Pros and Cons of Bamboo as Kitchen Flooring

The misconception of using bamboo as kitchen flooring is that it will not be flat. Bamboo is, of course, a plant that consists of hollow wood and leaves. Many people do not know it but bamboo is actually a type of grass. Bamboo can be harvested and created to be flat planks of wood.

This wood can then be used as any other type of wood flooring. Bamboo grows very quickly making it an easy source of wood to cultivate. Bamboo kitchen flooring can come in unfinished and finished styles. This article will share with you the pros and the cons of using bamboo as kitchen flooring.

Pros of Bamboo Kitchen Flooring

Sustainable Resource

Living green is fast becoming the popular thing to do and using bamboo flooring is one way that many people are achieving this. Bamboo, unlike other conventional wood floorings, is mature in 3 to 5 years. This is due to the fact that bamboo is a type of grass and not a tree. This means that the use of bamboo does not cut down more trees to diminish forests.

Resistant to Moisture

Bamboo is incredibly durable in the sense that water does not harm it like it does regular wood. This type of durability is great for use as kitchen flooring as well as bathroom flooring.

Natural Beauty

Bamboo flooring is naturally beautiful in its normal state. There is no need to apply harsh chemicals, stains, or paints to the bamboo. The aesthetic that bamboo flooring offers is not meant for everyone's tastes or decor.

Long-Lasting

The natural strength of bamboo allows it to last for a long period of time. Regular wood flooring requires staining, buffing, and all sorts of other care techniques. Bamboo requires very basic maintenance and can last for decades.

Allergen and Insect Resistant

There are several types of bamboo flooring with some being highly processed and others being made from fibers. Fiber-based bamboo floors are not only easy to clean but, like the other bamboo floors, are resistant to insect infestation and they do not trap in allergens that other woods do.

Cons of Bamboo Kitchen Flooring

Cost-Effectiveness

Bamboo flooring costs anywhere from $3 to $9 a square foot. This is more than what average flooring costs.

Durability

Kitchen flooring made from bamboo may hold up great to water but other forms of wear and tear can harm the bamboo. High heels and heavy furniture can easily dent the bamboo flooring. Direct sunlight can also remove the color from bamboo flooring.

Possible Toxic Byproducts

China is the main producer of bamboo flooring and their methods of creating the flooring use urea-formaldehyde which is toxic. This calls into question the legitimacy of the claims of environmentally friendly.

Lack of Variation

There are not many color choices available to the consumer. The color of the bamboo flooring is created by heating the wood. Darker bamboo translates to a wood that is not as durable as lighter-colored bamboo. The companies responsible for the manufacturing of bamboo flooring are working on new color choices and stains for the market.