What is the difference between bamboo and hardwood floors

This lack of scale can make choosing a quality bamboo flooring brand more difficult. Whether you choose engineered hardwood, bamboo, or another flooring option, research and read reviews from other homeowners as part of your decision-making process. Create a checklist of the qualities you want in your flooring and make sure your final choice meets that criteria.

Also order samples of the selections you are interested to see them in your home first hand. May 3, at It will most likely leave some marks on any type of floor you use. The best options would be either tile or vinyl plank.

Please let us know if you have any other questions! April 9, at I am interested in Bamboo flooring for a small bedroom that we use as an office in our home. Not that much traffic but we use a desk chair with wheels. Would this be a good choice for a floor.

Your email address will not be published. Learning Center Find the answers to your home improvement questions. We will score each on a scale of 1 to 10 to help you decide which is the best choice: bamboo flooring or hardwood flooring. There are several different kinds of bamboo flooring. The higher the Janka score, the harder the flooring, and the higher its resistance to denting. For instance, strand woven bamboo has a Janka score of up to Similarly, there are several different types of solid hardwood flooring, and each of these has an associated Janka score.

One of the most popular choices of solid wood flooring is oak, which has a Janka hardness of around The table below shows the Janka hardness for bamboo flooring and the more popular types of hardwood flooring.

The hardest of all the flooring types is strand woven bamboo, which is over three times as hard as solid oak flooring, the most popular form of hardwood flooring. Thus, bamboo flooring scores 10 out of 10 for hardness, while solid wood flooring scores 7 out of Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet.

In fact, according to The Guinness Book of Records , one species of bamboo holds the record for plant growth speed, achieving a growth rate of 35 inches a day.

There is nothing quite like bamboo for reducing the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, and atmosphere while pumping out life-giving oxygen. We can harvest it without damaging the local ecosystem; the plant is mostly free from pests and disease, and it requires relatively modest quantities of water.

Of course, preparing bamboo flooring from bamboo plants does consume some resources, but the plant compensates for this. Hardwood flooring is, of course, also a natural material. Although most hardwood used for flooring is produced from managed forests, deforestation remains an issue, as illegal logging.

For more information on the environmental impact of deforestation, please view the video below. One problem is the relatively slow growth rate of hardwood trees. For instance, it can take 20 to 30 years for an oak tree to mature. There are worse flooring choices from an eco-friendly perspective than hardwood, but we can only score it 6 out of 10, significantly less than bamboo.

Many building materials can emit VOCs volatile organic chemicals and pollute your home with toxic levels of contaminants that can severely impact your health. Some of these, such as formaldehyde, are potentially carcinogenic, and even relatively small concentrations of certain VOCs can severely affect people who have asthma and other respiratory problems.

Engineered hardwood is made of real wood, just like standard hardwood. The increased density makes for a more durable floor that shows less wear and tear in high traffic zones. Another alternative to standard wood floors is bamboo flooring. Bamboo has skyrocketed as an alternative building material in several aspects of construction, from flooring to wall veneers to furniture. Bamboo floors are made from harvested bamboo stalks, which are sliced into strips and treated to remove starch.

The strips are pressed together with an adhesive to create planks, then treated with stains or colors. Bamboo remains a favorite alternative to wood flooring for consumers that are either concerned about the environment or find the distinct look of bamboo to be appealing.

When it comes to floors, you want to find a material that balances function with beauty. Engineered hardwood and bamboo flooring both have a warm, organic feel yet look quite different. Bamboo flooring has a signature style, with straight grains and minimal contrast for a clean, modern look. It comes in lighter shades of tan with yellow-tones, but it's possible to find brands that make a variety of darker shades.

Engineered hardwood looks just like regular hardwood flooring and comes in a wide variety of stains , colors and grain contrasts. This holds particularly true for darker flooring, which goes through a carbonization process that darkens the color but weakens the flooring.

Because of this, households that fear damaged flooring may want to steer away from darker-colored floors and stick with lighter colors. Even though traditional hardwoods can be very durable, the natural hardness rating of bamboo exceeds most species, making it the most durable flooring of the two types. This is why many consumers take the time to pick a flooring that they can enjoy for a lifetime.

When it comes to hardwood and bamboo flooring, which better stands up to the test of time? There are a few general considerations that you should take into account that could affect the lifespan of flooring. The type of wood, the thickness of the flooring, and how well it is cared for and maintained all play a role in how long flooring will last. A high-quality hardwood flooring that is thick and is selected from a species with a high hardness rating will easily last for years or longer with proper care.

Though the floor may have to be refinished through the years, refinishing costs significantly less than installing new flooring. Bamboo flooring can last 50 years or longer if very high-quality flooring is selected and it is properly maintained through the years. Although the lifespan varies based on the quality of the flooring selected and how well it is maintained, solid hardwood flooring generally has the longest lifespan and can maintain its beauty for a full century or even longer with proper care.

The water resistance of flooring is important for many households. After all, spills happen, not to mention that how you should clean a floor depends on whether or not it is resistant to water. Hardwood flooring is not resistant to water. If you do not clean spills up immediately or use a wet mop to clean it, it can warp or stain.

When this occurs, you will need to refinish or completely replace the flooring. Not only will warping or staining occur, but if there is moisture underneath, mold and mildew can develop.

Not only is this unhealthy, but it can also cause the wood to rot. Bamboo flooring is not completely water-resistant, but it is slightly more resistant to moisture than traditional solid wood. However, bamboo flooring repels mold and mildew, making this less of a worry for anyone considering the installation of bare flooring. Even though neither type of flooring is completely resistant to moisture, bamboo does have the advantage. It is slightly more resistant to water, and its ability to repel mold and mildew gives it the edge in this category.

To keep bare floors looking their best, you will need a regular cleaning routine. Your cleaning method will depend on the type of flooring you select. You can do everyday cleaning of hardwood floors using a dust mop, broom, or dry microfiber mop. You can use hardwood vacuum cleaner to pick up daily dirt, dust, and debris. However, it must be a vacuum s pecifically for use on bare floors or you will scratch and damage the hardwood. For a deeper clean, you can spray a product especially for use on hardwood flooring on one small section at a time.

Promptly wipe the cleaner with a dry cloth or dry microfiber mop. Never use a wet mop or large amounts of cleaner. Over time, hardwood floors may lose their luster. When this occurs, you can wax the floors to bring back their shine.

For more extensive damage, you can sand and refinish the floors. You can use a broom, dust mop, or vacuum for bare floors to pick up dirt, dust, and debris for daily cleaning of bamboo flooring. For heavier cleaning, you can use a product especially for bamboo flooring.