When remodeling floors, people immediately think of traditional hardwood flooring. Traditional hardwood floors are classy, beautiful, and add value to your home. However, they're also expensive and tough on the environment. So, though traditional hardwood is a great option, there is also a new material on the market that has been gaining in popularity due to its strength and cost-effectiveness. This is bamboo flooring and is definitely something worth considering.

Bamboo floors are not technically made of wood. Though they are harder than most hardwoods, they are actually a form of grass. Often grown in China and other regions of Asia, these hollow shoots are cut down, sliced into strips, and then laminated together to look like traditional wooden plants. They often come in only two shades: their natural light-colored tint or they can be boiled, often called carbonized, for a darker look however, if the bamboo is boiled it may be a bit softer as well.

A unique benefit of bamboo flooring is that it is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Bamboo reaches full maturity in just a few years, unlike most hardwood which takes decades to grow. Plus, it rejuvenates on its own without any need for re-planting. In fact, if it isn't cut down often, it can actually put a strain on the environment. This makes it a truly renewable resource. Also, its initial production has almost no impact on the natural world because no pesticides or fertilizer is required in its development.

Not only is bamboo a great ecological product, bamboo floors provide great benefits for the home environment as well. Due to its strength, this material is often impervious to dents and lasts up to twenty years or more. Bamboo is stronger than most hardwoods however, it is lightweight, easy to cut for installation, and flexible enough to fit any room dimensions. In addition, it is mildew, pest, fire, and stain resistant. Bamboo floors can be installed in any room on any type of sub-floor. Its installation is like that of any other wood product which makes it an easy DIY task.

Here are a few popular design options available:

Horizontal style:

This is when the planks are laid flat on the ground, revealing the plant's growth rings.

Vertical style:

When the strips are laminated on their sides so that the strips appear in longer, thinner rows, allowing your floors to have a tight, intricate look.

Strand-woven:

This type of bamboo flooring looks like any other design, but it is produced a little differently: the strips are uniquely coated, compressed, and milled to retain an even greater strength.

Bamboo flooring is not price prohibited. Since it's laid like any other floor product, the price of installation will be approximately the same. But the cost of the bamboo itself is significantly cheaper. It cost approximately $5 to $10 a square foot, almost half that of other hardwoods.

If you are considering hardwood floors take a look at bamboo flooring. You may be glad you did.

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