Bamboo hardwood floors became one of the most trendy floors in today’s home decoration choices. In my experience however, I found that many homeowners who are considering having bamboo floors installed in their homes have little or no knowledge about bamboo hardwood floor manufacturing process, thus have no idea what sets apart a good bamboo hardwood floor brand from their competitors.

It's amazing to think that bamboo is actually classified as a grass, considering its use as a durable hardwood floor. Yet, it's the grass-like qualities of bamboo that help make it the most sustainable hardwood flooring product in the world.

Doing some research on bamboo hardwood flooring, you surely came across some controversy. There are many home owners displeased with their dented and scratched bamboo hardwood floors, only to be tempered by some of happy buyers who say their bamboo floors has been holding up for years. Furthermore, there's the whole debate on just how sustainable bamboo flooring really is. So who's right you ask? Well, that all depends.

When is comes to bamboo hardwood floor quality, we have to consider many detailes, which should not be dismissed. Some bamboo plantations are sustainable and engage in fair-trade practices, while others are not. Some manufacturers use toxic amounts of formaldehyde in their processing while others do not. Some bamboo is misleadingly marketed as being harder than oak, while other brands are indeed actually harder!

It all comes down to is the cultivation of the bamboo itself and the manufacturing process that turns the miracle grass into hardwood bamboo flooring. The pros of properly cultivated and manufactured bamboo floors truly outweigh the cons. In fact, if you go with the best brands and proper type of flooring best suited to your needs, as opposed to the cheapest priced bamboo flooring out there, you'll find there's no cons at all. In other words, if you don't want any regrets about your decision to buy bamboo hardwood flooring, you will need to do some research on bamboo hardwood floor brands and retailers.

As a bamboo hardwood floor installer I can tell the quality of the product by simply installing the hardwood. Just because it is sold as a „select and better” quality, that means nothing. Every brand has their own grading and „select and better” for one company might be the lowest grade for an other brand.

Tips how to choose the right bamboo floor product:

Now I could write you pages on how to choose your bamboo hardwood floors, but one of the easiest way to remember when you go out and buy the product is to:

1. Opt for brands with commercial and residential warranties. If you are serious about preventing dents and scratches and/or have indoor dogs, make certain your bamboo flooring comes with both a residential and commercial warranty. A good warranty is one that offers 25 years residential and 5 years commercial.
2. Remember the lower the moisture lever the better quality the bamboo floors are. Bamboo is a grass, and as such, contains a high moisture content. It is important that bamboo flooring is adequately dried to prevent cracking and warping. Depending on the brand, moisture content can range from 7-14%. However, the ideal moisture content should be below 8%. Anything above that, especially in areas where the relative humidity drops below 35%, is prone to ripple or crack. This brings up another point. Only purchase bamboo flooring that has been made from Moso bamboo that is at least five years old.

There are over 1,000 different species of bamboo, but for bamboo hardwood flooring, primarily are used the species of Phyllostachys pubescens, known as Moso in Japan, due to its exceptional hardness and growth rate (fully mature in just three years). The vast majority of bamboo used for hardwood flooring is imported into Canada from the Hunan Province in Southern China. There are indeed some natural bamboo plantations there which meet the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) criteria for environmental sustainability and social responsibility. However, the fact remains that some bamboo manufacturers are anything but environmentally friendly in their bamboo floor manufacturing process. This is why it is important to ensure your bamboo floor retailer knows where their bamboo comes from and how it is harvested and manufactured into flooring.

If you would ask me about the suggetions of bamboo flooring brands then I would suggest that the top quality bamboo floors would be: Teragren, Yanchi, Plyboo, Ambient, Cali Bamboo & Eco Timber.

Bamboo Hardwood Floors Care

Being a natural product, just like any other hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring is prone to the elements. Although a good protective finish will help prevent water damage, cleaning up water spills immediately after they happen will help ensure your flooring does not warp or stain. It is also a good idea to rotate furniture pieces in a room with bamboo hardwood flooring as this will help even out naturally occurring fading. On this note, be sure all furniture legs are padded and NEVER drag furniture and heavy appliances across bamboo flooring.

Lastly, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning your bamboo hardwood flooring. You don't want to risk using a cleaner that may damage your floors finish, thus voiding warranty protection.

This bamboo hardwood floor installation project is from Milton. Installed in March 2011. As you can see we take pride in our workmanship.

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