Any home needs proper maintenance, and although its builders may have one idea in mind when the house is constructed, renovation and remodeling can totally change the materials used in a home, and usually for the better. Windows can be replaced, as can doors or the roof or even the floors under one’s feet. Often, hardwood is using for flooring in modern American homes, but there are alternatives that may be much more attractive and efficient, and eco-friendly material for building is growing in popularity not only to preserve the natural environment (part of “going green”), but there are other benefits to alternative flooring materials as well. The transition between floors does not have to be a difficult one; regular hardwood floors can be torn up and replaced with bamboo instead, and bamboo strength and price and make it very popular and desirable. The transition between floors can be made easier when contractors are hired to handle this job. How can bamboo be installed into a home’s floors?
The Flooring Industry
Bamboo flooring pros and cons can make it clear why this wood is a strong contender for any home’s construction. In the flooring industry as a whole, in 2017, total flooring sales reached a total of $21.99 billion, and in that same year, all floor sales put together covered some 19.736 billion square feet, showing just how huge this industry is for both private homes and commercial buildings alike. And this industry may only grow in the future, with over70% of respondents (including retailers and contractors) saying that sales are expected to grow at least 3% in 2017, and one third of respondents think taht 8% growth or more is possible. The transition between floors of hardwood to bamboo can illustrate just how effective and attractive this building material is, and installation instructions may be relatively simple, too.
The Power of Bamboo
While hardwood trees may take up to 20 years or more to reach maturity and therefore be useful for lumber, bamboo is a natural vegetation that is highly renewable and can grow to maturity in just three to five years. And according to The Spruce, there are many other advantages to consider as well, alongside maintenance tips and tricks. For one thing, bamboo is more resistant to water damage than hardwood is, so it will not stain or warp as easily, although this can still happen in some cases, so caution should be exercised. Bamboo can be very tough and resistant to damage, depending on the type used, and natural, un-carbonized bamboo can be as durable as red oak if it is harvested and treated well enough, and if bamboo flooring can be strand woven to become even tougher still.
Bamboo is relatively easy to maintain. Even if its surface becomes scratched, marred, stained, or otherwise damaged, it is completely possible for the owner to have it sanded down and refinished as needed, and finishing coats can be applied to it to give a fresh, brand new look. For mundane maintenance, just sweeping and vacuuming it to remove dust and other particles is often all that is needed, and it can sometimes be damp-mopped as well. Finally, bamboo can often be found at competitive prices, often at $2 to $8 per square foot, although buyers should be wary enough to avoid cheap castoff materials being sold as flooring, or poor quality floors will be the result. For all these reasons, the transition between floors of hardwood to bamboo can cause some considerable conveniences and other welcome changes.
A few drawbacks about bamboo should be considered. For one, bamboo is known to give off VOCs, since bamboo flooring’s woven stands are often chemically and heat treated, and this means that as with many other construction materials, bamboo flooring will give off trace amounts of harmful particles and gases over time, so homeowners should be aware of that. The exact nature of bamboo plank construction may influence the amount of VOCs given off. Also, bamboo can get scratched like any other wood, such as by sand, dust particles, or pet claws. And extremes in humid or dry air may swell up or shrink the planks, respectively, which can result in a warping.