Stephens Flooring Santa Cruz » Bamboo Flooring

Q. What are the benefits of bamboo flooring?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:42:03 +0000

Bamboo flooring is rapidly becoming one of the most popular types of residential flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a bamboo floor:

· Bamboo floors are easy to clean.

· Bamboo floors are ideal for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.

· Bamboo flooring is an inexpensive alternative to hardwood flooring, usually costing 25% to 50% less than hardwood.

· Bamboo flooring is long-lasting. The laminate floors sold by BuildDirect come with 10-year and 25-year warranties.

· Bamboo flooring can be installed over numerous types of sub-floors such as: wood, sheathing grade plywood, vinyl tile, or Oriented Strand Board.

· Bamboo floors are environmentally friendly. They use a quickly renewable crop. Made with safe resins, they have extremely low formaldehyde emissions and make excellent floors for healthy homes.

Bamboo flooring is rapidly becoming one of the most popular types of residential flooring. Here are a few reasons why you should choose a bamboo floor:

Bamboo floors are easy to clean.
Bamboo floors are ideal for allergy sufferers as they do not promote dust or harbor dust mites.
Bamboo flooring is an inexpensive alternative to hardwood flooring, usually costing 25% to 50% less than hardwood.
Bamboo flooring is long-lasting. The laminate floors sold by BuildDirect come with 10-year and 25-year warranties.
Bamboo flooring can be installed over numerous types of sub-floors such as: wood, sheathing grade plywood, vinyl tile, or Oriented Strand Board.
Bamboo floors are environmentally friendly. They use a quickly renewable crop. Made with safe resins, they have extremely low formaldehyde emissions and make excellent floors for healthy homes.

Q. Where can I install bamboo flooring?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:17:22 +0000

Bamboo flooring is an extremely versatile flooring product. It can be installed in virtually any room of your home, above or below ground, over wood, OSB, or existing vinyl flooring. There are several locations that are not recommended for bamboo flooring. Because bamboo flooring is a natural flooring product it is not recommended that bamboo be installed in wet locations such as bathrooms, washrooms, saunas, enclosed porches or verandas, or anywhere that may require wet-mopping. Extended exposure to moisture of this type may cause your bamboo flooring to warp or swell.

Q. How do I maintain my bamboo flooring?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:03:03 +0000

In order to maximize the durability and beauty of your bamboo flooring, we recommend the following practices as part of your floor’s normal care and maintenance.

· Place doormats or rugs at entrances to collect moister, sand, grit and other potentially damaging substances from being tracked onto your bamboo floor.

· Dust mop or vacuum with a soft accessory to keep your bamboo floor clean from dust, dirt or grit. Bamboo flooring cleans easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop.

· For sticky spots, use a soft damp cloth to gently scrub the floor. If necessary, use a generic hardwood floor cleaner. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive scouring pads.

· Do not use harsh detergents, abrasive cleansers, or corrosive chemicals to clean your bamboo floor.

· Avoid excessive water. Use mats in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to protect against spills. If a spill occurs, blot it up immediately with a dry cloth or slightly damp mop.

· Use only colorfast and non-scratch carpeting or pads on your bamboo floor.

· Protect the floor from furniture legs and do not walk on the floor with high-heeled shoes.

· Although bamboo flooring has effective UV inhibitors in its pre-finish, it is recommended that it not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.

In order to maximize the durability and beauty of your bamboo flooring, we recommend the following practices as part of your floor’s normal care and maintenance.

Place doormats or rugs at entrances to collect moister, sand, grit and other potentially damaging
substances from being tracked onto your bamboo floor.
Dust mop or vacuum with a soft accessory to keep your bamboo floor clean from dust, dirt or grit. Bamboo flooring cleans easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop.
For sticky spots, use a soft damp cloth to gently scrub the floor. If necessary, use a generic hardwood floor cleaner. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive scouring pads.
Do not use harsh detergents, abrasive cleansers, or corrosive chemicals to clean your bamboo floor.
Avoid excessive water. Use mats in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to protect against spills. If a spill occurs, blot it up immediately with a dry cloth or slightly damp mop.
Use only colorfast and non-scratch carpeting or pads on your bamboo floor.
Protect the floor from furniture legs and do not walk on the floor with high-heeled shoes.
Although bamboo flooring has effective UV inhibitors in its pre-finish, it is recommended that it not be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods.

Q. What is the difference between bamboo flooring and hardwood flooring?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:30:45 +0000

There are several advantages to using bamboo flooring compared to hardwood flooring. First, bamboo flooring is an environmentally friendly product. It takes only a few years for a bamboo plant to grow to maturity, while it takes decades for hardwood trees. And when bamboo is harvested, the root continues to live and produces new stock. Each year, one “mother plant” generates several new bamboo stems that grow to full length in a few months, and to mature hardness in about five years. Bamboo plants are therefore quickly replenished following a harvest. Second, bamboo is actually harder than hardwood so it makes a more durable flooring. Third, in most cases bamboo is less expensive than hardwood while installation costs are the same. Hardwood installers and contractors need no additional training to install bamboo flooring. Bamboo can be installed using exactly the same tools and methods as are used for installing hardwood.

Q. Can I install bamboo flooring in a bathroom?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:19:14 +0000

Bamboo floors are not covered by warranty if installed in a bathroom. Like hardwood flooring, bamboo could swell if excessive water is left to stand.

Q. Can I clean my bamboo floor with a mop?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:13:55 +0000

Bamboo flooring cleans easily with a Swiffer or similar type dry mop. As with a hardwood floor, you should avoid excessive moisture. A slightly damp mop may be used to mop up a spill.

Q. Is strand-woven bamboo the same product as traditional bamboo flooring?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:07:09 +0000

No, strand-woven bamboo is manufactured differently than traditional bamboo flooring. In the strand-woven process, strips of bamboo are coated with resins and then compressed with heat to form timbers. These timbers are then milled into flooring. This process produces bamboo flooring that is twice as hard as traditional bamboo flooring.

Q. How does your bamboo flooring hold up to high humidity?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:50:26 +0000

As long as you let the flooring acclimate for no less than 72 hours, with boxes opened and laid flat in the room where it is to be installed, high humidity should not affect the floor.

Q. What is the difference between “horizontal” and “vertical” bamboo flooring?

bjenkins — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:28:38 +0000

A natural bamboo stock is hollow and the walls of the plant are fairly thin. Strips of bamboo are therefore laminated together to make our 5/8” flooring. The terms “horizontal” and “vertical” refer to the manner in which bamboo strips are laminated together. In the horizontal style, the strips are laid flat so the top surface shows the bamboo’s natural growth rings, or “knuckles.” In the vertical style, the strips are turned on their sides and laminated together in long, slender rows creating a different appearance.

Q. Is carbonized bamboo is softer than natural bamboo?

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:05:16 +0000

Yes. The process that changes the bamboo to the beautiful carbonized color also softens the product approximately 30 %.