Posted on 2016-12-27 7:58:33
Most home owners look no further than bamboo veneer for their flooring types for a number of reasons. If you have also set your heart on the same, it is vital to know that much like the differences in bamboo types and species, the flooring patterns also vary.
The common types
Regardless of the choice made, bamboo flooring looks stylish and elegant and has a durable nature to it. Mostly of the organic form, bamboo has a strange quality of being both soft and hard. There are three different bamboo floor types in general:
- Solid bamboo flooring, where few solid bamboo particles are stuck together
- Engineered bamboo flooring, where the lamination is made to a cross-ply backing to prevent it from shrinking at the time of being exposed to the air. The fibers here are very strong, yet the binding being a tad weak makes the engineered variety likely to crack.
- Strand woven bamboo flooring is the best and strongest type. Here, the material is compressed using adhesive to form a solid plank. What makes it strong is the glue that sticks it together.
The choice of bamboo
The ‘Moso bamboo’ species is the best among the lot, which is why most store owners prefer keeping it rather than other cheaper varieties. Almost 100% of the bamboo stalk is utilized in the production bit and that keeps its ‘green’ factor alive. The adhesive that joins the stalks is also of an environment-friendly material. The plant is sustainable and grows very rapidly without a lot of resources. While wood takes many years, bamboo on the other hand takes just 3-5 years to reach full maturity.
Process of bamboo strand weaving
The bamboo plant is a really fibrous one with its chief component being grass. While many thought it’s much like wood, it actually isn’t so. Given the basic texture of it, most manufacturers thought of laminating the fibers in layers like one on top of the other and then they stranded it together with adhesive, helping it become a very strong material.
For this type of flooring, the stalks of bamboo are cut and then woven together. The adhesive that actually attaches them together is taken in a very small quantity and then the strips are subjected to high pressure, heated and finally compressed to form a very hard wooden block. It is this compression that retains the hardness of strand woven bamboo flooring.
The amazing thing about this variety is its hardness like the traditional hardwood flooring. No matter how much of wear and tear the bamboo veneer bears, the appearance and strength stay intact. So whether it’s the kids or the pets, this kind of bamboo flooring is suitable for residential and commercial uses.
The need for weaving
The softness in bamboo is present while harvesting, which increases the need for strengthening the same when it comes to flooring. There’s a certain process called carbonizing, whereby the floor tends to become weak after the staining or browning caused to it. All these make it important that the bamboo veneer is rightly strengthened.
List of plus points
The best part about strand-woven bamboo floorings is its variations in terms of color. This is because it’s dyed and stained and after that it’s hand-scraped for a stronger and better look.
The ease in cleaning and maintaining is rare to find in the other varieties. For those with allergies, it’s a good option as there’s no chance of dust being accumulated.
Longevity and quick installation are few other benefits that one can have with strand-woven bamboo flooring. You can also install the same over subfloors like wood or vinyl tile. Just keep in mind that the bamboo veneer if made wet can lead to irreparable damage.
Drawbacks
Sadly, the adhesive that’s used for sticking the strands together to form this material can cause the floor some destruction as it emits volatile organic chemicals. However, a lot depends on the process of its manufacturing.
Besides the naturalness is lost owing to the way the manufacture is done.
Overall, strand woven bamboo flooring offers a great combination of sophistication and practical use. With its environment-friendliness and ease in use, maintenance and the pocket pinch, the investment will certainly be a worthwhile one.