How Bamboo Wood Flooring is Made
Bamboo is a popular alternative to traditional hardwood floors. Quality bamboo flooring is just as durable as an oak plank, and provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to cover the rooms in your home. How bamboo floors are made depends of the type of flooring it is. The three types of bamboo flooring in existence at this time is traditional bamboo flooring, strand woven bamboo flooring and solid bamboo flooring.
Traditional Bamboo Flooring
Traditional bamboo flooring is made by slicing bamboo grass stems into planks. These strips are then nailed to wooden planks or larger bamboo pieces to create a sturdy system. Good installation of bamboo flooring allows for it to “breathe” by leaving irregular gaps in between the planks. This kind of flooring can be stained to mimic oak, pine and maple hardwood floors, and it adds a contemporary and sustainable vibe to the room.
Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring
This method is designed to treat the grass of insects and vermin that can damage any type of wood flooring. As a precaution, these fibers are boiled in water and normally dipped in borax to kill off any harmful biological activity. The fibers are then shredded and pressed at extremely high temperatures and pressures with an adhesive to create blocks. These blocks are cut into planks, sanded, stained and finished for installation.
Solid Bamboo Flooring
For solid bamboo wood flooring, stalks are sliced thinly, and the outer skin is removed. Like strand woven bamboo flooring, solid bamboo strips are boiled in boric acid to remove starches. These strips can be darkened via carbonization and kiln dried. The strips are then pressed together with an adhesive, either horizontally or vertically.
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Guest post is provided by Bamboo Flooring Facts. For a detailed bamboo flooring comparison, read the articles provided at www.bamboo-flooring-facts.com.