Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring has been lauded for its durability, moisture resistance, and beauty, as well as for its credentials as an eco-friendly flooring option. These attributes make bamboo flooring a good choice for many purposes. However, do your homework before your choose it for your home and be sure that you understand the disadvantages of bamboo flooring as well, including the following.

1. Bamboo flooring's green credentials may not be as glowing as they seem. Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource, and, as a result, it is considered to be an eco-friendly flooring option. However, some of bamboo flooring's environmental benefit is offset by the fact that most bamboo flooring used in the U.S. comes from Asia (mainly China) and, as a result, it requires a great deal of energy to transport it the immense distances from producer to user (you). Also, it is impossible to know if the bamboo used to produce flooring has been responsibly harvested (for example, at a well managed plantation rather than from old-growth plants) and how much energy has used to manufacture the flooring.

2. Bamboo floors can suffer water damage. Bamboo flooring is moisture-resistant, but it is not impervious to water damage, so it must be well protected if you use it in areas like kitchens or bathrooms where it is likely to get wet.

3. Another disadvantage of bamboo flooring, especially lower-quality product, is that it may damage easily. While bamboo flooring is durable and strong, it can be susceptible to damage such as indentations, scratches and chips. As a result, it may not be a good choice for rooms where heavy furniture or appliances will be placed on it, for high-traffic areas, or for families with active children or multiple pets. If you do place furniture on bamboo floors, be sure to protect them from damage by placing coasters or pads under it.

4. Bamboo flooring can be expensive. The price of bamboo flooring (before installation costs) compares favorably with the price of many other wood flooring. However, there can be very wide price variations in bamboo flooring and, as usual, you will get what you pay for. Bargain-priced bamboo flooring is more likely to be made from less mature, green bamboo and, as a result, to be less durable and more prone to damage than higher-priced, higher-quality bamboo flooring that is made from more mature plants. Before buying bamboo flooring, check how easily it dents by pressing the surface with your finger nail. If it leaves a mark, it could be a good indication that it will damage easily.

5. Bamboo flooring may fade. Although high-quality bamboo flooring may be protected with UV coatings to keep it from fading or discoloring, it still may lose color if consistently exposed to direct sunlight. This disadvantage of bamboo floors may limit where you can install them in your home.

Sources:

mrmiyago, hubpages.com, Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons

www.hardwoodinstaller.com, Bamboo Floor Problems - Care & Maintenance

home.howstuffworks.com, HowStuffWorks "Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring"