Bamboo flooring  is an attractive, durable floor that's an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional hardwoods.

Bamboo contains cellulose fibers, it doesn't absorb moisture which means you avoid the problem of floor expansion and contraction.  This makes it ideal for the Portland climate.

Bamboo comes in three styles:  Vertical, flat grain, and oriented strand.  Colors include a natural light blond or a warm amber color.  Above is the vertical grain and below is the flat grain.

Prefinished natural bamboo.

Prefinished amber bamboo.  The material is heated to give it a caramelized look.

To learn more
about bamboo,
visit the
 Northwest Bamboo Web site.

Lindstedt Construction installs many different types of flooring to include tile, natural stone, wood, etc.

Most of our customers desire hardwood flooring which includes oak, cherry, fir, and pine.  Another choice is bamboo because it is ideally suited to the Oregon Coast because of it moist climate - bamboo grows in semi-rain forests.

  Bamboo:  Environmentally 
  Friendly

Bamboo is one of the newest innovations in flooring and it has taken the flooring market by storm. It's harder than than timber, has an unlimited lifespan if cared for properly, and is environmentally friendly. 

Bamboo is not a wood, such as in oak or pine. The unique thing about this natural resource is that it's a grass and therefore contains cellulose fibers.   Because it contains cellulose fibers, it doesn't absorb moisture which means you avoid the problem of floor expansion and contraction.  This makes it ideal for the Western Oregon climate.

Also, bamboo is 99% termite safe due to the fact that it doesn't rot because it's moisture resistant.  Bamboo doesn't harbor the conditions for termites (as well as other wood eating insects )to thrive making it an ideal choice for Pacific Northwest homes, but especially for those living in damp areas who want to enjoy the beauty of wooden floors, but are concerned about the possible termite problems.

Bamboo is imported from China and is seen as the answer to one of the world's most concerning environment problems - a world wide shortage of timber and other hardwoods.  Bamboo can be grown and harvested in 4-6 years, which is a very short period when compared to hardwoods. It also produces four to five times the biomass of a typical hardwood tree, and achieves great height and thickness in an extremely short time.  This is why bamboo is regarded as the answer to our depleting timber resource, as it is easily and more importantly, quickly renewed.

Bamboo can be fixed to any surface including concrete.  Some flooring experts advises customers to use battens. This is because they provide ventilation and lift the floor off the hard concrete which also gives you added therapeutic benefits.  Plywood sheeting and bearers and joists are other base systems which can be used to lay bamboo onto.

  The Negative Side of Bamboo

Now that you are interested in bamboo, lets point out a couple of downsides.  First, it is new and therefore we really don't know the lifespan of bamboo flooring.  Second, it can be more expensive than other types of wood flooring and alternatives such as carpet.  The prices generally run in the $5-$6 (square foot) range for prefinished bamboo and the installation is $2.75-$3.00 a square foot for the prefinished product.  Third, it is trendy.  But many trends turn into standards over time and we are seeing this happen.   

  Bamboo is Imported

Bamboo is manufactured from a type of timber bamboo that grows in controlled forests in China. The timber bamboo is cut and milled into long thin strips and sometimes a non toxic pest resistant is used to treat the strips.  After the strips are dried, they are laminated together into a single ply veneer, then several layers are compressed together under heat and pressure to create a multi-layer flooring product. The bamboo is then milled into tongue and groove planks.

Bamboo comes into the USA from China in two forms:

Raw bamboo stalks

Prefinished bamboo (tongue and grooved, stained, and with a finish)

Most of the USA import or manufactured this product prefinished (commonly aluminum oxide), ready for installation whether nail down or glued directly to a concrete surface, as it is a laminated (engineered) product. 

This new flooring can start around $5-6 per square foot (retail), plus the usual prep and installation charges.  A few manufacturers/distributors are importing the bamboo stalks and milling it themselves - they will either ship it to their outlets without a finish or in a  finished form. 

If you purchase the unfinished bamboo, your installer will have to sand and coat the bamboo with a finish and optional stain.  This means additional cost.  On the plus side, you can stain the bamboo any color you desire.

We have examined a number of pieces of bamboo from different floor distributors and concluded that their is a wide range of quality with regards to the milling of bamboo.  Both with regards to thickness and how the tongue and groove pieces fit together.  For example, some of the bamboo has a small groove (referred to a micro-bevel in the industry)  between the pieces when nailed or glued down to the substrate.  This can be very discerning to the eye.  The USA milled pieces seems to have a better tolerance so the groove is very slight.  If you purchased bamboo without a finish you can sand it and this eliminates any groove between the pieces. 

  Bamboo Styles

Bamboo comes in three styles: Vertical or flat grain in natural light blond or Caramelized warm amber colors.

Oriented Strand utilizes all the scraps from the other processes. Looking at it, you would think that it is wood. Oriented Strand bamboo is considered the hardest of the three, due to the fact that it contains glue and resin.

  Warranty

Make certain you determine the warranty before you purchase the bamboo (and get it in writing).  Most floor companies offer warranties (expressed in years) on their products.  You should also obtain a warranty from your installer and make certain it is in writing.

  Other Points About Bamboo

25% harder than Red Oak and 12% harder than Rock Maple.

Standard sizes (3-6 feet in length, 3-4 inch widths, and 5/8 to 3/4 inch thick) allow easier and faster installations. Installs like any other tongue & groove, hardwood strip floor.

More dimensionally stable (less expansion and contraction) than any commonly used wood flooring, including oak and maple.

Accepts stains, urethanes, oils, paints, water-based and Swedish style finishes.

Passes construction standards for hardness, dimensional stability, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, flammability, smoke density, adhesive strength and pest resistance.

Also available in panels for cabinetry, furniture, case goods, countertops, stair treads and trim.

Ideal for flooring in homes, offices, retail businesses, sport courts, gymnasiums, showrooms, display areas, libraries, conference halls, etc.