When you buy bamboo flooring, you may believe there is only one type or one type with varying depths of colour. The truth is there are several ways that bamboo flooring can be categorized. In order to understand these categories and what type of flooring you are buying, there are four things you need to understand. You may not currently know about these four points, but having just a small amount of knowledge about each point will help you narrow down the type of bamboo you want and the type to request from your contractor.
Flooring Grains
When you think of bamboo, you likely think of a flattened version of what you find in nature. There are actually three types of flooring grains that range from horizontal to vertical and finally strand-woven. The horizontal grain and vertical grain are simply planks of bamboo that are laid flat side-by-side.
The only real difference between the two is that one creates a horizontal perspective while the other creates a vertical. The strand woven option is actually scrap pieces of bamboo from the stalk. The strand woven flooring is like a bamboo version of particle board due to the process of pressing the stalk scraps to form a beam or plank.
Flooring Colour
You may be under the impression that bamboo flooring is only available in the traditional or natural beige like hue of the stalks. Though natural is an option, you can also choose from four other colours. Direct print is a popular option if you want a cherry or dark wood look for your flooring.
Staining the flooring is also an option that is popular with those homeowners that want to have more variety in the level of flooring colour. Carbonized colouring is actually the natural caramelization colour that develops in the bamboo. Mixing carbonized, or caramelized bamboo, with a natural colour will give you the final colour option known as tiger strip.
Flooring Texture
When you choose a texture you can choose from a natural, rough antique, or aged option. The natural texture will appear smooth and is developed by covering the flooring planks with a manufactured seal. The rough antique option, also known as hand scraped, will give you that old distressed look. The aged option gives a more aged and refined look to the flooring and is known as hand sculpted.
Flooring Installation
Installation can consist of either nailing or gluing down the flooring as well as having a no glue and no nail option. The no glue and no nail options are also known as variations of floating floors and require a waterproof seal between the bottom of the flooring and the concreate or wood foundation underneath. You can discuss these options with your contractor to determine which is best for the age and foundation of your home.
When you decide on the type of grain, colour, texture, and installation style that you want then take those ideas to a contractor. Your contractor can help you determine if your choices are the right ones for your home and give you any pros and cons you need to know before scheduling an installation appointment.
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