When shopping for a new bamboo floor there are 3 options to choose from, vertical, horizontal and strand-woven. The benefits and drawbacks of each type are not common knowledge, and our aim is to highlight some key aspects so you can make the best decision for you, your home, and your family.
Strand-woven bamboo is characterized by having the moso grass strands fully integrated with the adhesive. This process takes place at very high temperatures and creates an extremely strong flooring plank. In referring to the Janka Scale, bamboo ranks higher than some of the more durable domestic hardwoods. If you entertain frequently and have a high amount of foot traffic in your home, then perhaps it would be suitable to go with the resilient strand-woven bamboo option. This type of bamboo flooring option is also less prone to moisture issues, as the tightly woven strands are less likely to have water seep through the planks.
An unfortunate flaw with strand-woven bamboo is that it can emit volitile organic compounds (VOC) and homeowners are not too keen on their house smelling like formaldehyde. Fortunately though, there are strand-woven bamboo manufacturers that don’t use formaldehyde even though its use is widespread, especially in China. Be smart and research the products before purchasing them and you can avoid having your home smell like chemical plants due to high VOC emissions.
The majority of people opt for the horizontal or vertical strand bamboo flooring. The vertical opition has a distinct linear look, while the horizontal type resembles more typical hardwoods with each strand in the plank having more visible surface area. These layouts require much less adhesive than their strand-woven counterpart and are generally less expensive as well. Vertical and horizontal strand tend to be softer, but when compared to hardwood they are still much more durable. Because they don’t go through they same creation process as strand-woven, vertical and horizontal bamboo strands have low levels of VOC and will not have your house smelling like chemicals.
There are lot of options available in regards to bamboo flooring and it is important that you are familiar with the benefits and pitfalls of each choice. If you would like to learn more about bamboo flooring leave a question for us in the comment box below, or give us a call at 404-904-5569.