Among the numerous flooring options these days, bamboo is gradually becoming one of the hot favorites for most home owners and rightly so. After all, the tensile strength combined with cool and modern looks is not what we generally get in the traditional ones like hardwood. Besides, when you think in terms of budget, engineered bamboo floors are what most people are comfortable with.

Choosing the right bamboo type

Bamboo is ideally a tough plant. Strange as it may sound, it’s soft like pine while the hardness is much like maple. Still, a lot depends on the species that’s used and the time of its harvest. The best one for this purpose is the ‘Moso bamboo’. Of course, there are a lot and many stores use the cheap and immature ones for the flooring, coated with some finish that ultimately causes major problems for users. Hence, it is wise to check on the bamboo type, finishes and most importantly, warranties.

Given this tree-like grass that grows really fast, it is no doubt a highly preferred option in the ‘green building world’.

However, bamboo veneer is not necessarily the best among the lot. There are engineered hardwood floors, constructed of a mix of different materials after the manufacturing process gets over and comes with its own set of benefits too. So, one has to look at the pros and cons of bamboo floors prior to zeroing on it.

The Positives

· Exactness with natural bamboo

Most people opting for the engineered varieties know that natural bamboo is difficult to be distinguished from their engineered counterparts. Here, the plant stalk gets carved in tiny sheets and stuck to a backing material. Then a layer is installed on the pile or plank top so that the bamboo veneer is protected and the bottom remains waterproof too.

· Ease in use

Only those who have used engineered bamboo flooring know how simply it can be cleaned. The best way to keep it dust-free is mopping it on a daily basis by using a number of cleaners. However, stay away from mopping it in its wet form as damage could be inevitable.

· Quick installation

There are plenty of installation methods that one can choose for laying the bamboo veneer. The floating floor method is one of the most popularly used ones, whereby the planks are stuck together and put on a thin foam rubber underlayment. The fact that the flooring is not attached with the subfloor makes its installation easy.

· Wider boards

Thanks to the base not being of natural bamboo, there are plenty of choices when setting the engineered flooring. This is because the strips can be joined together.

· Non-allergenic

Say no to dust, dirt and allergens when installing engineered flooring. For those who have allergies, this kind of flooring will only help in making breathing easy.

· Environmentally-friendly

It is easier to depend on the engineered floors for its green nature. The sustainability factor and green aspects are what accounts for bamboo’s growing popularity.

The Negatives

· High expenses

There’s no doubt that the best quality engineered bamboo floors will be expensive, but greater warranty periods against the manufacturing defects is a real boon. The high prices are greatly because of the base layer used and the plank thickness.

· Moisture issue

These floors are comparatively water resistant than hardwood, but they are at an increased risk of destruction too. Like a liquid if spilled on the floor means immediate wiping and drying. If the liquid sinks inside, there could be complete spoilage.

· Hollow spots

Bamboo veneer used on engineered flooring types is mostly the floating type with hollow spots. They can be fixed using the adhesive or simply drilling the boards, but it would be better to talk to an expert beforehand.

· Softness

Bamboo plants are hard, but the softness in them causes the floors to face an increased risk of scratches and dents. Check to see you aren’t wearing heels on it or the small particles are wiped off immediately and so on. With heavy furniture however, protective pads can be used.

Engineered bamboo flooring types are no doubt however in terms of durability and looks, but the shortcomings cannot be disregarded either.