Few types of flooring add as much value to a home and maximize your return on investment as solid wood flooring. Hardwood floors have been used for centuries for their beauty and durability. Newer materials such as bamboo flooring not only offer the same beauty, but are a much more environmentally friendly product.
Bamboo is often sold with hardwood, but it’s actually a fast-growing graminaceous plant with more than 1,000 varieties. However, not all varieties of bamboo are suitable for bamboo flooring, making it difficult to choose a flooring type. Bamboo flooring has a shorter history, but is actually one of the oldest materials. The differences between the two materials are described below.
Structure.
Like hardwood, bamboo flooring comes in a variety of types. These planks have tongue and groove edges and can be installed by anyone, including a home handyman.
Glueing and nailing are more complicated to install, and both methods require a professional. Bamboo and hardwood cost about the same to install with gluing, but nailing costs less than bamboo.
Cost.
Both bamboo and hardwood come in a variety of styles, sizes, and species, which can affect the final cost. Bamboo has an average material cost of about $5 to $6 per square foot and an installation cost of about $10 per square foot. Hardwoods start at about $3.50 per square foot, but can cost as much as $12.50 per square foot for materials and $12 to $21 per square foot for installation. This means that the average price of hardwood is 50 to 200 percent higher than bamboo, but it can be lower depending on the species and finish. This is attributed to different installation methods. Typically, exterior hardwoods cost less to ship, and soap-washed exterior hardwood floors are more expensive than unfinished interior hardwood floors. Most bamboo flooring sold in the U.S. is burl bamboo, which does not come in as many varieties, so costs may be more stable.
Appearance.
There are different types of bamboo as well, but there are usually only a few flooring appearances. Traditional bamboo flooring has distinct grass “knots” in the planks; woven bamboo mimics grain patterns and looks more like traditional hardwood; and some types of bamboo have a dark color, which is achieved by heating the planks to soften the sugars.
Almost all types of wood and bamboo are affected by this phenomenon to some degree, although some species such as cherry and walnut will be more susceptible.
Moisture and Mold
Both wood and bamboo flooring are susceptible to moisture and humidity. Bamboo fiber flooring and solid hardwood flooring are both sensitive to moisture and therefore should not be used in basements or on lower floors. In general, bamboo is slightly more resistant to moisture and mold than hardwood. Enameled hardwood floors can be used anywhere because they resist moisture and do not swell on contact; the same is true of bamboo floors, which can also be used on slopes.
Maintenance.
Both hardwood and bamboo floors require the same maintenance. Both should be wiped down regularly with a mop and water or vacuumed without a mop and brush to prevent damage. The main advantage of hardwood is that it is easier to sand and refinish than bamboo, especially solid wood. As a result, hardwood can last up to 100 years, while bamboo lasts about 25-35 years.
Environmental impact.
Both hardwood and bamboo are renewable and sustainable materials. However, hardwoods take longer to renew: most trees take 70 years to harvest. Bamboo can be harvested in five years, making it a more sustainable product. Both materials are environmentally friendly, as they contain only small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde.
