hardwood vs bamboo flooring
by
Raymond
+9
12 answers
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Here's a great article on Networx that offers all the pro's and con's: http://www.networx.com/article/bamboo-parquet-flooring
Brent B
on Feb 14, 2011
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There are many post you have missed it. See the search link on this here it's big On INFO hardwood vs bamboo
Hudson Designs
on Feb 14, 2011
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hardwood for many reasons
KMS Woodworks
on Feb 15, 2011
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Definitely hardwood
TaCora Design
on Feb 15, 2011
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There was a company at the Home and Garden Show this weekend with outdoor bamboo and we couldn't come up with a good reason why bamboo is bad getting a bad rap! Who started this roomer?
Sunita P
on Feb 15, 2011
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Sunita there has been a lot of buzz on Bamboo this last week. I think the argument started when somebody cliame dit to be a 'Green' product and one of our users proved the product was a green wash. Also as per the user's experience it didn't hold as strong as hardwood floors would.
Yamini M
on Feb 15, 2011
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Bamboo is a great floor. I've installed it in all areas. KMS started this evil rumor! LOL! I think it looks great, is very durable, I've had no complaints from any customers about bamboo.
M.L.Schwartz Construction, Inc.
on Feb 15, 2011
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I like bamboo because it is a great renuable resourse and looks great. Bamboo has a softer rating than solid oak hardood, but is usually not noticable in normal residential applications. If you have children and or pets it can show th wear. Hardwood floors are usually easy to refinish when that time comes.
Sean W
on Feb 15, 2011
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I agree with Sean. I would choose hardwoods over bamboo every time. However, bamboo is not a bad choice...just saying. Waiting for KMS to give a lecture on the chemical breakdown of a stalk of bamboo or something like that...LOL!
M.L.Schwartz Construction, Inc.
on Feb 15, 2011
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This is from Wikipedia...on the non-green issues surrounding bamboo. Scientific sources are cited there. Transportation of materials to a consumer is an often-overlooked factor in a carbon footprint. Since the majority of bamboo timber comes from China, it has to be shipped to the international destinations by boat and then by truck to vendors. A scientific study was conducted,[10], comparing the embodied energy - including transportation - of locally sourced USA concrete to bamboo flooring originating in China. This study assumes truck transportation of 500 mi (804 km) from the port of shipping. This portion of the transport accounts for 1645MJ of energy & 280 lb. CO2e towards the embodied energy and Carbon footprint of the bamboo flooring. In total the study indicates a total of 70% higher lb. CO2e and a 221% higher embodied energy for the bamboo flooring. Even though energy is required to produce bamboo flooring – hollowing and slicing the shoots prior to boiling,kiln drying and laminating into solid boards, which are then milled and treated with preservatives – there is no research data available on the embodied energy coefficient. Common sense dictates that multiple boilings and kiln drying will add additional energy input and offset this number further. This study chose the source of the bamboo flooring to be in Hunan Province in China and the destination to be in Denver, Colorado. As a result, the chosen source and destination in this study favored concrete above bamboo flooring. A more encompassing and varied study will provide a more useful model for determining the true impact of transport on the Carbon footprint and embodied energy of bamboo flooring. Some research has shown that bamboo may not be as environmentally-friendly as it could be. The following are statements made in a report by Dr. Jim Boyer in a research paper for Dovetail partners.[11] "Recently, bamboo expansion has come at the expense of natural forests, shrubs, and low-yield mixed plantations . . . It is common practice to cut down existing trees and replace them with bamboo." • "As forestlands tend to be in hilly and mountainous areas with steep slopes, clearcutting has resulted in an increase in erosion until the bamboo becomes fully established . . ." • "Natural forests in the vicinity of bamboo plantations have sometimes given way to bamboo as a result of deliberate efforts to replace them or because of the vigorous natural expansion of bamboo in logged over forests. This process has also had a negative impact on biodiversity." • "The intensive management practices employed involve manual or chemical weeding and periodic tilling of the land to keep the soil clear of undergrowth. These practices increase erosion and result in single-species plantations over large areas." • "The intensive use of chemicals (pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers) [associated with growing bamboo] also affects the environment . . ." Another green aspect of bamboo flooring that needs to be considered concerns the chemicals used in the manufacturing process. During the manufacturing of bamboo floors, some manufacturers use urea-formaldehyde as the adhesive for bonding the bamboo strips. According to the stringent CARB - California Air Resource Board standards there can be no more than 0.05 ppm (parts per million) of outgassed formaldehyde.[13] According to the USGBC's LEED standard products with Urea-formaldehyde do not qualify for the EQ 4.4 Low-Emitting Products category.[14] Manufacturers are now offering formaldehyde-free bamboo flooring, but they can claim that they have "no added urea-formaldehyde" without providing substantial proof. Manufacturers may make use of equipment that may in itself be dangerous and polluting. Some manufacturers may require their products to be registered under International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards 9001 for quality control and 14001 for environmental management systems EMS, although these standards are not necessarily very high.[4] ___________________________________________________ From my own personal experience, having installed and worked on many homes with Bamboo floors (from a number of different suppliers) a solid 80 to 90% have performed worse that basic red oak flooring in terms of durability, surface appearance and overall homeowner satisfaction. With the knowledge I have gained over the last few years, based on scientific studies and real time / real life examples. I no longer recommend it to my clients.
KMS Woodworks
on Feb 15, 2011
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Oh....... it's on now!
General Construction and Repair Services
on Feb 15, 2011
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Hardwood, strip oak.Tried & true!
Stephen B
on Feb 17, 2011
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