful, sustainable bamboo flooring, contact a Dallas area flooring contractor today. Installing bamboo hardwood floors in your home could mean you will never have to install flooring again.
