Quick Guide: What is bamboo flooring?

This entry was posted on January 11, 2024 by sam elliott

Bamboo flooring is, quite simply, planks of flooring made from bamboo. Over the last few decades, it has become more and more popular due to its strength, durability, cost and sustainability.

Bamboo is a grass native to China that is cut down into strips or strands, dried out and then machined into flooring planks. It is available in a variety of styles, colours and finishes, and because it is a dimensionally stable flooring material, it can be floated over an underlay, used with underfloor heating, and installed in areas where humidity and temperature fluctuate.

What types of bamboo flooring are available?

Bamboo flooring is available in three different constructions: Horizontal, vertical and strand woven.

Horizontal bamboo - Strips of bamboo are glued together horizontally to form the plank of flooring. The bamboo grain is more evident as it appears wider on the surface of the floor. Horizontal bamboo flooring has a tongue and groove fitting profile.

Vertical bamboo - Strips of bamboo are glued together vertically to form the plank of flooring. The bamboo grain is thinner and less evident on the surface of the floor. Vertical bamboo flooring has a tongue and groove fitting profile.

Strand woven bamboo - Strands of bamboo are woven together and compressed under extreme heat and pressure to form the plank of flooring. The bamboo grain is random. Strand woven bamboo is over twice as hard than Oak flooring and is available in plank or parquet form. Strand woven bamboo flooring can be found in a solid or engineered format, some have a click fitting system and some have a tongue and groove system.

What colours and finishes of bamboo flooring are available?

The colours of bamboo flooring are continually increasing with demand and fashion trends. There are different shades of brown, golden tones (natural bamboo), shades of grey and even taupe.

Here are some of the most popular colours:

All bamboo flooring is pre-finished with a lacquer, which protects the bamboo and means that it is ready to use once installed.

Matching bamboo flooring accessories are also available to provide finishing touches to your room.

What makes bamboo flooring eco-friendly?

Bamboo is a grass, which grows much faster than wood, therefore making it a highly renewable material. Bamboo can be harvested every 5 years compared to 20-30 years for most wood. Furthermore, it does not need to be re-planted after it has been farmed as the root remains intact meaning that it will continue to grow year upon year.