| Bamboo is a type of grass. Being so, you might | | | | standard hardwoods we have around, so that's |
| think that it is as soft and brittle as the typical | | | | probably why most people mistake it as such. |
| grass species we know and can no way be used | | | | To make a flat, solid floor, the bamboo tubes are |
| as building material. However, bamboo has proven | | | | cut into strips. These are then these are boiled to |
| itself very resilient and flexible, making it the | | | | strip the starch away. The boiled strips proceed |
| material of choice for many structure builders. | | | | to the drying and lamination process, and then |
| The cost of bamboo flooring averages at | | | | milled to become strip floor boards. This is the |
| between $2 and $4 for every square foot, which | | | | same process that hardwoods like maple or oak |
| is just about the same price as oak. This is a fair | | | | go through. Finally, the strips are treated using a |
| price considering the many benefits it offers. | | | | preservative to slow down decay. |
| Installing bamboo flooring does not require any | | | | There is something about bamboo floors that |
| special and specific technique. In fact, there are | | | | gives a room an ethnic and earthy feel. Because |
| several ways you can lay them on: You can float | | | | hardwoods like oak are rather dark and, thus, |
| them, nail them down, or glue them on. Bamboo | | | | look too rich and heavy, using bamboo as your |
| is also easier to get than oak because it only | | | | flooring makes your space appear lighter, airier, |
| takes around 3 years for it to mature, as | | | | and less contrived. |
| opposed to oak which can take up to a hundred | | | | But perhaps the best thing about bamboo floors is |
| years to be fully mature. | | | | that they are easy to acquire and install. Bamboo |
| It is important to note that that bamboo is not a | | | | floor strips are sold at all building materials stores. |
| wood -- it's a grass, so we cannot call it | | | | You don't have to search far and wide to get |
| hardwood. However, it can last as long as the | | | | your hands on them. |