To update your home interior, it is a good idea to purchase and install bamboo flooring. It is not only eco-friendly but also affordable. Even more than pricing, bamboo flooring also offers unique look so that it makes your home interior more inviting.
There are many people think that bamboo flooring is not a good idea. However, that is not true at all because you can find bamboo without highly volatine chemicals. If you are interested in bamboo flooring, you have to know the following facts.
The Prices and Options of Bamboo Flooring
There are 3 varieties of bamboo flooring. They include horizontal, vertical, & strand-woven. When it comes to price, horizontal bamboo costs from 2 to 4 dollars per square foot. Vertical bamboo is also soled at similar price whereas strand-woven bamboo is available at 3 to 5 dollars. So, you have to choose the type of bamboo based on your own budget.
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Bamboo with vertical strips is similar to traditional hardwood floors. On the other side, bamboo with traditional strips comes with visual knots. Both of them are durable and they have the same prices. If you are confused to choose between them, just decide it based on your preference.
For the densest option, there is strand-woven bamboo. It is processed to be three times stronger compared to other options. The boiling process makes bamboo looks darker. The treatment makes it weaker up to 30%. So, we can simply conclude that lighter bamboo is harder.
Talking about the price, carbonized bamboo is sold at 2 to 4 dollars per square foot whereas natural colored bamboo flooring is typically less expensive. To ensure that the bamboo is safe for your family, you should consider bamboo with a FloorScore certification.
How to Install Bamboo Flooring and How Much It Is
There are 3 ways of bamboo flooring installation. Nailing is the first method you can use. With a pneumatic nail gun, you can nail it to a plywood base. This advanced technique must be done by a professional or an experienced one. This installation method charges 30 to 45 dollars per hour. Make sure that you hire professional installers to do this.
For specific subfloor requirements, you may need to consult the guidelines of the manufacturer. Subfloors must be clean & debris-free. To avoid moisture & mold, you can install a vapor barrier.
You may also need to glue the boards of bamboo with special adhesives. Make sure that you use a kind of safe glue and use it correctly. In this method, you have to lay out the boards before you apply the glue.
Alternatively, you can consider a floating method. It can be a good option for DIY-friendly bamboo flooring. In this case, you will need a specific kind of board. Usually, floating bamboo flooring can be refinished. It is made from engineered or solid material. If you are interested in this method, you just need to spend no more than 3 dollars per square foot.
What to Consider in Installing Bamboo Flooring
Before you decide to install bamboo flooring, there are many things to consider besides pricing. First, you have to know that you should not install bamboo in a damp area. Elevated humidity levels can cause the boards of bamboo to split & warp.
Besides that, bamboo flooring is also sensitive for the changes of temperature. You have to give the flooring minimally 5 days to acclimate before you install it.
If you have pets, it will be a good idea to choose natural colored uncarbonized bamboo. This option is very durable like red oak wood. Having heavy furniture? You can nail down or glue your bamboo to make it more stable.
When you buy bamboo flooring, you should find bamboo that comes with a long warranty up to 25 years. Even more, some companies offer a UV protective layer and an aluminum oxide top coat for their bamboo products. Bamboo can be mainained and refinished easily. For specific refinishing guidelines, you should check the warranty.
Last but not least, you will have to ask the retailer for the details of your bamboo flooring. You also need to ask about miling practices. With a poor production, the quality of the bamboo flooring, it will delaminate & crack.
In this case, bamboo flooring is very cost-effective. So, if you want to plan affordable flooring with low budget, bamboo flooring cans the best solution for your home.
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Conclusion
Bamboo floor can be defined as a green flooring choice. It is suited well for active lifestyles. As we know, bamboo belongs to natural vegetation. Besides that, it is very environmentally friendly to harvest it. You have to keep in mind that bamboo belongs to grass. It is not hardwood. So, it is harvested by hand.
You can plant your own bamboo. It will grow averagely six years. After it reaches the full-strength level, you can harvest it then. Recently, bamboo is not measured on the Janka scale. Now, bamboo flooring is getting more popular. So, the tool is updated to include some varieties of bamboo.
Bamboo flooring still becomes a debatable topic until now. It brings pros and cons. Anyway, it is considered as a worthwhile option for budget-friendly home renovation. Bamboo has all the advantages of hardwood.
However, it comes with less expensive prices. In fact, there are some types of bamboo and they have different prices. Bamboo flooring is always compared to hardwood flooring.
The result always comes with bamboo flooring as the winner. What I mean is that both of them offer attractive looks but bamboo flooring requires fewer budgets. It does not only relate to the price of bamboo itself but also the installation cost. We have seen everything about bamboo flooring.
Now, it is your choice whether you are interested in it. If you think that bamboo flooring is appropriate for your home and okay with pricing this flooring, you can install it now. However, make sure that you have considered many important aspects before deciding it. You can choose horizontal, vertical, or strand bamboo for your home flooring.
