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Types of Bamboo Floors
The different types of bamboo flooring vary in their manufacturing processes and differ largely based on economic viability and local preferences.
The most common form, particularly in southeast Asia, uses thin bamboo stems that are cut as flat as possible. They are cut to similar lengths and can be stained, varnished, or simply used as is. They are then nailed down to wooden beams or bigger pieces of bamboo stems. This form results in more space between each bamboo stem; flatness and tightness are not emphasized. This technique is usually used on stilted houses, resulting in better air circulation especially during the warmer summer months.
The manufactured bamboo flooring commonly found in North American markets is highly processed. The bamboo is split and flattened, dried, and then laminated in layers with glue under high pressure. Manufactured bamboo floors are typically made available in planks with either vertical- or horizontal-grain orientation.
The two major colors are natural (similar to beech) and carbonized (similar to oak). The process of steaming bamboo material under a controlled pressure and temperature is called carbonization. During the carbonizatin process, bio-organisms and sugars break down, and the color of the material changes into brownish. The natural and carbonized bamboo floors are typically referred to as "solid" bamboo, although in fact the structures are layered, much like plywood.
Characteristics and Applications
Bamboo floor manufacturers and sellers promote its durability as well as its resistance to insects and moisture. Bamboo has also gained a reputation as an eco-friendly, highly renewable source of material, since the bamboo plant (technically a grass) reaches maturity in considerably less time than the trees used to make wood floors. The US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program allows points for the use of bamboo floors. However, controversy exists over agricultural and manufacturing issues related to the production of bamboo floors, including the environmental effects of deforestation in order to plant bamboo and the use of carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde in the glues used for lamination in some products.