Is Bamboo Flooring the Right Choice for Your Kitchen?

Bamboo is very comparable to hardwood flooring however the number one reason everyone will be digging your floors will be because they are unique!  Bamboo is stunning and exotic, it is a unique look that is unexpected. Bamboo flooring, as pictured above, is a renewable product and is comparable to hardwood in style & feel making it another ideal kitchen flooring material you can consider for your kitchen.

What is the cost of bamboo flooring?

This flooring material can vary from $5.00 sq to $15.00 sq installation not included and is typically seen in widths of 3-3/4″ or 5-5/8″ Wide.

Bamboo Hardwood Flooring – Color and Design

Less versatile in this category than the likes of vinyl and linoleum flooring, bamboo’s luscious looks make up for it in style. Typically only found in light, natural, amber, and dark hues,  bamboo manufacturers have created innovative designs and patterns providing homeowners with a significant range of options. Bamboo Carbonizing – Carbonizing is simply a process where bamboo is steamed at higher temperatures to alter sugar and starch content which in turn will result in richer hues of coffee and cream. Bamboo Staining – Some  flooring manufacturers offer consumers a wider color variety by staining its surface. Design – There are generally two design choices to be made:

• Horizontal grain bamboo refers to floors created from a wider horizontal strip creating a more obvious bamboo appearance. Nodes are visible.
• Vertical grain bamboo flooring is where floors are created from thinner strips resulting in a less obvious bamboo appearance. Nodes are less visible.

Is Bamboo Flooring Durable?

Bamboo is an ideal kitchen flooring material that is incredibly strong, however once laid, bamboo takes on most of the same characteristics of hardwood making durability an important consideration. Scratch resistance – Like hardwood, bamboo is susceptible to scratching. It is recommended to use padding under furniture to prevent denting or scratching. If you have pets, be sure to keep their claws in check! Strength – Bamboo plank is very strong. When well maintained bamboo flooring can last a lifetime. Fire resistance – Bamboo flooring qualifies for the highest grade of fire resistance for that of hardwood flooring products. Water resistance – Bamboo is resistant to water but under no circumstance should water be left to pool on its surface. It is recommended that area rugs or mats be placed in front of the sink or stove to not only prevent wear but to also catch spills that may go unnoticed. Maintenance – Cleaning is relatively simple requiring light mopping and sweeping. Beware that sweeping is very important as these floors can scratch. Dirt, sand, and other granular particles under foot can make good opportunity for damage.

Types of Bamboo Flooring

Moisture will always be an important factor in kitchens so we recommend hiring a professional to install your bamboo kitchen flooring properly. Bamboo flooring for the kitchen is constructed today in a couple of ways:

Solid Bamboo Flooring

This particular floor is the most natural of bamboo flooring products as the grain follows one direction throughout the plank. These floor planks or tiles are much less expensive to produce and therefore cost less, however they are also more troublesome to install as they must be nailed to a plywood sub-floor.

Engineered Bamboo Flooring

This innovative product contributed to the ease of hardwood installation today and is now also playing a roll in bamboo flooring production. In engineered bamboo, the grain layers are cross-laminated where one layer will run N-S while another runs E-W. This pattern lets bamboo gain strength and become less susceptible to humidity and temperature. Perhaps more importantly engineered bamboo flooring is much easier to install. Edge glued bamboo tiles and planks and click bamboo flooring can be installed over a concrete sub-floor, making it a more accessible product and one of the best kitchen flooring materials available.

Is Bamboo Flooring a Sustainable Product?

Bamboo is considered an excellent green product for your home as it is an extremely strong and versatile plant actually classified as a grass. It grows rapidly where shoots reach maturity in 5-7 years and the plant actually benefits from the harvesting of those shoots making it a very sustainable flooring material similar to cork flooring. If you are looking for a green flooring material to install in your home and are considering bamboo, be sure to make sure your flooring manufacturer is using bamboo from sustainable forests.  The popularity of bamboo has led to many plantings of uncertified bamboo forests.  Similar to what is happening in the Amazon for cattle farming, many natural forests are being clear cut to make room for more bamboo plantations to keep up with demand and to benefit economically. This has led to erosion, and the destruction of natural animal habitats. When selecting your bamboo floor, look into whether the manufacturer is using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified bamboo and love your “green floor”.