Bamboo is a member of the true grass family, the very same family that includes many grains commonly
grown for food. There are roughly 1,000 species grown in the world, including Mao bamboo, the type most often used for
floors, and giant species that can grow up to a hundred feet tall! Bamboo holds great economic and cultural significance in
East and South East Asian culture, so it's no surprise that much of the world's supply is sourced from that area.
Featured Bamboo Floor Products
Bamboo – The Sustainable Resource
One of the great draws of bamboo and bamboo flooring throughout history is its sustainability. It is fully mature and
ready to harvest after only five to seven years of growth. The growing cycle is fairly consistent. In spring, the root of
the bamboo, known as the culm, begins growing, developing branches and
increasing in height. Within 5–8 weeks, most varieties have reached their mature height, or close to it – a
growing period so fast that you can almost see it grow right before your eyes. From there, bamboo simply needs to mature
internally before it's suitable to harvest for use in flooring.
Bamboo is very easy to cultivate. The only real difficulty in growing it is that it must be restrained so it doesn't
spread too far. The two varieties of bamboo, known as "running" and "clumping", can easily overtake the area they inhabit if
they're not held back. The ease of growing and harvesting bamboo makes it one of the most renewable natural resources you'll find in the
flooring industry.
Bamboo Floors Today
Although bamboo flooring has been used throughout history (since China's Ming Dynasty in fact), it only recently came into
heavy use in the United States in the late nineties, after an initial stage of resistance. Early consumers assumed that
American bamboo was the source of bamboo flooring, which was incorrect. The most common variety of floor uses Mao bamboo, a
stronger, harder variety native to Asia. In fact, bamboo floors have a hardness rating higher than many types of wood used
for hardwood flooring, including white oak and hard maple.
Bamboo floors has seen a recent surge in popularity due to their sustainability, as a bamboo floor is one of the most
environmentally friendly elements you can add to your home. The high quality means that making a decision to purchase isn't
only good for the environment, it's good for your home. With eco–consciousness on the minds of many, the popularity of
bamboo flooring will likely continue to grow in the years to come.
