How to make sure your bamboo floors are really green.
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In theory, at least, bamboo flooring is a very green product. Bamboo is easily renewable – it matures in as little as three years, and it doesn’t have to be replanted after harvesting. If the root system is left in place, the stalks will simply regenerate on their own.
Bamboo doesn’t require much in the way of fertilizer or pesticides. And it’s harvested by hand without gas-guzzling, polluting farm equipment.
What’s more, an acre of bamboo produces more carbon dioxide than an acre of hardwood forest, so it’s better for the planet.
Given all that, it’s understandable that many consumers choose bamboo floors for environmental reasons. But before you buy bamboo flooring, you should understand some areas of concern, and make sure that the bamboo floors you invest in align with your objectives.
What you should know before you buy bamboo floors.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has established principals of responsible forestry that members must follow in order to receive their certification. This makes it relatively easy for consumers to know that the hardwood floors they are purchasing were grown, harvested, processed, and distributed responsibility.
Unfortunately, there’s no certification process for bamboo forests, most of which are in China. And when it comes to responsibility, there’s a pretty big disparity among bamboo floor producers.
Because bamboo flooring is selling so well in the United States, many Chinese producers are using fertilizers and pesticides to maximize their output. In some cases, they’re harvesting the bamboo before it’s fully mature. And the use of adhesives that contain urea formaldehyde in the lamination process or finishing is pretty common.
Formaldehyde emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that are hazardous to human health, especially to those with asthma or other respiratory problems.
As a general rule, the less expensive the bamboo flooring, the more likely it is to contain dangerous amount of toxic chemicals. There are manufacturers who do not use urea formaldehyde or use low-VOC compounds for bonding and finishing. And reputable wood flooring companies will be able to provide you with specific information about the amount of VOCs emitted.
Don’t install inexpensive bamboo flooring until you know whether or not it complies with American VOC emission guidelines. You certainly don’t want to risk making yourself or your family ill in order to save a few dollars.
Although bamboo is touted for it’s hardness, bamboo that’s harvested before it’s completely mature, steamed to create a darker color, or processed with cheap compounds will not stand up to much wear and tear. Although bamboo floors are generally less expensive than hardwood floors, bamboo flooring is an investment that you should be able to amortize over many years of use.
To check the hardness and finish of a bamboo floor, scrape the face of the flooring with a quarter. If the finish flakes off, don’t buy it. If it passes that test, see if you can mark it with a fingernail. If it scratches easily it probably won’t be durable enough to stand up to every day traffic.
To extend the life of your bamboo floors, use area rugs to protect them and clean them according to the manufacturers recommendations.
Learn more about bamboo floors here. Or learn about other kinds of wood flooring here.
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