Bamboo Flooring Make Spark Images Of An Island Hut

One of the newest types of floor covering to hit the market, bamboo flooring is popular for those who love the look of wood floors and want to be environmentally responsible. The idea of bamboo flooring may spark images if Gilligan's Island with round poles tied together with twine lying on a sandy floor. However, manufacturers have found that with the appropriate processing methods the flooring has the same appearance as well as appeal as laminate flooring.

It also made to be stronger than many natural hardwoods of the same thickness and bamboo flooring is made in the same sizes as most laminate flooring materials, making it a popular choice among do it yourself homeowners and installers. The major difference is laminate flooring snaps together and requires no nails or glue. With bamboo flooring, installation is on top of a solid sub floor and help in place by nailing or gluing. It should also not be installed below grade as the humidity can damage the flooring materials.

While bamboo is often thought of too soft for flooring use, manufacturing processes using glue and high pressure along with impregnation with water resistant materials make them stronger than most laminate materials and some of the most used hardwood. Most of the bamboo flooring materials are also water resistant, although spills should neve be allowed to accumulate on bamboo flooring.

Special Care Instructions For Bamboo

While bamboo flooring is a viable alternative to traditional wood, there are some special instructions needed to be followed for proper care to insure it lasts an average of 25 years. Following installation, the floor should be cleaned with a damp mop to remove any dust and small aggregates that can damage the surface. Many manufacturers use a scratch resistant coating on their bamboo flooring, but some materials such as sand can cause damage to the finish.

Many people with bamboo flooring use small throw rugs to catch these materials from shoes, especially at entry doors, or in other areas with heavy traffic. The use of furniture pads under heavy pieces may also prevent depressions from forming in less expensive materials and should also be used when moving the furniture to prevent scratching.

Daily dust mopping with an occasional pass of a soft bristle broom will help protect the floor from damage. A vacuum cleaner can be used on bamboo flooring, providing the beater bar does not come into contact with the finish and is use to vacuum up any materials that may be harmful to the flooring material.