Timber Flooring vs Bamboo Flooring
Timber flooring, in the form of solid timber or newer veneers (also called floating timber), has long been the primary choice of people who want the warm look of wood on their floors, or who want to avoid carpet. For many years, there just weren’t any other options.
Now, however, bamboo flooring offers a comparable, environmentally friendly, durable alternative to traditional timber. Here are some facts about how bamboo flooring performs against popular floating timber floors.
Floating timber floors, unlike the more expensive solid timber type, are made of a layer of wood veneer a few millimeters thick, laminated on top of a less expensive timber, or even a composite material made from waste wood. Bamboo floors are made of solid bamboo, offering greater durability over time for less than you’d pay for a solid timber floor. Plus, bamboo is a stronger, harder to damage material than almost any wood.
Unlike floating timber floors, bamboo is attached to the surface it sits on. This means that your bamboo floor will be a lot more stable than a floating timber floor. There’s no room for the joints between pieces to open up or move around.
Unlike many timber floors, both solid and floating, bamboo doesn’t make that hollow sound when you walk on it. Bamboo flooring is also more resistant to scratching and easier to clean than many hardwood floor types.
Since there’s little to no movement between pieces of bamboo flooring, you can easily refinish your floor. Bamboo provides a better surface than solid timber, and veneered timber can’t be resurfaced at all!
Instead, the damaged portion of the timber floor needs to be replaced. Bamboo can be resurfaced many more times than other types of floor, and could last another five to ten years longer because of it.
Those who are worried about the environment will probably choose bamboo over timber. Both are natural, renewable resources, but timber takes a long time to replace itself. Veneered timber flooring uses less hardwood, but other woods are still used, and composite fillers often involve toxic glues.
You’ll find these kinds of practices mostly in China and other countries where regulation is minimally enforced. Fortunately, it takes only a little research to tell you if you’re getting some of the large percentage of products made from sustainably produced bamboo.
Compared to hardwood, bamboo will last a lot longer, and stand up better to daily wear. For those who are still concerned about the life of their bamboo floor, warranties are available. Remember that you get what you pay for - buy a product that’s made to last, rather than a bargain.
Where contraction and expansion due to weather are problems, bamboo holds up well. Compared to a hardwood veneer, it can be resurfaced more often, and needs no treatments or waxing to keep looking good. However, some products do contain environmentally unfriendly glues - look for nontoxic types when you buy your flooring.
If you’re interested in finding out how hardwood flooring and bamboo compare, an online search will quickly tell you. You’ll be able to view a wide range of products and see what all your options are. Bamboo could be the right floor for your home.
