If you are always looking for innovative ways to renovate your house, then you need to start with the flooring. There are so many options available on the market from vinyl, laminate to hardwood flooring.
However, bamboo flooring is an interesting option that you might want to consider if you are more into exotic flooring. Cali Bamboo flooring is a sustainable option making it even more eco-friendly than traditional hardwood. It is also far more durable than other flooring options that most homeowners go with.
Additionally, this flooring has a look, feel as well as style of hardwood flooring and if you are an environmental enthusiast, you never have to worry about rainforests depleting just so you can have a good floor which is the case with hardwood flooring.
For most people who have considered this option, the first concern is how much it will cost them to install such a floor hence the reason for this guide.
What Is Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo looks like typical hardwood and is a species of grass that is considered evergreen. This means that bamboo grows irrespective of the season.
While bamboo can grow in any part of the world that happens to be warm, it is more common in southern and eastern Asia. In such regions, bamboo is used as a construction material, fuel, for food, roof thatching and more and contributes immensely to the economy.
It is one of the fastest-growing crops in the world, which means that it is highly renewable. When it comes to hardwood trees, most trees mature in 20 to 120 years, but bamboo reaches maturity in just 3 to 5 years and the fact that it can be harvested without damaging the roots makes it all the more sustainable.
It doesn’t need to be replanted since the plant spreads itself, increasing the annual crop size. Just like CoreLuxe vinyl plank looks like hardwood, bamboo flooring resembles hardwood flooring in terms of style, look and feel. If you are into exotic flooring, you can’t go wrong with bamboo.
Benefits of Bamboo Flooring
There are so many benefits of installing this flooring. For one, it shares a lot of the advantages and disadvantages of traditional hardwood flooring.
If you want to make an informed choice when you are buying flooring for your home, the first thing you need to understand is how bamboo compares to other flooring options like laminate, vinyl, and hardwood.
On the higher side, bamboo is ecologically friendly, grows regardless of the season and reaches maturity in three to five years compared to hardwood trees that take up to twenty years to mature.
Widely Available
Bamboo is an evergreen plant and before the green movement took off, eco-friendly building materials were hard to come by. However, that has changed and the bamboo floor is now readily available in local stores and online shops.
Unique Beauty
The natural striations of the bamboo stalks tend to give the floors a unique beauty that looks good in any room. Additionally, bamboo is not a fad but a timeless material that ensures that the floors look good even decades to come.
Versatile and Stylish
When you are picking any floor, the most important thing that you need to keep in mind is how the option will work with your decor.
Bamboo flooring, as it happens, comes in a variety of styles and colors, which include engineered and hand-scraped planks with the beautiful marbling effect common in strand woven flooring.
It’s also quite versatile and comes in myriad grains and shades. As such, regardless of your furnishing, you can find a bamboo floor that compliments that beautifully.
Also, since there is such a large selection of bamboo planks, you can install them in the entire house to achieve different looks.
Highly Durable
Bamboo is very strong, which makes flooring made from it highly durable when installed, even in high traffic areas. Strand woven bamboo, for instance, has a Janka hardness rating and is almost three times harder than oak. Bamboo flooring is strong, with most manufacturers offering at least a 25-year warranty.
Affordable
When you are installing new flooring, labor and cost of parts tend to mount up. Bamboo flooring is, however, quite affordable compared to traditional hardwood flooring making it great for anyone who is on a budget. Typically, with this flooring, you get wide and long planks for half the price of traditional hardwood.
Easy to Install
When it comes to saving money on flooring, the best way would be to do the installation yourself. This flooring is easy to install, especially with the floating floor method. You should be able to install the floor over the weekend. The only thing you need to do to make your work easier is to follow the instructions of the manufacturer.
Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring
Just like with any other flooring option like hardwood, laminate, and vinyl, bamboo has many advantages and disadvantages, which you need to be aware of before you make any purchasing decision.
Pros
When it comes to water resistance, bamboo is resistant to water damage but not entirely waterproof. If you want a waterproof floor, you can install Trafficmaster laminate in any area, including the bathroom. Additionally, it’s resistant to staining something that can’t be said about hardwood flooring.
It’s also easy to maintain. All you need is the best cordless vacuum or a soft broom to sweep the floor once over. Once in a while, you can use a damp mop to clean, a bamboo floor cleaner or a non-wax hardwood floor cleaner.
Bamboo compared to cork and hardwood flooring is quite affordable. However, you need to consider the quality of the floor since cheaper options tend to be of low quality hence easily damaged.
Since bamboo is a grass, some varieties are hard and strong. When harvested correctly, bamboo tends to be as hard-wearing as real oak and strand-woven bamboo is even harder than that.
Bamboo has the feel and appearance of hardwood flooring, but it is distinctive and tends to increase the elegance of any room.
Lastly, just like Brazilian walnut can be refinished, bamboo can easily be refreshed and refinished. Typically, over time, it can get scratched and become discolored. When that happens, all you need to do is to refresh it by sanding and applying refinishing coats to give it a fresh, new look.
Cons
Bamboo flooring is made by slicing bamboo into strips and bonding the strips together using pressure, heat and adhesive resin. The adhesive is usually the problem since it can release VOCs in a confined space, which affects the indoor air quality. Depending on the manufacturing process, some floors will emit more VOCs than others.
Although it’s easy to maintain, it is susceptible to scratches, especially when it is not regularly cleaned.
Although it’s more resistant to water damage when compared to hardwood flooring, it is still susceptible to fungal growth and warping due to excessive moisture. As such, spills must be cleaned when they occur and you should avoid leaving standing water on the floor for long.
Depending on the humidity, bamboo planks tend to expand and contract. As such, cracks will form between the planks and within the bamboo planks themselves.
With bamboo, quality control is usually an issue since there is no independent grading system used for the quality of bamboo that is harvested or planks manufactured. Retailers usually grade their stock into ‘good’ or ‘not so good,’ but the grading criteria used are purely subjective.
Although bamboo is a sustainable plant, several environmental concerns still exist, like the adhesive used in construction giving off toxic fumes, forests being cut down to make room for commercial bamboo farming and the long distance that the bamboo has to travel to reach customers which tends to increase its carbon footprint.
Types of Bamboo Flooring
There are different forms this flooring, each with their installation technique and cost profile. If you have decided to go with this flooring, whether it’s because you want exotic flooring without having to install Ipe wood decking or are on a budget, you need to understand the different types that exist to make an informed decision.
Laminate Bamboo
Laminate bamboo is manufactured using filler material as backing material and binding a thin strip of real bamboo to the surface. The surface is then covered with an invisible wear layer that is supposed to protect the material from stains and water damage.
The thickness and quality of the wear layer are what determines the prince of laminate bamboo flooring, but most of the time, the cost will range between $1.30 to $4.00 per square foot.
Solid Bamboo Planks
Solid bamboo flooring, contrary to popular belief, does not contain solid pieces of bamboo material.
Instead, this flooring option comprises bamboo grass stalks that are sliced and bonded together with chemicals, pressure, and heat to create planks that can be used the same way as hardwood planks.
The way the bamboo fibers are sliced as well as reconstituted determines the appearance of the finished product, which varies from product to product. Solid bamboo planks usually go for $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot.
Strand Carbonized Bamboo Planks
The composite nature of bamboo usually means that it doesn’t take well to the staining coloration techniques that are used to darken hardwood planks. This kind of staining usually detracts from the natural beauty of the material.
To achieve this, carbonization is used where heat is applied to the bamboo to achieve the dark, rich and smoky color.
The result is a product that has a rich caramel color but also slightly weak, which makes it less durable. Such flooring costs about $1.80 to $3.90 per square foot.
Woven Strand Bamboo Planks
This kind of flooring is made by taking natural bamboo stalks and shredding them into a fine pulp. The material is then pressed into a mold along with adhesive chemicals resulting in solid blocks.
The blocks are then sliced into planks. Stranded woven bamboo planks are the most durable and strongest of natural solid flooring options and, therefore, the most expensive costing about $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot.
Hand-Scraped
The term hand-scraped is used to refer to a traditional process that was used to even out imperfections in hard floors using different hand tools.
Since the work is done mostly by hand, the results reflect a union of not only natural beauty but human artistry.
While this attention to detail will cost you more, it provides the kind of look that can only be achieved through skilled craftsmanship — hand-scraped flooring as such costs between $2.00 to $5.29 per square foot.
Horizontal
Horizontal flooring is made when bamboo stalks are sliced into thin slats that are then pressed together flat one atop another.
This results in a material that has fewer joint lines and has more natural bamboo characteristics. This flooring option costs $1.80 to $3.30 per square foot.
Vertical
Vertical flooring is made the same way as horizontal planks. The only difference, however, is that the slats are stood up on their thin end and pressed together from either side to form a firm bonding plank material.
This results in a floor that has a lot of joint lines providing the kind of textured material that masks the look of natural bamboo. Vertical flooring goes for $1.90 to $3.50 per square foot.
Bamboo Flooring Textures and Colors
Bamboo floors are differentiated by texture and color. The current trend is for floors regardless of the kind to look like they have been there for a long time and as such, a lot of bamboo floors are textured to look like that.
As a result, any scratches and dings that result in everyday wear go unnoticed. Such imperfections tend to add to the charm of any used floor.
Hand-Scraped or Distressed Bamboo
Rustic bamboo textures are made by hand scraping the bamboo or using a machine to replicate a hand-scraped look. As a result, most hand-scraped planks tend to have a matte finish.
Smooth Bamboo
A smoother and more finished look is achieved by using a machine that mills the planks and finishes them in a matte or shiny finish.
Wire-Brushed Bamboo
Just like hand-scraped bamboo, wire-brushed bamboo offers that antique appearance to the floor that adds to the classical style of any home.
Things to Consider Before Bamboo Flooring Installation
Pre-Existing Floor
Whenever you are installing a new floor, one thing you need to check is the condition of the existing floor. The last thing you want is to install a new bamboo floor if the joints and other structural elements are not in good condition.
Even if floorboards look okay, it’s always recommended that you lift a few boards to check the condition underneath. Insect damage and dry rot can go unnoticed for years until the floor gives away, which is not something you want after investing in a new floor.
Replacing Joists/Plywood
If, after checking, the floorboards are in good condition but are uneven, you need to lay down sheets of plywood to offer a smooth and level surface for the new flooring.
If the level of the floor will be raised, then doors that open into the room need to be adjusted to accommodate the new flooring.
Molding and Baseboards
Before you install the new floor, the one thing you need to determine is whether the baseboards need to be replaced or removed. This will depend on the previously installed floor and how much space you have under the baseboards.
Insulating Underlay
The underlay you install will also depend on the subfloor you have. You want your subfloor to be sound and flat, but if you are installing bamboo on a slab, then you must check the moisture levels.
New concrete needs to cure for months and regardless of the grade level or the subfloor, also consider the expansion gaps. Underlayment and moisture barriers come in different forms and big brands will always have their line of underlayment that you can purchase.
Traditional underlayment for engineered and hardwood flooring is sold at rolls and prices start from $0.25 per square foot, so expect to spend between $25.00 to $60.00 per roll. You also need tape to seal the seam and this will cost you between $4.00 to $8.00 per roll.
Stains and Sealants
Most bamboo flooring comes pre-sealed and stained or heated to the final color. This sealant, in most cases, is long-wearing and you will not need to reapply again.
It is the same with the color since most bamboo planks will have been heated or left natural and any stains that are used are designed to last.
In very rare circumstances, you will need to have the floor refinished, something that should only be done if the top layer is thick enough to handle sanding since some veneers are too thin to be refinished.
Morning Star flooring can be refinished easily; however, without worrying about any damage to the floor.
Accommodations
Installation of any floor, including bamboo, can take a few days, which means that you need to find alternative accommodations.
Before any installation begins, ensure that you have secured a place, whether a hotel or a friend’s place, where you or your family can stay for a few days to allow installation to be completed.
Bamboo Flooring Cost Factors
Dimensions
Just like with any other style of flooring, the thickness of the planks is an important factor to consider and not just when you want to determine the durability of the chosen flooring option.
Thicker floors tend to feel different underfoot, but they are usually more expensive. In most cases, the thickness of bamboo ranges between 9/16” to ¾.”
With engineered bamboo, the total thickness will be much thinner. Widths and lengths also tend to vary, just like thickness and price are likely to go up with extra-wide flooring or boards that are longer than the standard size.
Warranty
Manufacturers set the warranty level based on the flooring quality. Since quality is tied to price, products with lifetime warranties, therefore, cost more.
With bamboo, this is no different such that flooring that is rated for 25 years of residential use is cheaper than flooring that comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Branding
Whether you are buying a car, a coffee maker or flooring, some brands will always cost more than others. This could be due to the quality and how long the brand has been in the market.
Generally, with well-known and older brands, expect to pay a premium for their products. Bamboo is considered an exotic flooring option and most of the time; branding is never an issue. However, brands like Plyboo and Teragren are considered premium brands in this sector.
Bamboo Flooring Costs
When it comes to flooring, besides worrying about the ease of installation, most homeowners will enquire about the cost of installation first before making a decision, which has led to different flooring costs that range from low to high end.
Lowest
On the lower end, the lowest you can pay for the installation of bamboo is $1,200. This is ideal for anyone on a budget who still wants to have a floor that has the look and feel of hardwood flooring.
Middle
If your budget is not so tight but then can’t afford to spend too much, you can go a step higher and spend about $2,500 to $6,500. This will not be high-quality flooring, but it is enough to last you a few decades before requiring replacement.
Highest
If you want to go with the highest quality that also comes with a lifetime warranty, on the high end, you can spend about $10,000. This guarantees a good quality floor that doesn’t scratch easily is finished well and highly durable.
Bamboo Flooring Installation Cost Factors
There is nothing that can save you money, like installing the flooring yourself and not to mention the feeling of getting a compliment for work that you know you did.
Bamboo flooring is a great alternative to hardwood flooring because it is not only cheap but also highly durable.
However, your floor will not look good unless you follow the installation instructions and not to mention there are additional installation costs that you need to consider if you will be handling the job yourself.
Flooring Materials
Due to the stability of bamboo flooring, it can be installed on, above or below-grade basements. When installing over concrete or crawl space, it is recommended that you use a vapor barrier to curb moisture migration.
A plastic film with a 6mm thickness should also be placed with a four to six inches overlapped seam and taped with duct tape or any other sustainable tape.
Good laminate underlayment absorbs sounds and as such, if the flooring does not have any padding attached, you will need to purchase padding or underlayment separately.
Some underlayments come with moisture barriers attached; hence you don’t need to use a separate moisture barrier in such a case. When it comes to the underlayment, there are different types that are available from rubber, cork, sound deadening panels to standard foam.
Foam padding may or may not come with a moisture barrier attached, so be sure to consult with the retailer if you are not sure. If you will be installing this flooring over concrete, it is a good idea, as mentioned, to have a moisture barrier.
Labor
Installation is no different from hardwood flooring installation and, in most cases, will cost almost the same and labor cost is something you need to consider. There are three installation methods: glued down, nailed down and floating.
If you are using the nailed down installation method, the boards are set against each other and the edges nailed down into the substrate. This installation requires the floor to have a plywood subfloor.
For glued-down installation, the boards are glued directly to the subfloor resulting in permanent installation just like with nailed down installation. As such, the removal of such floors is difficult and very costly.
A floating floor, on the other hand, uses the click and lock method where the boards lock together but don’t attach to the subfloor.
With this installation method, the boards can easily be lifted, removed and replaced. As such, if a board gets damaged, you can easily remove the affected board and replace it with a new one.
Labor costs are between $6 to $9 per square foot, with floating installations costing less than nailed and glued down floor installations. For instance, for a 200 square foot installation of vertical glued down boards, expect the labor costs to be around $1600.
Installation Supplies
During installation, you will need to gather a few tools, some of which might even be in your home already. Unlike linoleum or vinyl, you will require a saw to cut the bamboo planks, whether engineered or woven.
While a chop saw will do the job perfectly, a simple skill saw will do if you have steady hands. Other tools you will need include a carpenter’s pencil, measuring tapes, chalk lime and speed square.
Getting your flooring acclimated and having the mentioned tools can be exciting and means you are good to go.
However, you need to consider additional accessories if you want to avoid unexpected trips to the hardware store in the middle of the job. Such accessories include matching T-molding and reducers that resemble bamboo.
Acclimation Time
Before you install your flooring, the boards need to sit in the house or the room where you plan to install them for 5 to 30 days before installation commences.
This time allows the boards to adjust to the humidity of the room. Not allowing your boards to acclimate can create gaps in the floor as well as cause them to be unstable when installed.
Vertical and horizontal boards need to acclimate for 3 to 4 days while you need to let your Strand bamboo floor acclimatize for 30 days. Bamboo is affected by temperature and humidity, hence the reason why you need to ensure that you don’t skip this stage.
Total Square Footage
The larger the installation area, the more it will cost you. However, if you install flooring in a large area such as the entire house, the contractor can give you a discount helping you save a few coins.
On the other hand, a small space will mean paying more in terms of installation or service call to cover the costs of completing the job. Before you embark on any installation, enquire from your contractor if they will be willing to give you a discount.
Amount of Required Side Work
Flooring installation involves a lot of things that you need to consider when you are determining the cost. For one, will the installer be forced to remove any existing tiles or hardwood flooring?
Will they be forced to level the floor, move furniture or install perimeter moldings? Does the installer need to bring the flooring to the house first for acclimation?
Such factors may increase the cost of installation, which is why you need to consider them beforehand to avoid any surprises when the project is about to begin.
Where You Live
Installation costs, just like with other flooring options to some extent, are tied to where you live. Installation is difficult to access or densely populated areas like Santa Catalina Island and New York or rural areas mean more transportation for the installer and therefore increased installation costs.
Type of Installation
The type of installation will also determine how much you will be spending and there are three installation types for bamboo flooring.
The glue-down method is the most stable installation method but also happens to be the most expensive. It’s stable mainly because the elasticity of the adhesive allows the planks to contract and expand naturally through the different seasons.
If you can afford to buy high-quality glue, you will enjoy two benefits: moisture and sound insulation the same way Wicanders cork flooring provides soft insulation.
This method is expensive since it’s messier and more labor-intensive than floating or nailing down a floor. The nail-down method, on the other hand, is fast and affordable. However, over time, the nails can come loose, resulting in squeaking floors due to the expansion and contraction of the boards.
The floating method is the cheapest and installers tend to offer a discount for this type of installation because it is easier to maneuver around than the other two.
The limitation with this kind of flooring, however, is that humidity may affect the boards over time. However, the boards, when installed this way, are easier to remove and if one gets damaged, you can just remove it and install another.
DIY or Professional Install
It will be in your best interest to weigh installation options available to you. You can either install the floor yourself, therefore, saving you money or have a professional do it ensuring that they do a good job.
Most people overlook the installation process, which requires advanced tools, expert knowledge and careful selection of the best installation method. If you have the skills and know what you are doing, there is no harm doing the installation yourself.
On the other hand, if you are not sure that you can do it, you are better off spending money on a contractor than ruining the floorboards in the process.
Bamboo Flooring Additional Cost Factors
Subfloor
When you are installing any new floor, you need to check the condition of the subfloor. It doesn’t do you any good to install a new floor if the joists, for instance, are damaged.
Even if they look okay at first, lift the floorboards to check the condition underneath since insect damage and dry rot can go unnoticed and damage your new floor after some time. Additionally, if you decide to install a new floor over concrete, you are better off using the floating system.
To do this correctly, you need to lay a damp proof membrane on the concrete followed by polystyrene insulation sheets. On top of the insulation, you can then install your bamboo flooring.
Existing Floorboards
If the existing floorboards are in good condition but uneven, you will need to install plywood sheets to provide a smooth and level surface for the new floor.
Additionally, if the top-level floor is going to be raised, then you need to adjust the doors that open into that room to accommodate the raised floor.
Alternative Flooring
If you want to install bamboo, bamboo carpets are available and give you the look of bamboo flooring. Such costs about $50 and $200 and they give you the style of bamboo flooring without the invasiveness of the project.
Extra Flooring Material
When you are purchasing flooring, it is recommended that you purchase at least 10 percent extra material to account for wasted and damaged planks during installation.
Delivery Charges
Some material costs tend to include delivery charges, which add to the overall cost. Be sure to enquire beforehand if there will be any delivery charges that you will be catering for and decide if you are ready to pay for that.
How to Install Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring installation is easy and is something that you can do on your own if you have the skills. If not, just get a professional to do the installation for you.
Step 1 – Choosing the right flooring type.
The bamboo floor is classified based on the color, texture, and grain of the planks. When it comes to grain, vertical, horizontal and strand woven grains are among the most common. The reason why this is important is that the grain you choose will determine how space will look.
For instance, horizontal and vertical grains can make the room look smaller or bigger, based on how the flooring is placed.
In terms of color, depending on the finish applied and the strain, your floor can either have a carbonized, natural or tiger-striped pattern. Bamboo flooring is also determined by the surface texture, which includes hand-scraped, smooth or hand-sculpted texture.
Step 2 – Measure the area and allow flooring acclimation
Remove moldings, appliances or any other standing cabinets in the room where the installation will be done. Measure the length as well as the width of the room and multiply to get the surface area.
After you have purchased the flooring that you require, remove the planks from the package and lay them out on the floor for several days so that the boards can adjust to the humidity and temperature of the room.
Step 3 – Clean the surface
Before you begin any installation, you need to ensure that the surface is flat and level. Additionally, ensure that the floors are clean and free from dirt and dust. Nails, staples, screws and tack strips from the previous flooring need to be removed or tightened.
The subfloor needs to be stable, so ensure that you check the quality of the subfloors to see if any areas need to be repaired. One important thing that you need to keep in mind is that the floors need to be completely dry before you install any new flooring.
Step 4 – Install the underlayment
With the surface and material ready, you can begin installing your bamboo flooring. But first, the underlay padding needs to be installed evenly such that they don’t overlap, causing an uneven floor.
Properly placing the underlay pads also ensures that noise is reduced and helps soften the floor. The outcome of the installation at the end of the day depends on how you install your underlayment.
Step 5 – Install the bamboo flooring
Once you have installed the underlayment and are sure that there are no overlying pads, place the bamboo boards against the most prominent walls, carefully laying out each piece.
The floorboards need to be laid straight and level. You can use a bubble or spirit level to ensure that the surface is flat. Additionally, you can use a rubber mallet to ensure that the flooring is secured in place regardless of the installation method.
How to Maintain Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring continues to gain popularity mainly because it is low maintenance since it doesn’t require any special cleaners, sealants or other products like with other flooring options.
Step 1 – Wipe spills immediately they occur
Although bamboo is fairly water-resistant, it can still warp and develop mold growth from too much water exposure. As such, ensure that spills are wiped immediately they occur. If you want a waterproof floor, you can always check out Smartcore ultra reviewed online.
Step 2 – Sweep regularly
To prevent scratches from developing on the floor, sweep up grit regularly.
Step 3 – Vacuuming
In case you want to vacuum your floor, ensure that the vacuum cleaner you are using doesn’t have a beater bar like the one found in any premium vacuum for tile floors since this can end up scratching the floor.
Step 4 – Used furniture pads
Always ensure that you use scratch protector pads on the bottom of heavy furniture and also ensure that wet and dirty shoes are left outside or near the door.
Step 5 – Use screen and shaded on window
Bamboo flooring can be damaged by direct sunlight, hence the reason why it is recommended that you use shades and screens on your windows, especially during summer months. Failure to do this will cause the floors to fade over time.
Do’s and Don’ts With Bamboo Flooring
Do’s
- Ensure that the area you are installing the flooring is not prone to too much moisture. Although this flooring is moisture resistant, excessive moisture can still cause damage over time.
- Do ensure that the subfloor is clean, dry and even before you begin any installation.
- Before you begin the project, make sure that you inspect the boxes for damaged planks.
- Allow the flooring to acclimate so that the boards can adjust to the humidity and temperature of the room.
- Use a tapping block during installation to minimize fracturing.
- Use a dry or damp mop when cleaning your floors and a vacuum cleaner with no beater bar to avoid scratching your floors.
- Wipe spills immediately they occur to prevent damaging your floors.
Don’ts
- When cleaning, don’t over-wet the floor since this can lead to long term water damage.
- Avoid using detergent, steel wool or any other abrasives when cleaning your floors.
- Avoid installing bamboo in high moisture areas like bathrooms since this may void your warranty.
- Avoid installing this flooring in areas that are prone to direct sunlight since, despite its UV protection, bamboo flooring still fades over time when exposed to direct sunlight.
FAQ About Bamboo Flooring
Do bamboo floors scratch easily?
Vertical and horizontal bamboo floors, especially the carbonized ones, tend to scratch easily. On the other hand, woven strand flooring and those of high quality are not susceptible to scratching.
Is bamboo flooring better than laminate?
It depends on the type of bamboo used, but in most cases, bamboo flooring is better than laminate since it does not look fake. Laminate, on the other hand, can look like anything, which gives it a fake-like appearance.
Is bamboo flooring waterproof?
It’s more water-resistant than waterproof.
Is bamboo flooring durable?
This depends on the type of flooring. Some types like strand-woven are highly durable.
Do I need underlayment with bamboo flooring?
No, you don’t need a specific underlayment. Just ensure that the subfloor, whether wood or concrete is clean, dry and level.
Can you nail down bamboo flooring?
Yes, nail-down is one of the methods that you can use to install bamboo flooring. However, only use this method if the manufacturer has said it can be used for the bamboo flooring you have purchased.
Is bamboo flooring suitable for kitchens and bathrooms?
No. These are high moisture areas and it may void your warranty if you install them in such areas. Engineered bamboo, however, is better off for such areas but ensures that water doesn’t sit for long.
Conclusion
When it comes to the cost of installation, it is hard to narrow down to a specific price since installation depends on many factors. Important factors that you need to consider, however, include the total square foot for the project and whether you will be doing the installation yourself or relying on a professional.
Photos from: shawn_hempel / depositphotos.com, kosheen / depositphotos.com, fototechnic / depositphotos.com,