Bamboo Flooring vs. Hardwood

If you’re looking to upgrade the flooring in your home, then you have a lot of choices to make so make sure that you get the most out of your project. First and foremost, you need to make sure you get the best flooring materials available. While there are a number of great materials you could choose from, two of your top considerations should be Bamboo flooring and hardwood. Both of these materials offer serious benefits to you as a homeowner, making it important that you examine each wood type more closely. Read on to learn whether bamboo flooring or hardwood flooring is better for you and find out the benefits you can get from each flooring type.

Benefits of Hardwood Flooring

There are many benefits to traditional hardwood floors. With a classic look that has proved irresistible for thousands of homeowners, as well as impressive durability and longevity, hardwood flooring is a great choice for virtually any home. After all, nothing says “quality home” more than having smooth, polished hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors are available in a wide variety of colors and styles, which makes them suitable for a wide variety of styles. Also, as mentioned, one of the biggest advantages of hardwood flooring is its durability.. It is not uncommon to see older homes with the original hardwood floors, restored to their former beauty using today’s restorative and protective techniques.

Disadvantages of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring does not do well with excess moisture, many any area of your home that experiences higher than average moisture content, such as a bathroom or kitchen, can be serious trouble for your hardwood. Water damage caused by leaks, leaky pipes or other means can seriously damage your hardwood flooring, resulting in costly repairs or replacements.

Additionally, sunlight exposure over long periods of time can fade the color of your hardwood floors and cause permanent damage. While hardwood is generally easier to care for than carpeting, once damaged, they can be very costly to repair or replace.

Benefits of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring, while less common, is an exciting alternative to the traditional hardwood flooring. Just like hardwood, bamboo is quite durable. The durability and hardness of bamboo flooring is similar to that of oak and ash. Since bamboo is technically a grass and not a wood, it can resist expansion and contraction due to heat much better than regular hardwood can, making it a more stable choice than hardwood.

Bamboo is also extremely customizable, giving you numerous options to find a look that fits your home and style. Bamboo flooring can even be cut and stained to look like traditional hardwood. One major advantage to selecting bamboo flooring for your home is that it is considered a renewable resource. Since bamboo is a hard grass, instead of wood, it only takes 10 years to grow for use making it the more eco-friendly option of these two types of flooring.

Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring

All bamboo floors are engineered hardwoods, meaning that instead of one solid piece there are many layers that are glued together. This can lead to delamination and other flooring issues. Because of this manufacturing process, bamboo can be inconsistently produced even inside the same brand. There can be a large variation and inconsistency in quality and look.

Finally, there is the question of how bamboo holds up after refinishing. Because bamboo flooring is still relatively new, there isn’t much data on how long bamboo refinishing lasts or differences to the appearance of the flooring.

Which Material Wins: Bamboo Flooring or Hardwood Flooring?

When you’re looking for the right flooring for your home, two of the best materials you could hope to find are bamboo and hardwood. Both of these materials offer an attractive appearance and extreme durability, providing you big benefits. Whether you choose bamboo flooring or hardwood flooring, you’ll be getting a great flooring type that will be a welcome presence in your home for years to come.