Timber flooring, in the form of solid timber or newer veneers (also called floating timber), has long been the primary choice of people who want the warm look of wood on their floors, or who want to avoid carpet. For many years, there just weren't any other options.
However, timber now has competition. Bamboo flooring is a comparable, but durable and environmentally friendly floor alternative. Against the popular floating form of timber floors, it performs favorably.
Floating timber floors are one of the most popular types of floor. Made up of a thin layer of wood laminated over a less expensive material, they're cheaper than solid hardwood. Bamboo floors, by comparison, can be made of solid bamboo. That'll give you more durability over time, but cost less than solid timber. Bamboo is also much harder to damage than most woods.
A bamboo floor, unlike floating timber, is fixed permanently to the surface on which it sits. That makes it a lot more stable than timber. There's less movement or opening of the joints between the individual pieces.
You also won't have to deal with the hollow sound that many timber floors make when you walk on them, or the easy scratching. Bamboo flooring is solid sounding, easy to clean, and resistant to scratches and dings.
The fact that the individual pieces of flooring don't move or shift also makes refinishing bamboo easier. There's a much better surface to work with than solid timber, and veneered wood floors can't be refinished at all!
Veneered timber flooring must be replaced if it's damaged. Bamboo, on the other hand, can last another five to ten years if you have it resurfaced. It can even be resurfaced more times than just about any other floor type.
Those who are worried about the environment will probably choose bamboo over timber. Both are natural, renewable resources, but timber takes a long time to replace itself. Veneered timber flooring uses less hardwood, but other woods are still used, and composite fillers often involve toxic glues.
These types of practices occur mostly in countries that don't regulate or enforce their regulations. All you have to do to find out if your bamboo is being grown sustainably is do a little research. There are plenty of products out there that are made with environmentally sustainable bamboo - just find out what you can to be sure you're getting the product you're paying for.
Compared to hardwood, bamboo will last a lot longer, and stand up better to daily wear. For those who are still concerned about the life of their bamboo floor, warranties are available. Remember that you get what you pay for - buy a product that's made to last, rather than a bargain.
Where contraction and expansion are issues, you'll find that bamboo offers a favorable performance. Unlike hardwood veneer floorings, bamboo will hold up to a number of resurfacings, and there's no treatment or waxing required. To make sure you get a product that's non toxic and fully sustainable, look for flooring that uses glues that won't off gas and don't contain toxic chemicals.
If you've been considering bamboo flooring, or just want to find out more, take a look online. There are lots of stores offering bamboo flooring that'll last for years, feel a lot like hardwood, and be kind to the world around you.
About the Author:
While timber flooring has always been popular in Australia, bamboo floors are now starting to take market share, due to a range of great reasons. Visit Bamboozle in Perth - www.bamboozle.com.au - to learn more.
0 comments:
Post a Comment