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Timber Flooring vs Bamboo Flooring

by: MarkHutchison
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Timber flooring, in the form of solid timber or newer veneers (also called floating timber), has long been the primary choice of people who want the warm look of wood on their floors, or who want to avoid carpet. For many years, there just weren't any other options.

Now, however, bamboo flooring offers a comparable, environmentally friendly, durable alternative to traditional timber. Here are some facts about how bamboo flooring performs against popular floating timber floors.

Floating timber floors are one of the most popular types of floor. Made up of a thin layer of wood laminated over a less expensive material, they're cheaper than solid hardwood. Bamboo floors, by comparison, can be made of solid bamboo. That'll give you more durability over time, but cost less than solid timber. Bamboo is also much harder to damage than most woods.

Unlike floating timber floors, bamboo is attached to the surface it sits on. This means that your bamboo floor will be a lot more stable than a floating timber floor. There's no room for the joints between pieces to open up or move around.

Unlike both floating and solid timber floors, bamboo flooring doesn't sound hollow when walked upon. It's also a lot harder to scratch and easier to clean than either type of timber floor.

The lack of movement between the pieces of flooring also means that if your bamboo floor needs to be refinished, you'll have a much better surface to work with than you would on solid timber. Veneered timber flooring cannot be refinished, since the wood surface is so thin.

Veneered timber flooring must be replaced if it's damaged. Bamboo, on the other hand, can last another five to ten years if you have it resurfaced. It can even be resurfaced more times than just about any other floor type.

Those who are worried about the environment will probably choose bamboo over timber. Both are natural, renewable resources, but timber takes a long time to replace itself. Veneered timber flooring uses less hardwood, but other woods are still used, and composite fillers often involve toxic glues.

You'll find these kinds of practices mostly in China and other countries where regulation is minimally enforced. Fortunately, it takes only a little research to tell you if you're getting some of the large percentage of products made from sustainably produced bamboo.

If durability is a serious concern, bamboo is the better choice over hardwood. Bamboo stands up well to daily wear, and there are a number of floors that come with a warranty. You should, however, be willing to spend the money for a quality product that will last out the years.

Where contraction and expansion are issues, you'll find that bamboo offers a favorable performance. Unlike hardwood veneer floorings, bamboo will hold up to a number of resurfacings, and there's no treatment or waxing required. To make sure you get a product that's non toxic and fully sustainable, look for flooring that uses glues that won't off gas and don't contain toxic chemicals.

If you've been considering bamboo flooring, or just want to find out more, take a look online. There are lots of stores offering bamboo flooring that'll last for years, feel a lot like hardwood, and be kind to the world around you.

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About the Author

While timber flooring has always been popular in Western Australia, bamboo flooring is now starting to take market share, due to a range of great reasons. Visit Bamboozle in Perth - www.bamboozle.com.au - to learn more.  

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