In the last decade, the popularity of bamboo as a building material has gained momentum because of its sustainability, eco-friendliness, durability and low maintenance requirements. Bamboo is considered as one of the fastest growing plants on the earth as it can grow 75-80 feet high in just 4-6 years. Traditional hardwood trees such as Cherry, Oak and Jarrah, on the other hand, can take around 80 years to attain that height. The extensive root system of bamboo makes it a highly renewable source because it can grow on its own without the plantation of the seedlings.
Bamboo flooring is a unique bamboo product that grabs the attention of everyone who visits your home. Not only does it add style and warmth to your rooms, but it also improves the aesthetical appearance of your home due to its natural blonde look and wonderful grain pattern. The hardness of bamboo flooring is easily comparable to that of Walnut. The matchless strength of bamboo flooring makes it an ideal choice to install over high foot traffic areas.
Bamboo flooring is very easy to install on both wood sub-floor and concrete surfaces. However, before installing a bamboo floor, you should do some research about the product and the supplier to avoid a problem with an already installed bamboo floor. Remember that a proper planning before installation is the key to maintain the beauty, elegance and durability of your bamboo floor for many years to come.
First of all, you should see the bamboo flooring as a natural product that will need maintenance and care, just like any other type of hardwood floor or natural product installed in your home. When purchasing bamboo flooring, beware of over keen sales people who tend to point out the best points about the product, ignoring the daily challenges you might face with that floor in your home. Although bamboo flooring makes a valuable investment to your home because of its toughness, durability, beauty and forest-friendliness, it still needs numerous preventive measures to keep it looking like new and stop it from getting damaged. Remember that bamboo flooring problems occur through lack of knowledge and you need to educate yourself about this magnificent product before installing it in your home.
Second of all, you should purchase bamboo flooring from a reputable supplier who has obtained high quality materials from a good manufacturer. A good way to find a supplier in your area is to look for the word of mouth or recommendations. You can also find a reliable supplier on the internet by viewing the feedbacks from previous customers. This will give you a better idea about the quality of services he offers, the installation process and the quality of the floor. You can also ask a supplier to direct you to a satisfied customer online so you can have a chat and see what he or she says about the product. Remember that purchasing a bamboo floor from an honest supplier will prevent later bamboo flooring problems such as expansion and contraction of flooring boards, colour fading, indentations, inconsistencies, visual imperfections and warping.
If you want to install the floor on your own, you should get as much information as possible before installation to avoid the future problems. Remember that a poor installation can lead to buckling and cracking of boards particularly if they were fitted too close together. Environmental factors such as frequent changes in temperature and high humidity levels can also cause bamboo planks to contract or expand. A good approach is to hire the services of the supplier for the installation as well because he is a professional in the industry and will know each and every thing about bamboo flooring. You can access some feedback about quality of installation from previous customers on this step as well. After installation, look after your floor and clean it regularly to keep it young and attractive.