Bamboo is a natural surface covering material that has many of the properties of hardwood flooring, even though it is actually produced from a type of grass. It shares many of the positive benefits of a hardwood floor, as well as the drawbacks and vulnerabilities. The more you understand the properties of this material, the better informed you will be when making a purchasing or maintenance decision.
Benefits
- Ecologically friendly:Bamboo is made from natural vegetation. The bamboo plant is a highly renewable that is able to grow to maturity in as little as three to five years. This is much faster than hardwood trees which can take upwards of twenty years or more to reach maturity.
- Easy maintenance: Bamboo is relatively easy to mantain You just have to sweep or vacuum it regularly to remove small particle debris. You can also occasional damp mop it, or clean it with a non-wax, non-alkaline, hardwood or bamboo floor cleanser.
- Water resistant: This material is slightly more resistant to water damage, stains, and warping than hardwood materials, although it is still a concern.
- Natural material: The use of natural materials is an important trend in the construction industry right now. As people are becoming more ecologically conscious they are demanding products that reflect these values. They are also seeking materials and designs that reject the modern cookie cutter world and instead focus on individual personality and natural evolution.
- Price:This material is priced at about the same level as most hardwood floors. You will often find from about ksh 2000 to ksh 4,500 per square meter. You should avoid bargain basement materials as they are often lower quality castoffs.
- Durability: There are certain types of bamboo that can be extremely strong, hard, and durable. Natural, un-carbonized bamboo that was properly harvested and manufactured can be as durable as red oak. Strand woven bamboo can be manufactured even harder than that.
- Style: Bamboo is a trendy flooring material that can elevate the elegance of a space almost instantly. It has an appearance and a feel that is similar to hardwood and yet is still distinct and different.
- Refinishing: Over time bamboo floors may become discolored, scratched, or marred. Luckily the surface of this material can be refinished, sanding it down and then reapplying the finishing coats to give it a fresh new look. The amount of sanding that can be done will be determined by the thickness of the planks used.
