What to Look Out for When Buying Bamboo Flooring

Posted on February 23, 2010 | Category: Decorating Trivia

When purchasing strand woven bamboo flooring online, it is important to keep in mind that not all manufacturers adhere to the same quality standards. These are a few things to keep in mind to help find the best flooring material available.

The hardness of the bamboo flooring depends on more than just the type of plank you are using (such as engineered bamboo, solid plank, or strand bamboo).

The length of time bamboo takes to mature, the species of bamboo used, grain patterns, and even the color of the finished bamboo will all affect the hardness and durability of the floor. Moso bamboo tends to be the strongest of all bamboos typically used in flooring. It matures over a period of five to seven years rather than three to five years of some other bamboos. Another thing to think about when choosing bamboo flooring is the type of adhesive that is used to make the plank. The best flooring material will be made with a water based adhesive that is formaldehyde-free and safe for the home. Unfortunately the worst manufacturers still use materials that will let off toxic gas fumes in the home. While these manufacturers will save you a little bit of money up front, the potential health risk is not worth the small savings. If you are unsure about a product, you can ask to see its MSDS sheets – if the manufacturer will not divulge this information it’s a good bet the bamboo is saturated in formaldehyde.

One of the most important steps in the manufacturing process is taking proper care of the bamboo during milling and properly monitoring the moisture content of the product. Unfortunately not all manufactures take the same level of care when making bamboo flooring. Some problems are obvious where the planks do not fit like they should right when you get them. Other times the neglect is not as easy to see and instead shows up over time as the bamboo may split, warp, or even lose its protective coating in time after it is installed. These problems can come from a number of issues such as not properly controlling the moisture levels of the bamboo flooring material during manufacturing. Other times the problems are just poor milling practices.

If you can’t get a solid guarantee from the manufacturer, its a good bet that they have skipped on quality at some point of the manufacturing process.

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