Sunday 10 January 2010

Bamboo Flooring Prices - Is Bamboo Flooring Really Worth the Money You'll Spend?

If you've been shopping around for new flooring, you've probably come across bamboo floors. Bamboo flooring is one of the hottest trends in flooring styles, and has become extremely popular with homeowners. But are bamboo flooring prices worth it, or is bamboo just another flash-in-the-pan design fad? Keep reading to discover why bamboo is not only well worth the investment, but a good long-term flooring solution for your home.

Easy Installation
If you love the click-lock ease of laminate floating floors but aren't crazy about the look, you'll be happy to hear that bamboo can be installed the same way. With no adhesive or nailing, you can lay a bamboo floor in a weekend. Installing it yourself brings a considerable cost savings, especially over hardwoods.

Bamboo is also very easy to cut, unlike hardwoods such as oak or mahogany. You can use a regular saw to trim pieces...no need to go out and get a specialty hardwood saw.

Long Lasting
Bamboo flooring is very strong, so unlike pine can handle high traffic areas with no worry. Bamboo actually comes close to concrete when it comes to weight-to-strength ratio...it can carry many, many times more than its own weight. It has even been used as scaffolding in Japan for hundreds of years! With Bamboo, you have an almost indestructible floor.

Obviously then, bamboo is very durable, right up there with marble or tile. As the years pass, bamboo will meld into a variety of hues and tones that add a unique charm to your room.

Adaptable
Unlike tile, stone or vinyl, bamboo is not overly sensitive to changes in temperature and can be installed in any sort of climate. Additionally, bamboo does not need a perfect subfloor. You can lay it right over plywood even, and it will be just fine.

Stylish
Let's face it...style is important, especially in a floor. Luckily, bamboo comes in a wide range of styles. Usually, bamboo is very light, but you can find it tinted in many different colors, even dark colors. You can also find it in matte, semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes. The grain varies as well, so it's easy to find one that suits your home. With so many options, bamboo comes out miles ahead of many traditional flooring options.

Environmentally Friendly
This is perhaps the biggest reason for the rising popularity of bamboo as a building material. Bamboo grows amazingly well in many different regions (including the U.S.) and it is not only abundant as a crop but renews itself very quickly after harvest. Hardwoods, on the other hand, take a very long time to regrow. What's more, the leftover shoots and leaves from harvest are used as a food source for livestock, so nothing is wasted.

Bamboo flooring prices will vary depending on the options you choose, but one thing is for sure...whatever you spend, you are getting a huge return on your investment! If you want a floor that will look beautiful and last a lifetime, bamboo is definitely a wise choice.

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