Here in NZ, we often overlook one of nature's great resources when it comes to building materials. Bamboo has been popular for eons in other parts of the world for everything from home construction to furniture and home decor items.
This fast-growing plant is strong and flexible with an attractive appearance. Thanks to the global economy, bamboo is now available everywhere, and can often be more cost-effective than traditional materials. Bamboo flooring is one area that has a lot to offer, and should be seriously considered alongside other options on the market.
Bamboo Explained
Bamboo, which is a tropical grass, is actually harder than many hardwoods. Bamboo is composed of springy fibers that make it a very resilient construction material: it will effectively avoid denting from dropped objects or heavy furniture, for example. Quality bamboo flooring is also less prone to warping with humidity changes or cupping and sagging with age.
The same internal structure that makes bamboo resilient also makes it easier on your body. It has been proven that bamboo flooring actually produces less stress on your joints and feet than other flooring materials. Bamboo is naturally water resistant, not porous like other woods. This means that bamboo flooring is easy to clean and can even be used in humid rooms like the bathroom or kitchen.
Bamboo Flooring Material
Another very important advantage of the material is its environmental impact. With deforestation a real problem world-wide, bamboo is a great wood-alternative. A bamboo plant can be harvested after only five years and even then the plant continues to grow from the root. This means that bamboo is a green construction material; using it helps to reduce global dependence on a strained natural resource. Happily, another result of the plant's rapid growth is lower cost for the consumer.
In short, bamboo flooring can often be cheaper, stronger, more versatile, and less problematic than hard-wood. It is also luminous, elegant, and even a little bit exotic. Using bamboo flooring is a great way to be earth-friendly as well. There is every reason in the world to consider bamboo as an excellent flooring material for your next renovation project.
