Bamboo has been around since prehistoric times and was used to make many ancient structures. There are over a thousand varieties of bamboo. Some varieties are edible and are served in Asian restaurants. They vary in size from the very small to the very tall and large. The smallest variety can be found in most garden stores and are the perfect size for windowsills or desks. The largest size looks more like a tree than a plant. Bamboo’s durability is will known. In Asia stalks from the bamboo plant are used to create scaffolding as high as six stories.
Moso bamboo is a large variety of this plant that is predominately used to create bamboo flooring. These plants mature in 3 years and can be harvested. In the harvesting process only the stalk of the plant is removed leaving the root base intact. This allows the plant to reestablish itself by offshoots that create new stalks. Bamboo grows rapidly and can persistently dominate an area if allowed to spread.
When the stalks are taken they are then cut into strips or strands that are placed in large pots of boiling water. The fiber is boiled until it becomes soft and pliable. The bamboo is then removed from the water and the fibers are woven together with a non-toxic glue to create sheets of bamboo. The sheets are left to dry in the sun on a flat surface until the wood is completely dry. The sheets are then cut into smaller pieces that will be used in flooring. Some of the boards will be sanded before being packaged, shipped, and sold as unfinished. Other boards will be sanded, stained, and sealed before being packaged and shipped to distributors.
This form of manufacturing makes the strand woven bamboo flooring stronger than the standard bamboo flooring where the pieces of the bamboo stalk are laminated together with glue. By weaving the fibers together the strength of the wood is doubled. Making this type of bamboo flooring the most durable on the market. To avoid losing this strength try and avoid bamboo that has been caramelized or carbonized as this weakens the wood. The strand woven bamboo flooring price ranges from about $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot. When buying this type of flooring where it is always good to talk to a flooring professional, you may prefer customer reviews. There are many sites on the internet that offer customer reviews where you may be able to find a strand woven bamboo flooring review so that you can make your purchasing decision.
Strand woven bamboo flooring can stand up to more wear and tear than any of the hardwoods available today. It comes unfinished, pre-finished, and has even been combined with engineered wood to last even longer. This floor is easy to care for and will provide your home decades worth of comfort and reliability.