Natural bamboo flooring has been in demand ever since it was first introduced into the market a couple of decades ago. It is referred to as hardwood flooring, bamboo is a grass that has been processed to produce flooring and other home products.

All-Natural Bamboo floorings are engineered, the strands of the grass are sliced and shredded, then are pressed back with glue and heat to form the flooring boards.

  • Vertical Bamboo has a uniformed and striped look.
  • Strand woven bamboo is mixed to the grass fibers so that they are interlocked. It is the most expensive and the hardest type of natural bamboo flooring.
  • Horizontal bamboo shows “knuckles” in the grain pattern which is commonly associated with the natural bamboo flooring.

The bamboo is naturally light in color, it is sometimes “carbonized” to darker shades. The Carbonized bamboo flooring is softer than natural flooring.

When the concern is about the pros and cons of Natural Bamboo Flooring, there are some controversies about whether it is a sustainable material or not. On one side, it is a fast-growing plant that is available in a vast quantity, so it’s a quickly renewable resource. Also, using bamboo puts out the pressure of the other wood species, especially the exotics.

On the downside, most Natural Bamboo flooring is produced overseas where the sight of the manufacturing process is sketchy. That means some brands may add adhesives and formaldehyde which emit toxic VOCs. Also, most bamboo floorings come from overseas, the cost of shipping includes the material’s carbon footprint and its price.

Bamboo Flooring Pros:

  • Top-quality Bamboo floorings are durable as traditional hardwood flooring. Not all Bamboo flooring is produced equal.
  • To those preferring modern décor, Bamboo flooring has a clean look.
  • Bamboo flooring finished properly can clean easily with a mop and little soap.
  • Like other wood floorings, bamboo may be refinished, depending on the thickness of the planks.

 Bamboo flooring Cons:

  • Inexpensive Bamboo floorings may get scratched or dings.
  • Bamboo grass absorbs water readily and is susceptible to damage from the water and humidity.
  • Bamboo flooring has only a few tonal shades.