10 Reasons to Love Bamboo Floors

Bamboo flooring has won fans both for its look and performance, not to mention its environmental sustainability.

By Cody Calamaio | Updated Aug 18, 2015 12:52 PM

Density Matters

1/11
Density

While bamboo boasts an appearance similar to that of hardwood, it's considerably denser than many wood species frequently used in flooring. These caramel-color planks from Mohawk mimic maple but provide greater durability.

floormall.com

On the Edge

2/11
Edge-Grain Planks

Edge-grain planks are formed by bamboo strips turned on their sides and stacked together. The effect brings a stunning amount of detail to everything from floors to cutting boards, and to nearly every surface in this kitchen!

plyboo.com

Better with Age

3/11
Strand Bamboo

Strand bamboo floors are made by compressing shredded bamboo fibers under high heat. Some manufacturers even use old-growth reeds to achieve greater density and hardness without compromising anything in the looks department!

lumberliquidators.com

Unrestrained Stains

4/11
Stained Bamboo

Bamboo flooring can be stained virtually any color to complement your interior. This Roasted Espresso finish from Excalibur Flooring carries a dark sophistication, even as it protects against everyday wear and tear.

excaliburflooring.com

Bare Beauty

5/11
Natural Bamboo

The light almond color of natural bamboo does not necessarily need to be stained. Teragren’s flat-grain planks (part of the Signature Naturals line) celebrate the material's inner beauty, making it clear why bamboo flooring is on the rise.

teragren.com

Toasty Coloration

6/11
Carbonized Bamboo

Bamboo can be darkened by a process called carbonizing, in which carbon is added during pressure-steaming to imbue the flooring with a beautiful toasted honey color (though durability somewhat suffers as a result).

simplefloors.com

Bring the Drama

7/11
Mosaic Bamboo

Not all bamboo floors are monochromatic. Elaborate patterns are formed when small rectangles of edge-grain bamboo are bonded together. This style highlights the natural variations in bamboo while transforming your floor into a distinctive statement piece.

ambientbp.com

Animal Inspirations

8/11
Tiger Bamboo

These strand-woven planks combine strips of both natural and carbonized bamboo to create a unique tiger-stripe effect. As a safeguard against pests, the bamboo has been boiled in a boric acid solution to eliminate the sugar that attracts termites.

bambooindustry.com

Wide Open Options

9/11
Wide Bamboo Planks

While bamboo stalks usually only grow up to a few inches in diameter, bamboo flooring planks come in a variety of sizes to fit virtually any room aesthetic. Case in point: These planks from Duro-Design exceed seven inches in width.

duro-design.com

Install in a Snap

10/11
DIY Bamboo Floor

This strand bamboo flooring from Teragren features a fold-down locking system that enables planks to be installed with neither nails nor glue, but rather as a floating floor. Anyone in the mood for an easy DIY project?

teragren.com

For More...

11/11

Don't Miss!

1pixel

Get the help you need for the home you want—sign up for the Bob Vila newslettertoday!