Bamboo Flooring

Twenty years ago, I bought a wok.  With the wok came a bamboo spatula.  The wok lived about 10 years, but the spatula is still alive and kicking.

Because the spatula was so sturdy, it soon became my favorite kitchen tool and was used not only for stir frying but almost every other kitchen duty.  This hardworking utensil that has endured extreme heat and drastic temperature changes, as well as approximately 4160 trips through the dishwasher, and has been occasionally used as an improvised drum stick.

I am so glad that someone finally said, “Hey if bamboo makes such great spatulas, imagine how well it will work for a floor!”

And get this:  Bamboo is grass.  Grass!  It’s one of the fastest growing plants on earth and, unlike trees, can grow to full height in a single growing season (3 to 4 months), making it a very eco-friendly choice for your flooring.

Even though bamboo is technically a grass, it has many physical similarities to hardwood, such as strength, durability and resistance to moisture and insects.

Bamboo typically comes in two colors, natural and carbonized.  The carbonization process darkens the bamboo, turning it a brownish color.  Carbonized bamboo is softer than non-carbonized.  Although natural and carbonized are the two most common “colors”, bamboo does come in a variety of shades.

Bamboo floors also have two different “looks”—vertical and horizontal.  This refers to the grain orientation.  The vertical style has a sleeker, lined appearance, while the horizontal style looks like an actual flattened bamboo stalk, showing more bamboo characteristics.

You can install bamboo above or below grade, and on either wood or concrete.  It can be nailed or glued or floated.

On the hardness scale, bamboo is similar to red oak, which is right in the middle.  Take precautions against denting by using area rugs in high use spots and avoiding high-heeled shoes.  Use felt pads on the feet of your furniture and keeps pets nails trimmed.

Bamboo is easy to maintain.  Sweep regularly and damp mop as needed.  Usually mopping with simple water will do the trick, but for a cleaner clean, use a natural solvent.

Bamboo.  It’s not just for spatulas anymore.