Most worn and damaged hardwood flooring can be repaired or refinished rather than replaced, but where damage is severe enough to require replacement, the damaged boards can be pulled up and replaced with matching material. At first glance, bamboo flooring can be mistaken for another form of hardwood flooring. Will it hold up to kids and pets, or will you have to repair – or worse, replace – it after a short period of time? Traditional wood is much longer wearing and requires less maintenance. Bamboo flooring cannot be refinished as often and depending on the type may scratch or dent more easily. Although there were only a few different color option… Finally, a machine presses the bamboo fibers into boards and planks. Bamboo flooring has a signature style, with straight grains and minimal contrast for a clean, modern look. The color of hardwood flooring will depend on the type of wood you choose to have installed. Moso bamboo is the species most commonly used for flooring. Hardwood floors are natural and durable, but expensive. Bamboo is a woody grass that looks and feels similar to wood. Good quality bamboo flooring can compete with expensive hardwood flooring in terms of durability and appearance. On average, bamboo flooring lasts for 20 to 25 years, but the higher quality grades can last up to 50 years or more. While bamboo flooring, as we know it today, is fairly new, it is actually one of the oldest materials known to man, giving it just as long - if not longer - a reputation as hardwood. Hardwood floors have been used for centuries for their beauty and durability. Renovating a house and am torn between a bamboo floor I found in Lowes from a company called Calibamboo and a white oak floor I found at local flooring store. Wood flooring is any product manufactured from timber that is designed for use as structural or aesthetic flooring. Both bamboo and hardwood come in several different styles, sizes, and species, which affect the final cost. This is a very affordable flooring material! Hardwood flooring comes as solid wood or engineered planks, in which the top layer is real wood and the core layers are plywood. As a result of this, mold growth is also significantly slowed down and prevented. Today, most wood flooring is pre-cut into easy-to-install tongue and groove planks. Both bamboo and hardwood floors can be installed over radiant heating. Both come in a wide range of stains and colors, although some types of bamboo are given a dark color by heating the planks to cause the sugars to soften, giving them a darker appearance. The recent surge in the use of bamboo flooring partially be attributed to its being marketed as a green product. Strand woven bamboo and solid hardwood floors are both particularly susceptible to moisture and cannot be used below grade or in basements. Bamboo also comes in engineered planks, but unlike hardwood, layers of bamboo strips bond with adhesive, heat and pressure to create solid planks. The average cost of bamboo is around $5 to $6 a square foot for material and around $10 a square foot installed. Solid bamboo flooring is going to be more expensive than engineered bamboo flooring in most cases. Hardwood flooring is much longer lasting and durable than bamboo. Hardwood flooring is also sought after by home buyers and can increase the resale value of the home it furnishes. Bamboo flooring does not resemble the stalks that you see growing in the wild. Hardwood floor maintenance is relatively easy and includes keeping grit off of the surface by sweeping and wiping with a damp cloth. Most bamboo flooring sold in the US is Moso and doesn’t have as many variations, which is why costs may be more consistent. Below, we’ll outline the basic differences between these two materials so you can make a more informed choice. As a natural material, hardwood is prone to staining, warping, and discoloration from sun and water exposure, as well as substantial changes in temperature and humidity levels. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber. Worn or scratched bamboo floors can be sanded down and refinished, rather than needing a full replacement. On being harvested, we boil bamboo and remove the sugar and starch using chemicals. Good quality bamboo flooring can compete with expensive hardwood flooring in terms of durability and appearance. This also makes the planks softer and more prone to scratches. Bamboo floors can warp over time in humid environments. Traditional bamboo floors, however, will swell on contact with moisture and should not be used in damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Diffen.com. To know more about the use of hardwood/bamboo flooring over radiant heating, it is recommended to consult the American Hardwood Information Center. Carbonizing the bamboo, however, makes it softer. Bamboo floors are cheaper and growing in popularity. Hardwood and bamboo flooring often require steps including placing, nailing, stapling, cutting the baseboard, and filling holes with wood putty. There are different types of bamboo flooring just like there are different types of hardwood. While bamboo also has many different species, you can generally only get a few different looks for your flooring. This is because of the different installation methods. One of the most important features of flooring is its durability. Interlocking planks of both types are fairly easy to install. Although most people think of bamboo as wood, that is not the full picture. Bamboo flooring vs hardwood. At least, in terms of keeping moisture away. Bamboo has properties like hardwood; it’s strong, it’s beautiful, but depending on the finish, it can be dinged and scratched. Bruce is responsible for most of their solid planks with over 200 products. Bamboo plants are economical to harvest, since they grow so quickly. Homeowners have reported a tendency for bamboo to begin to loose some of its color in areas that receive constant sunlight. Typical bamboo floors are made from narrow bamboo strips that were glued together; Strand woven bamboo floors are made from long bamboo strands that were hardened together. February 24, 2019 / macwoods. Hardwood costs considerably more than bamboo. Hardwood flooring is much longer lasting and durable than bamboo. We give it 6 out of 10 for pri… Because it is a grass, bamboo performs slightly better than wood in terms of repelling moisture and mold growth. Depending on the wood and treatment, the flooring can be extremely damage resistant and can be repaired or refinished. Also, be prepared to pay up to four times more for a hardwood floor than you would for bamboo. Hardwood flooring offers a wide variety of colours as well as shades. Hardwood takes longer to renew, however, with most trees taking up to 70 years to be harvestable. Engineered hardwood floors can be used anywhere as they are built to withstand moisture and not swell on contact. Fairly water resistant, but more prone to warping from environmental humidity. Glue down and nail down installations are more difficult and both require professional installation to ensure that they are done well. Engineered bamboo flooring is the easiest bamboo flooring type to install, and you can do it yourself. Both should be damp mopped regularly or vacuumed without the use of a beater or bristle bar to prevent scratches. But the environmental considerations are not that simple. Modern processing techniques allow for all sorts of colors and textures. Wood; timber from harvested trees, mostly. The majority of today's bamboo flooring products originate in China and other portions of Asia. Because it is a grass, bamboo performs slightly better than wood in terms of repelling moisture and mold growth. This video shows professional bamboo flooring installation: Wet mops should be avoided when cleaning bamboo floors. Web. Harvested at its peak density at 5-6 years of age, it is harder than even maple and oak hardwoods. As long as you wipe up any spills reasonably quickly (within 24 hours), you are good to go… Both wood and bamboo can age in sunlight and humidity, darkening over time. Engineered hardwood and bamboo flooring both have a warm, organic feel yet look quite different. Hickory is 25 percent harder than bamboo, and both are harder than oak, which is the number one hardwood flooring material in the United States. For example, bamboo flooring that isn’t properly boiled, steamed, and dried can shrink after installation, causing unsightly gaps. 10-25 years, depending on the nature of bamboo and added material. Material Mostly Chinese bamboo processed with adhesives. Diffen LLC, n.d. Both hardwood and bamboo can be considered renewable and sustainable materials. We are asking a few questions so that we can get you better cost estimates. By using Fixr you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Both wood and bamboo floors are affected by moisture and humidity levels. • Bamboo flooring only offers either dark or light variations in colour. Prone to moisture penetration, discoloration, or warping. © 2021 Fixr, all rights reserved. Solid vs. Bamboo can be harvested within 5 years, which makes it a more sustainable product in general. If you like the look of hardwood flooring but aren't sure if it's right for you, perhaps you should consider some comparable alternatives like cork flooring or bamboo flooring. Environmental impacts of bamboo flooring partially be attributed to its being marketed as a green.. More easily and prevented penetration, discoloration, or warping comes from mahogany wenge! 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