As a natural material, hardwood is prone to staining, warping, and discoloration from sun and water exposure, as well as substantial changes in temperature and humidity levels. Wider plank floors may also cost more, as can floors with specialty finishes, such as wire brushed. Engineered Flooring. Installation is similar to that of engineered wood flooring or laminate flooring. Bamboo stalks take only three to five years to mature, so prices are reasonable for customers. Bamboo flooring vs hardwood. The biggest advantage of hardwood is that it can be sanded down and refinished more times than bamboo, particularly if the wood is solid. Prone to scratching and to moisture damage. Harvested at its peak density at 5-6 years of age, it is harder than even maple and oak hardwoods. Hardwood flooring and bamboo flooring are both very durable types of hard flooring that can add beauty to any home. Web. Bamboo flooring cannot be refinished as often and depending on the type may scratch or dent more easily. Both bamboo and hardwood floors can be installed over radiant heating. Hardwood floor maintenance is relatively easy and includes keeping grit off of the surface by sweeping and wiping with a damp cloth. Below, we’ll outline the basic differences between these two materials so you can make a more informed choice. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber. It comes in lighter shades of tan with yellow-tones, but … At first glance, bamboo flooring can be mistaken for another form of hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood and bamboo flooring both have a warm, organic feel yet look quite different. 10-25 years, depending on the nature of bamboo and added material. That said, non-carbonized bamboo is just as strong as oak flooring, and strand-woven bamboo flooring is twice as strong—so it’s not weak by any stretch of the imagination. However, the installation should be floating or made with an interlocking tongue and groove edge rather than a glue down or nail down installation. Hardwood takes longer to renew, however, with most trees taking up to 70 years to be harvestable. Bamboo flooring is typically cheaper than standard hardwood. While bamboo also has many different species, you can generally only get a few different looks for your flooring. Finally, a machine presses the bamboo fibers into boards and planks. Generally, the harder the hardwood, the more expensive it is, but also the more durable it is. 30-50 years if maintaiend well and resurfaced as needed. If you live in a busy household, you don’t want to worry about damaging your floors just by living your life. This video shows professional bamboo flooring installation: Wet mops should be avoided when cleaning bamboo floors. This renders hardwood ill-suited to installation in bathrooms and some kitchens. Hardwood flooring is much longer lasting and durable than bamboo. Good quality bamboo flooring can compete with expensive hardwood flooring in terms of durability and appearance. Bamboo Flooring vs Hardwood: Which Should You Choose? Both wood and bamboo floors are affected by moisture and humidity levels. Like hardwood, bamboo comes in both solid and engineered options. Bamboo vs Hardwood Bamboo Flooring. Although engineered bamboo planks aren’t waterproof, they’re more moisture-resistant than solid bamboo planks, thanks to the wear layer and the waterproofing on the bottoms of the planks. With bamboo and hardwood flooring having similar characteristics and costs, making a choice between the two is not always easy. Engineered bamboo (also called stranded bamboo) flooring material is more durable than natural bamboo, but is highly processed from its natural state, being stripped, boiled, cut, bonded and pressed. Real wood flooring can be refinished multiple times to restore it. At least, in terms of keeping moisture away. Today, most wood flooring is pre-cut into easy-to-install tongue and groove planks. Translation: you won’t need to refinish strand-woven bamboo flooring as much because it’s so dent and scratch-resistant, but it may be a little harder to sand down when you do. Plus, hey, in terms of bamboo flooring cost vs hardwood cost, … Cleaning agents that are safe for use on hardwood floors and also be used on bamboo. Any of the cheaper bamboo options are likely to be soft and easily damaged, so the higher end products seem to be the only durable choices. As long as you wipe up any spills reasonably quickly (within 24 hours), you are good to go… Therefore, hardwood can last up to 100 years, while bamboo lasts roughly 25 - 35 years. A bamboo floor is a type of flooring manufactured from the bamboo plant. In terms of comparing hardness between bamboo and hardwood flooring, bamboo is the cheaper option. 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