Selecting
& Purchasing
Bamboo:
Grass - not wood.
Jason
Walker
FlooringGuide.com Editorial Staff
Bamboo flooring offers one of the most unique appearances of any
floor covering product. However, most people do not know that
Bamboo is a "grass" floor rather than a hardwood floor. All bamboo
laminated plank flooring is actually harder than Northern Red
Oak.
The process of taking Bamboo from its natural state and manufacturing
it into a viable floor covering option is very difficult. The
harvested Bamboo is fed through splitting and sizing machinery.
The small strips are than planed down to their approximate size.
Next, the rough-sized strips are kiln dried down to an 8-10% moisture
content. This process can take 5 days, and is the most important
step in the manufacturing process.
The strips are planed down on all 4 sides. As with all natural
material, a color variance is evident. The coloring of bamboo
is determined by its age. The strips are sorted by color and cut
to size and then assembled and glued together. Under extreme heat
and pressure the planks are fused together. The final shading
will change depending on the finishing techniques used.
The assembled planks are planed again to achieve an even surface
and smooth surface. Planks are then fed through machines that
cut and shape the tongues and grooves. Finally the planks are
finished, packaged and sent off for sale.
Bamboo is often seen as the flooring material of the future. It
is readily available and, it naturally regenerates quickly into
harvestable crops. Processed bamboo is durable and stable, which
combined with its environmental friendliness, this "woody grass"
is just beginning to make its mark.
Author:
Jason Walker - FlooringGuide.com Editorial Staff
Jason Walker is
a Professional Flooring Consultant
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