| Interested in bamboo flooring? Frequently touted as | | | | softer than hardwood floors, there are durability |
| a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative | | | | issues in some environments. Bamboo can be |
| to hardwood floors, bamboo has become a popular | | | | problematic in areas with a high humidity, since the |
| building choice for people trying to save money and | | | | softness can create unevenness and warping |
| get a wood floor look without the environmental | | | | concerns. In any environment bamboo is more likely |
| downsides of wood floors. Unfortunately, many of | | | | than hardwood to sustain damage from things like |
| the benefits of bamboo have downsides that aren't | | | | high heels and rowdy children. Bamboo is also prone |
| as well known or easy to get around. | | | | to bleaching out when exposed to a lot of direct |
| The Positive Side Of Bamboo Floors | | | | sunlight, so it can have issues in sunny rooms over |
| Bamboo grows in many areas of the world, and it | | | | time. |
| can grow back and be harvested once every three | | | | Bamboo isn't exactly as environmentally friendly as it |
| to seven years. This makes it a sustainable crop that | | | | is billed to be. While bamboo itself is sustainable, the |
| will replenish at a much faster rate than the trees | | | | popularity of the grass has led to the clear-cutting of |
| used for hardwood flooring, which take much longer | | | | forests in China to grow bamboo for Western floors. |
| to grow to maturity. Because of this sustainability, | | | | Many companies are also using dangerous farming |
| bamboo has become one of the most popular | | | | practices when growing bamboo, since the industry |
| choices for people looking to build with green | | | | doesn't have much oversight yet. Finding bamboo for |
| materials. | | | | floors for sale that is fair trade certified and checked |
| The cost of bamboo is much cheaper than traditional | | | | by environmental oversight groups is still difficult, |
| hardwood flooring, frequently coming in at less than | | | | which makes it hard to buy bamboo responsibly |
| half the cost of a standard wood floor. Because of | | | | without a lot of research. |
| the sustainable nature of bamboo, it is much faster | | | | Due to the lack of oversight in some of the bamboo |
| and easier to produce enough of the material to | | | | produced overseas, there is a safety risk with some |
| meet demand at a lower price. | | | | cheaper bamboo. The high demand has produced a |
| Bamboo floors are beautiful and versatile. Bamboo | | | | large amount of cheap bamboo flooring options that |
| can be cut several ways to produce a wide variety | | | | are glued with formaldehyde and other toxic |
| of beautiful grain patterns and styles. It can also be | | | | chemicals before they are shipped. Because of these |
| dyed and finished in a variety of colors that mimic | | | | issues, it is important to fully research a flooring |
| many more expensive hardwood flooring options, | | | | company before making a bamboo purchase to |
| creating enough choice to make just about anyone | | | | make sure they are buying bamboo that uses safe, |
| find a bamboo flooring style they like. | | | | water based adhesives that have been inspected in |
| Problems With Bamboo | | | | the U.S. |
| Unfortunately, since bamboo is much lighter and | | | | |