If you have ever had bamboo growing on your property, you will know that it spreads like wildfire.  It will be small grass shoots one day, then tall, wooden poles a couple of months later.  No tree grows this fast, and under almost any circumstances.  This means it can be freely used as a resource that can be continuously re-planted and re-grown.  Many people are installing them purely for the environmental benefits they pose.

There are many different kinds of timber used to make floorboards.  Maple and Red Oak have been very popular choices in the past, but are not the hardest of the timber floorboard options.  They are fast becoming old fashioned though as the bamboo floorboards hit the market.

Since the nineties, bamboo floorboard sales have risen steadily.  Prior to that they were a rarity, only seen in a small number of homes.  Then they became well known for their toughness and low environmental impact, and popularity boomed.  With this change, prices have also dropped and production has increased and become more competitive.

It isn’t only the strength of the wood that is a bonus, but also their stylish appearance.  You can choose to have them naturally finished, or stained like traditional floorboards.  It isn’t indestructible, but it is the strongest of the lot.  Some companies may try to make out as if it will be impossible to scratch or damage them, but that is not true.  They are however much more durable than other timber floors you could choose.

When you do go looking for your bamboo flooring brand of choice, try not to get stuck with anything cheap and nasty.  You need to use discernment and do some of your own research.  Don’t just take the salesman’s word for it, as they are often on brand based commissions, so are trying to sell you what is best for them.

When you make the decision to have bamboo flooring instead of timber, you really are contributing to saving a forest.  A bamboo plant grows to it’s full potential within around five years, which is so much faster than trees.  People in Asian countries have known this for centuries, and have many products including flooring that they produce from bamboo.

Because bamboo flooring is now so popular and trendy, the prices are starting to come down.  Just be wary that you are still getting a quality product, and no matter what you spend, it is probably much less than timber such as red oak would cost.

Installing floorboards is a pretty permanent and long term decision, so put the time in to comparing brands and prices broadly.  You have made a wise choice not only for the aesthetics and durability of your home, but also for the world we live in.

Related posts:

1. Bamboo Flooring – Is It For You?
2. Bamboo Wood Flooring – The Flooring Of Choice?
3. Bamboo Flooring Benefits