Saturday 27 June 2009

Super! You've Chosen Bamboo Flooring, But Here is What You Don't Know

You've decided to use environmentally-friendly bamboo flooring in your home, and you've made a great choice. After all, everyone is going green these days, and bamboo flooring is an excellent step in that direction. You can, however, take your decision just a little further by opting for strand-woven bamboo flooring.

Now if you're wondering exactly what strand-woven bamboo is, you aren't alone, because the material is relatively new to the market. It is made from bamboo strips being woven together and then covered with a special adhesive. The bamboo product is then put under extreme compression until the adhesive dries and the material becomes stablized. Once that happens, this eco-friendly material can be cut into desired sizes of boards and planks. Since it's made of the pieces of bamboo that are left over in the making of standard bamboo planks, you're actually using flooring that's been made of what would have been wasted bamboo.

Why Strand-Woven Bamboo?

If you take the time to do some research about strand-woven bamboo, you'll find that it makes an exceptionally-sturdy material for floors. It is so tough that you'd be hard-put to find anything else that could meet its durability in high-traffic areas of your home. Since bamboo plants grow so quickly, there's no danger of the supply of the material becoming depleted. It cleans up so easily that generally all you'll need to do is run over it with a dust mop. When it does need to be cleaned more thoroughly, all it takes is a solution of vinegar and water which means you won't be introducing chemicals into the environment to maintain it. Strand-woven bamboo also has a longer lifespan than regular bamboo flooring, because it is more resistant to moisture.

Other benefits of installing strand-woven bamboo flooring include:
* It's free from allergens.
* It can be sanded down and re-stained just like the more-expensive hardwood flooring.
* It's a money-saver in that it will retain its finish longer than more traditional types of flooring.

What Makes Strand-Woven Bamboo Flooring Last So Long?

To start with, bamboo is a durable, water- and damage-resistant material. By processing it into strand-woven bamboo, both the these qualities are multiplied. Bamboo also has the ability to expand and contract well in heat and cold which helps your flooring stay in top condition for many, many years.

After you install your strand-woven bamboo, it will only take a bit of elbow grease to create truly awesome-looking floors for your home. Another point worth mentioning is that many brands of strand-woven flooring are made without formaldehyde, and that's what you want to look for. Otherwise, if your home doesn't have adequate ventilation, you have the potential for becoming ill over a period of time. However, when your floor is finally finished, you'll be able to relax and be proud of what you've accomplished. The new look will amaze even you.

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