Originally Posted By: rbracklow
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Here is an interesting article on Bamboo Flooring!!
Bamboo
Timber bamboo, which comes primarily from China, emerges from the ground at up to 6 inches in diameter, can shoot up 24 inches in a single day, grows up to 40 feet, and achieves maturity in four years. Compare the upward sprint of bamboo with the more stately rate of growth for an oak or redwood tree, and you'll appreciate why bamboo is so valued as a renewable resource. The surprise of bamboo flooring is that it is often as hard as oak and maple, and it is more dimensionally stable (it expands and contracts less) than other common types of hardwood floors.
For flooring, narrow strips of bamboo are laminated together to form planks, which can be glued or nailed to a subfloor. Bamboo floors look subtly different from traditional wood floors: The parallel lines of the slender strips are visible (and the look depends on whether the strips have been laminated flat or on edge), as are the slightly darker nodes or growth joints, which appear at 6- to 12-inch intervals. The flooring is either a creamy tan or a darker caramel, which is created with a steam treatment. Bamboo can be stained, dyed, or otherwise finished on-site.
Bamboo flooring can be purchased unfinished for about $5.50 per square foot or finished for about $7 per square foot, and it comes in a variety of widths and lengths. The boards have tongue-and-groove edges. Most manufacturers also offer compatible trim pieces, such as thresholds and baseboards, that give a uniform look to the installation and help it blend with other areas of the home.
Bamboo resources:
Bamboo Flooring International. (800) 827-9261 or www.bamboo-flooring.com.
Bamboo Hardwoods. (206) 264-2414 or www.bamboohardwoods.com.
Smith & Fong/Plyboo. (866) 835-9859 or www.plyboo.com.
TimberGrass. (800) 929-6333 or www.timbergrass.com.
The slender proportions and subtle mottling of the bamboo strip floors in this living area and kitchen create a warm, contemporary look.
DESIGN: Ann Knight, TimberGrass, Bainbridge Island, WA (800/929-6333)
Ron.
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The highest compliment my clients can give me, is the referral of their Friends, Family and Business Associates!
NorCal NACHI Chapter Founder and Chairman.
