Bamboo _________________________ |
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| You want the beauty and warmth of wood
flooring, but are concerned about the environmental impact of harvesting
mature hardwood trees? How about a product that grows to maturity
in about five years? How about a product that is technically a woody
grass, regenerating itself by sending out runners that result in new
canes? Or what if you knew that this flooring material actually improves
the soil in which it is planted? If you find all these attributes
appealing, then Bamboo may just be the right flooring choice.
You might think of Bamboo as lightweight and flimsy, but it has the tensile strength of steel. In fact, Bamboo is 25% harder than Red Oak; the most commonly installed wood flooring. And it is as hard as Rock Maple, making it an extremely durable form of flooring. One concern of wood flooring is that it can swell or shrink depending on changes in relative humidity. Bamboo flooring has 50% more dimensional stability than hardwoods, making it a practical choice in homes or climates with high humidity and temperature variations. Because of its unique characteristics, Bamboo undergoes an extensive manufacturing process. After harvesting and splitting, the wood strips are kiln dried down to a 10% moisture content. The wood is then treated to prevent insect and mildew damage, with additional treatments to conform to fire prevention standards. The strips of Bamboo are planed down on all sides, sorted by color, and then fused into planks, which are stained and prefinished on all sides. Because Bamboo is prefinished, it is one of the easiest wood flooring products to install. The planks are precut with tongue-and-groove on the sides and ends to achieve a long-lasting, tight installation. There is no need for sanding, or varnishing, and Bamboo flooring can be installed over wood or concrete, using nails or glue. And because it is so resistant to temperature variations, Bamboo floors are perfect for installation over a radiant-heated surface. Bamboo now comes in over 30 colors, from its natural blond hue, to darker amber shades achieved through a smoking process. The heat from smoking carbonizes the grains of Bamboo, which take on a darker, caramel tone throughout the wood. Bamboo’s unique appearance is all the more enhanced by its being
an environmentally sound flooring as well. Strong, durable and beautiful,
Bamboo is a great choice for any home or business décor. |
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