One of the unexpected perks of the housing and remodeling boom of the last 10-15 years has been the proliferation of innovative product choices that now await homeowners looking to complete a makeover. From a nickel-brush faucet for under $300 to gallery-style lighting available a la carte at the local big-box hardware store, the home remodeling landscape looks markedly different from the humble offerings available 20 years ago. An area that has been hit especially hard by the innovation bug is flooring, where luxurious tiles, carpet, and hard woods are within the budget of most homeowners. One particularly pleasant surprise has been the emergence of bamboo as a flooring option, something that would have been unheard of in years past. Bamboo offers some big benefits as a flooring material, particularly the ones listed below.
1) Bamboo is easily and quickly renewable. While hardwood trees can take decades to regrow to a harvestable point, Gardenersnet.com reports that bamboo can grow up to twenty feet in a single year! This makes bamboo very “green” since it spares trees with longer life spans.
2) Bamboo is easy to handle. According to DoItYourself.com, bamboo can be cut and installed with typical handtools rather than the bevy of power tools required to configure a new hardwood floor. For do-it-yourselfers, this is a real bonus and can make the task of installing a new floor actually approachable.
3) Bamboo is durable. While you might think of this reedy plant as being anything but durable, DoItYourself.com points out the fact that bamboo has been used as flooring for centuries in Asian countries, and it lasts as long as the abodes themselves.
4) Bamboo will fit your budget. While bamboo is extremely popular these days, that fact has actually helped bring about increased choices and competition, which means that most price points are represented. From top-of-the line imported hardwood to domestic veneers, bamboo flooring is available to just about anyone.
5) Bamboo flooring is gorgeous! If you need proof of this, take a look at one of the many online galleries, such as that offered by Teragren . Bamboo flooring can be light or dark, glossy or matte, full-boarded or veneer, and is visually striking in all forms.
If you’re like most folks, the mention of bamboo probably brings to mind images of a reedy plant growing in some exotic marsh. Now you know the truth, however: bamboo is a beautiful, ecologically sound choice for your hardwood flooring needs. Check out the options, and you’ll surely agree.
