Engineered bamboo flooring has more advantages over the solid bamboo flooring. Also, it looks good and similar to solid bamboo flooring. So, why not go for this type of flooring?
Today, everybody is trying to minimize the use of plastic, save electricity and use less fuel. Everybody is trying to take steps to be more and more eco-friendly and conscious. Due to this reason one of the most popular flooring emerging today is bamboo flooring. However, this is not actually wooden flooring, because bamboo is not a wood but a grass. Plus, bamboo floor feels and looks exotic. All in all bamboo flooring is affordable, looks great and is more eco-friendly, which makes it more and more popular.
What is Bamboo Flooring?
This flooring is actually manufactured using bamboo. Bamboo exhibits certain properties which makes it suitable for making flooring and other items. Bamboo flooring is durable and strong. It can survive denting and bending. Older bamboo is denser and harder which adds up to its durability. If you buy good quality bamboo flooring then it can even be scratch and stain resistant. The most common species of bamboo used for making bamboo flooring is moso. Moso bamboo is harvested after a period of 3-8 years. This strong bamboo is cut or shredded to obtain bamboo flooring planks. This was what is bamboo flooring, let us look at what is engineered flooring.
What is Engineered Flooring?
Choosing between solid and engineered flooring is always tough. Engineered flooring is not actually real wooden flooring as it made by gluing together various layers of wood on a board. The top layer of engineered flooring planks have a decorative board on top. The bottom layers are consists of plywood or particle board. The top layer in case of engineered bamboo flooring is made of bamboo strips. This layer of bamboo is generally 1/8 of the total board thickness.
Now, one can go for solid bamboo flooring or the engineered variety. Both have advantages and disadvantages. However, engineered flooring has more advantages. This flooring is cheaper and easier to install. Even if the flooring is not 100% bamboo is still looks like solid bamboo flooring. It has a lesser expansion rate, which means it is great for areas where the weather is too try or humid. In such areas the size of the flooring will still remain the same. Also, this type of flooring can be nailed or glued on the floor.
Installation of Engineered Bamboo Flooring
If you had a concrete floor before, then engineered flooring with top coat as bamboo is a great option for a sub-flooring. This flooring type can be floated directly over slab. But, make sure you prepare the slab well before you install the bamboo flooring. The slab surface should be even, clean and dry before the planks are installed. So remove any carpets, rugs or furniture off the floor. Then sand down uneven surfaces and wash the floor clean. Then let is dry completely and vacuum clean it before laying the planks. Also, let the bamboo flooring material acclimate prior to installation for 2-3 days. Refer to the instructions given by the manufacturer for more.
You can buy a moso engineered or a tropical engineered bamboo flooring from bamboohardwoods. They have different colored engineered floor which look great and are made with certified bamboo. They also offer a great warranty on many of their products. You can also buy it from leading brands like Teragren or from ambient Bamboo Floors. These are leading brands which sell great quality engineered flooring. The price starts around $2.80 per square feet of engineered bamboo flooring. You can always order online or call the manufacture for a free panel sample. Then you can order a flooring design or style which you like the most.
