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In the past few years, bamboo flooring has risen significantly in popularity. That’s because people are hearing that it’s longer lasting and more environmentally friendly than traditional hardwood. Bamboo is a smart choice for a number of sitations and has many advantages.

However, bamboo flooring, while durable and attractive, isn’t the right choice for every home. Many traditional homes have hardwood flooring in them, and this traditional material works well with older homes, especially antique houses. It takes longer to install hardwood floors than bamboo, but for some people, this traditional floor type’s look and feel is worth the inconvenience.

While bamboo is an attractive type of floor that works very well in many homes, it’s not the same as a traditional floor made from wood. This flooring is more uniform and has less color variation than a hardwood floor, for instance.

For some, this is a benefit, but for others, it’s a reason to avoid bamboo. If you’re not certain which you prefer, remember that bamboo is a lot more convenient. The pieces are ready to install and there’s no dust and little mess.

For many homes, bamboo is a great choice. However, if you’re restoring an older building or really love traditional looks, you might not be happy with it. Fortunately, some manufacturers are creating bamboo that looks a lot more like hardwood. Soon, this may be an option, too.

Traditional hardwoods include blackbutt, jarrah, karri, iron bark and others. These durable woods can develop problems over the years. Moisture and temperature changes have been known to cause damage, warping and splintering.

Hardwood also tends to be costlier and less sustainable than bamboo. This amazing grass can grow as much as thirty centimeters in one day, and a grove can be harvested in just a few years. A hardwood forest takes decades to produce lumber, and many of these forests aren’t being maintained sustainably.

Since bamboo grows quickly, and requires no fertilizers, it can be sustainably farmed. That doesn’t mean that every bamboo crop is environmentally responsible, however. Some bamboo plantations, despite the advantages of this plant, are planting only one species and using fertilizers and pesticides on their crops. These bamboo sources are a lot less friendly than well managed bamboo.

These irresponsible practices are most common in countries with little regulation, such as China. A little research will tell you whether you’re getting quality, environmentally friendly bamboo or not. A large percentage of the products on the market are made with “good” bamboo - an important concern for those who want to decrease their impact on the world around them.

Compared to hardwood, bamboo will last a lot longer, and stand up better to daily wear. For those who are still concerned about the life of their bamboo floor, warranties are available. Remember that you get what you pay for - buy a product that’s made to last, rather than a bargain.

Where contraction and expansion are issues, you’ll find that bamboo offers a favorable performance. Unlike hardwood veneer floorings, bamboo will hold up to a number of resurfacings, and there’s no treatment or waxing required. To make sure you get a product that’s non toxic and fully sustainable, look for flooring that uses glues that won’t off gas and don’t contain toxic chemicals.

If you’re curious about bamboo flooring and how it holds up in comparison to hardwood, take a look online. You can do a lot of research and see all the products available from various manufacturers. Take a look and see if bamboo might be the floor for you.