Hardwood floors have been in use for centuries to add warmth and charm to the home. Apart from its appealing looks it also lends a value to your house and they are not going out of fashion any time soon. However, having said that one must also look to bamboo as a substitute for hardwood when it comes to flooring. Bamboo not only looks and feels like traditional hardwood but also provides better service than hardwoods.

Bamboos are tall perennial grass which grows predominantly in warm temperate and moist tropical climate. They grow indigenously in most south Asian countries like India, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Bamboos are very fast growing plants that mature in 5-7 years. Because of such a short generation cycle the bamboo is also a more sustainable option than hardwood. Don’t let the simplicity of bamboo fool you. The simple hollow grass packs quite a punch and is one of the toughest natural materials available. It has been proven to be stronger than many hardwoods in the market. 

 Are you planning to refurnish your home? Or are you moving into a new one and have been brainstorming over which hardwood to get for your floor? Well give the hardwoods a pass this time and go for the stained bamboo flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should be considering bamboo the next time you think of new and sophisticated flooring for your home.

Engineers and architects over the world are now turning away from hardwoods and towards bamboo for building materials. Since time immemorial bamboo has been used to make houses, buildings, scaffolding and other construction materials throughout Asia, mainly South and East Asia. In modern times the bamboo is preferred to hardwoods for a number of reasons. One of the principal reasons behind the emergence of bamboo as a flooring material is its eco-friendly nature. Since bamboos have a growth cycle of 5-7 years, in contrast to over 50 years for most hardwoods, they can regenerate in less than a decade once cut down for construction. Hardwoods on the other hand take several decades to fully grow and mature. Cutting down such old trees harms the environment drastically and it takes a new tree almost half a century to grow in its place. Thus the bamboo is much more sustainable than hardwoods.

Moreover, bamboo also absorbs a huge amount of carbon dioxide and naturally resists pests and diseases. It also prevents soil erosion. When a bamboo fully grows only the shoot is cut down. The plant is not uprooted thus ensuring a new plant can grow from the existing root system. The root system also holds the soil in place. Thus, overall the bamboo is more environment friendly than hardwood and much more sustainable.

Despite the fact that the bamboo is a grass it is stronger and tougher than most widely available hardwoods. The Janka hardness scale, a scale used by architects and engineers to measure the hardness of wood, rates the bamboo as one of the toughest natural material with a score of around 3000. Only a particular Brazilian walnut and an Australian hardwood beat the bamboo to the top. Stained bamboo flooring is known for their immense strength and their innate capability to handle the heaviest of footfalls. Bamboo flooring is ideal for the busiest places in your house like the kitchen and hallways. The natural toughness of bamboo ensures that your floor is resistant to scratches and dents. The stained bamboo flooring is also invulnerable to moisture; any water spill will evaporate after sometime and your floor will eventually dry off on its own. However, be sure not to let large amount of water rest on your floor for more than 24 hours.

Also contrary to popular belief bamboo does not look awkward on your floor. In fact it looks and feels just like any other hardwoods. The natural grains and patterns of the bamboo provide an edgy and contemporary feel to the floor. The simplistic lines of the bamboo look clean and elegant. Along with warmth and coziness, the bamboo flooring also lends a sophisticated touch to your home in a minimalistic way. Stained bamboo flooring also offers a range of color choices and it also costs less than traditional hardwoods.

So why wait? Contact a reliable dealer near you and refurnish your home with the new and trendy bamboo flooring.