Seminar Report BAMBOO FLOORING

GOVT.WOMENS POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM

BAMBOO FLOORING

SUBMITTED BY:
PARVATHY SUBRAHMANIAM
REG.NO 89180099
Vth SEM. ARCHITECTURE

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Seminar Report BAMBOO FLOORING

GOVT. WOMENS POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
2011-2012
CERTIFICATE

Assistant Lecturer Lecturer in charge

Seena .K.A Francis Antony

Internal examiner External examiner

PLACE: KALAMASSERY
DATE: 04.01.2012

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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CONTENTS
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1 TYPES OF BAMBOO FLOORING
1.1.1 GRAIN TYPES

1.1.1.1 HORIZONTAL BAMBOO

1.1.1.2 VERTICAL BAMBOO

1.1.1.3 STRAND WOVEN BAMBOO

1.1.2 COLOUR TYPES

1.1.2.1 NATURAL

1.1.2.2 CARBONIZED

1.1.2.3 TIGER

1.1.2.4 STAINED

1.1.2.5 DIRECT PRINT

1.1.3 SURFACE TEXTURE TYPES

1.1.3.1 SMOOTH

1.1.3.2 HAND SCRAPED

1.1.3.3 HAND SCULPTED

2 .MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLATION OF

BAMBOO FLOORING

2.1 MANUFACTURING

2.2 INSTALLATION

2.2.1 INSTALLATION APPROACH

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2.2.1.1 NAIL DOWN/ GLUE DOWN

2.2.2.2 FLOATING: GLUE SEAM

2.2.2.3 FLOATING GLUE LESS CLICK

2.2.2 INSTALLING BAMBOO FLOORING ON A CONCRETE FLOOR

2.2.2.1 MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE JOB

2.2.2.2 INSTALLATION STEPS

3. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

3.1 ADVANTAGES

3.2 DISADVANTAGES

4. MAINTENANCE AND CARE

4.1 MAINTENANCE

4.1.1 PRE-INSTALLATION

4.1.2 INSTALLATION

4.1.3 POST INSTALLATION

4.2 BAMBOO FLOORING DISCOLORATION SOME TIPS

5. BAMBOO COMPARED TO HARDWOODFLOORING

6. CONCLUSION

7. REFERANCE

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1. INTRODUCTION

The house is not just a place where we rest our head after a hard days work. It is
more than just a place we stay in, the house can also mirror our personality. That is
why it is critical to take some time to assess the look of our humble abode when we
need to.

When designing a house, we should not just limit our creativeness to the
colors that we would like to paint our walls with, to the tiles we wish to install in our
bathroom, the furniture that will balance the harmony inside, or the lightning
contraption that will set the mood of the room. Small factors must be considered
because you may never know how big their effects can be. Now, among those
Smallyet critical factors to take into account is the flooring.

There are a lot of different flooring options and one of the newer option that are
gaining popularity would be bamboo flooring.

Bamboo, an attractive alternative flooring material, is rapidly becoming an

important plant in the contemporary green movement. The species of bamboo used
for flooring is commonly known as "Moso". It is a fast growing renewable grass,
which serves as a natural anti-bacterial, water resistant and extremely durable
flooring material.Bamboo flooring is made from the canes of the bamboo plant
which can grow up to a hundred feet and can be between 45cm and 60cm in width.

Not many people realize that bamboo flooring isn't in the typical bamboo
fashion. With the technology that manufacturers and their factory's have they are

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producing planks of bamboo. Transforming the stalks into smooth soft wood
flooring. Bamboo flooring creators use one of the impassable species of

Chinese bamboo, then a process of cutting it into strips before drying and laminating
it under pressure occurs for the final product. The result is a flooring product that's
stronger than maple or red oak

Bamboo flooring can give you the natural beauty of wood in your home
without you having to feel that your choice in home improvements is having a
damaging affect on the environment. As one of natures greatest gifts to mankind,
bamboo has been used in many useful ways since the beginning of time. In modern
times it has become the wood of choice for making both decorative and practical
items that are aesthetically pleasing as well as environmentally friendly

With the help of recent technological advances, manufacturers are now

turning bamboo stalks into high quality ultra smooth flooring on a grand scale.

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1.1. TYPES OF BAMBOO FLOORING

When trying to decide on the appropriate type of bamboo flooring for a home,
learning about the various grain types, installation types, and color and texture types
will help with the decision making process. Each grain, color, and texture type will
present dcor issues while installation methods may impact convenience and cost, as
well.

1.1.1 GRAIN TYPES

When it comes to different grain types of bamboo, there are three main
choices: horizontal, vertical, and strand-woven. Each one has different
characteristics that will help buyers decide which type of bamboo to purchase and
install in their home or business. The grain type to purchase depends greatly on the
overall look the buyer is trying to achieve.

1.1.1.1 Horizontal Bamboo

Horizontal bamboo refers to planks that are placed next to one another facing in a
horizontal direction. They are attached to each other this way before being
pressurized and finished, randomly displaying the knuckles, or growth rings, of the
stalk.

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1.1.1.2 Vertical bamboo

Vertical bamboo refers to planks that are placed next to one another facing in a
vertical direction. They are attached to each other this way before being pressurized
and finished, creating a smooth uniform look.

1.1.1.3 Strand-Woven bamboo

Strand-woven bamboo refers to bamboo planks that are made from the remaining
strands of the stalk trimmed away from the long bamboo fillets. These are
compressed together with an adhesive before being pressurized and finished. Strand-
woven bamboo is twice as hard as horizontal and vertical bamboo.

1.1.2COLOR TYPES

When it comes to color types, buyers have several options: natural, carbonized,
stained, and direct print. Each one of these options has distinct properties about it to
help homeowners decide which one to use. Regardless of

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which color type chosen, the strength and durability of the bamboo remains the
same, with the exception of carbonized which is softer than the other types.

1.1.2.1Natural

Natural bamboo has no colorants or stains added to it. It has a very light, blonde type
color to it. This type of bamboo is easy to find and goes with most dcors.

1.1.2.2Carbonized

Carbonized bamboo allows for the sugars in the plant to caramelize because the
bamboo is boiled for a longer period of time. The caramelized sugars therefore add
color to the bamboo. Depending on the length of time the bamboo is boiled and
caramelized, the shades of bamboo will vary. Carbonized bamboo is softer than other
types of bamboo.

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1.1.2.3Tiger

Tiger bamboo is made using a combination of natural and carbonized strips, creating
a unique tiger stripe pattern.

1.1.2.4 Stained

Stained bamboo is treated with a wood stain to change the coloring of the material.
Stained bamboo flooring is available in multiple shades, from light, to dark. The
variety of stain options makes it easy to find one that matches any dcor.

1.1.2.5 Direct Print

For homeowners who want the appearance of another kind of wood such as oak,
cherry, or maple while still having the other benefits of bamboo, direct

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print bamboo flooring prints the patterns seen on other hardwoods onto the bamboo
before it is pressurized and sealed.

1.1.3SURFACE TEXTURE TYPES

For surface texture types, homeowners and builders have three main choices:
smooth, hand scraped, and hand sculpted. Each one will provide a unique look. Look
at various samples of texture types before deciding which one to use.

1.1.3.1Smooth

Smooth bamboo flooring is made by machine and coated with several layers of
sealant. It helps to keep a dust free surface that is easier to clean and recommended
for those who suffer from allergies or hay fever

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1.1.3.2Hand Scraped

Hand scraped bamboo flooring is scraped by hand to give the floor an aged,
antique look. It offers a unique approach to bamboo flooring in appearance in a
home or business, and is available in a variety of styles and colors. This texture
option typically makes the flooring more costly because of the manual laborinvolved

in its creation.

1.1.3.3Hand Sculpted

Hand-sculpted bamboo flooring is similar to hand scraped, but provides a less

distressed look. This kind of bamboo is also usually done by hand and made to look
older, or antique, so it too, will cost more.

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2.MANUFACTURING OF
BAMBO FLOORING

2.1MANUFACTURING
Bamboo flooring is typically made by slicing mature bamboo poles or
culms into strips. Once the bamboo has been harvested, the outer layer of green
"skin" is removed and each stalk is cut into lengthwise strips or "fillets". These
curved fillets of bamboo are milled along their outer edges in order to flatten them.
The excess elements of this process will go into another type of bamboo flooring that
is called "strand-woven bamboo flooring. The flattened strips of bamboo are then
kiln dried in order to remove the natural moisture in the bamboo, to remove starch
and sugars the strips of bamboo are boiled in a solution of boric acid or lime. The
bamboo is then dried and planed.

The two major colors are natural (similar to beech) and carbonized (similar to oak).
If a darker color is desired the bamboo will go through a carbonizing process of
steaming the bamboo under controlled pressure and heat. The bamboo will change to
a brownish color.

The bamboo undergoes one final compression stage, which makes it that much more
durable and ready to ship. Tongue and groove elements are added in order to make an
installation as easy as possible. It should be mentioned that the outcome of this
manufacturing process is dependent on which kind of bamboo flooring is being made.
There are several types of bamboo flooring, both in terms of cut and of color, and
some differences in how they are processed.

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The bamboo fillets are now ready to be glued together to make a solid,
dependable surface that is more than suitable for flooring. Most bamboo flooring
uses a urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive in the lamination process. Though the use
of UF resins, which emit volatile organic compounds OCs), is harmful to indoor air
quality, bamboo flooring uses a relatively small amount compared with other
materials, such as particleboards. Bamboo flooring products that avoid formaldehyde
use are available. The panels are then heat pressed to cure the adhesive. The cured
boards will then be planed, sanded, and milled. Finally an ultraviolet curing lacquer
is applied to the boards.

During the gluing process, the bamboo can either be bound with the narrow
edges facing up, which results in a thin, channel pattern in the bamboo flooring or so
that the broader surface of the bamboo is bound facing upward, making for a surface
that is more akin to traditional hardwood patterns. These styles of bamboo flooring
are known as vertical and horizontal bamboo flooring respectively.

There is very little wastage of materials during the bamboo flooring

manufacturing process, making bamboo a truly renewable and sustainable source of
flooring materials.

2.2. INSTALLATION

2.2.1 INSTALLATION APPROACHES

Choosing bamboo flooring for your home or business based on the installation type
first is a wise decision because some installation types are more complicated and thus
more costly than others. There are a few different installation methods that can be
used for bamboo, including a nail or glue down process, a glue-seam floating
installation, and a glue less-click installation. Regardless of the installation type

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chosen, be sure to purchase more bamboo flooring than required to finish the job, to
account for mistakes in measurement, imperfection in boards and future repairs.

2.2.1.1 Nail Down/Glue Down

This process is similar to installing a hardwood floor. Since the flooring is very hard,
it is nearly impossible to get the nails flush with the flooring using a standard
hammer. The use of special, specific tools for the job, including an electric hammer
or stapler, is very important to the success of completing this job correctly. There are
different installation instructions and guidelines depending on the sub-flooring the
bamboo is to be installed over.

2.2.1.2 Floating: Glue-Seam

This kind of installation requires an underlayment to protect the bamboo from the
sub-flooring material. You may require a moisture barrier as well. It is important to
lay out the flooring before adding any glue adhesive, because with how quickly the
adhesive dries, it will be impossible to separate the flooring planks and correct any
mistakes after just a few seconds. It is best to lay out the complete floor design and
go back in sections with the glue. This can be done as a do-it-yourself job, but for the
inexperienced, it is best left to professionals.

2.2.1.3 Floating: Glue less-Click

The simplest of bamboo installation methods, the glueless-click method does not
require any glue or nails, so it is easy for those new to floor installation to do. The
planks simply click together and fall into place. There should be no concern about
whether or not the floor will come apart after the installation is complete because the

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pieces will fit together very snuggly. The finished product will appear much like the
other installation methods.

GLUE LESS CLICK

2.2.2 Installing Bamboo Flooring on a

Concrete Floor

Bamboo flooring is one of the most popular flooring choices in the world today.
People are installing it in any room in their house and over any sub floor. If you need
to install bamboo flooring over concrete, here are the basics of how to do it
successfully.

2.2.2.1Materials Needed For the Job

Bamboo flooring
Adhesive
Trowel
Saw
Hammer
Rubber mallet
Tape measure
Self-leveling compound
Painter's tape
Buckets

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2.2.2.2 INSTALLATION STEPS

STEP 1- MEASURE THE FLOOR
The first thing that you need to do is measure the floor. Get your tape measure and
determine the length and the width of the room. Multiply the two numbers together to
get the square footage of the room. Increase that number by 10 percent and that will
be the amount of flooring that you need to buy.

STEP 2- ORDER THE PROPER MATERIALS

Once you have your square footage, you need to order the flooring. Visit a flooring
specialty store for the best selection and information. Ask a sales associate if the
bamboo that you like can be glued down to concrete. Purchase the appropriate
amount of bamboo and make sure to buy the right adhesive as well. You can not just
use a standard wood adhesive for this job. Make sure that you get the glue that the
manufacturer recommends.

STEP 3- PREPARE THE ROOM

Take the baseboards or quarter round off the base of the walls, all the way around the
room. You need to assess the condition of the concrete as well. If there are a lot of
dips in the floor, you may need to use self-leveling compound to level out the floor.

STEP 4- START LAYING THE BAMBOO

Once the sub floor is prepared, start laying the bamboo in a corner of the room. Be
sure to leave about a 1/4-inch expansion gap around the outside of the floor. Use your
trowel to apply the adhesive to the floor. Make sure that you use the recommended
trowel size on the side of the bucket of adhesive. Spread out a strip about three feet
wide. Press the board firmly down into the adhesive. Then lay the next board
vertically into the narrow joint of the first board. You may need to use your rubber
mallet to tap the boards together to ensure a good fit. Continue laying boards in this
direction until you get to a wall.

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STEP 5- CUT TO FIT

Measure the gap to the wall and then use your saw to cut a board to that size. Place
the board in the gap and then move onto the next row.

STEP 6- STAGGER THE NEXT ROW

Take the smaller piece that is left over from the cut on the first row and lay it down
first in the second row. Adjoin it to the first board in the first row. Then lay that row
vertically like you did with the first row. Keep laying the rows in this manner making
sure to stagger each row from the one next to it. When you get a few rows laid, you
may want to put some painter's tape across them to help hold them together while
they dry.

STEP 7- FINISHING UP
You may want to place some buckets with water in them on top of the floor
strategically to help weight the floor down while the adhesive dries. Put your
baseboards back into place and once the glue dries and your floor should be ready to
use.

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3. ADVANTAGESAND
DISADVANTAGES

3.1 ADVANTAGES
Bamboo flooring has many advantages over hardwood flooring. Bamboo Flooring is
certainly one of the upcoming materials in todays floor market. With many
advantages over traditional hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring has certainly been a
kind of shooting star amongst the different new floor types used.

Eco-friendly and renewable

The greatest advantage of this flooring perhaps, lies in the fact that it is
environmental friendly. The bamboo plants are known to mature quite faster than the
hardwoods and therefore they are renewable. A bamboo plant typically takes about 5
to 6 years to reach maturity. Moso bamboo can grow up to 47 inches in 24 hours and
78 feet high in 40 to 50 days. It takes about 35 years for bamboo to reach full
maturity. mature On the other hand, Traditional hardwoods take 20 120 years to
mature and the depletion of these can do irreversible damage to our environment..
Bamboo can be harvested without the need for replanting, and requires minimal
fertilization or pesticides, as the root system is left intact when it is harvested Thus,
it has gained a reputation of being eco-friendly and highly renewable source of
material

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It is beautiful

Bamboo flooring has an appealing and unique look, capturing the natural beauty of
bamboo.It has a distinctive look from typical hardwood floors because of its eye-
catching patterns created by the slightly darker bands of nodes. Bamboo is also
known to be eye-pleasing because of its uniform coloring and beautiful grain
patterns. Bamboo floors that went through Lamination is capable of producing a
lined, almost uniform look to the surface of the finished floor plank or one where the
characteristic nodes of the bamboo are randomly visible.Bamboo flooring, is
available in a range of colors, is known for imparting an aesthetic look to your home.
In addition to this, the dark bands at the nodes seem to further enhance the beauty of
the bamboo floor.

Stability

Adding to the incomparable qualities of bamboo is the versatility, in which

bamboobrings its natural ability to toleratehumid conditions and withstand the
moisture, makingbamboo highlydesirable for the flooring.Bamboo flooring
provides more dimensional stability. Bamboo floor doesnot expand norcontract with
the changes in temperatureand moisture, as other traditional hardwood floors.That
makes Bamboo a very stable flooring material.Structurally Bamboo is 50% more
stable than Red Oak

Hardness

Bamboo flooring is appreciably harder than majority of other types of hardwood

flooring.By way of the hardness comparison, Bamboo Floor average 30 % harde than
Red Oak, and up to 15% harderthan maple.

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Durability

The exceptional durability of bamboo flooring minimizes theneed for frequent

floorreplacement,and provides a lifetime of beauty and enjoyment.

It is strong

Bamboo has been proven to be stronger than most hardwoods. Bamboo flooring is
extremely hard.Some species of bamboo have obtained Janka hardness ratings higher
than maple and nearly double that of red oak the benchmark of hardwoods. Besides
of its hardness quality, bamboo is also denser than hardwood floors. Besides its
hardness quality, bamboo is also very resilient and can take a greater impact than
most hardwoods without denting. Hardness and resilience: a dynamic duo for
durability. When laminated, bamboo is nearly as strong as soft steel. Bamboo doesn't
swell or shrink as hardwoods do, making it ideal for floors and furniture.

High density

Bamboo flooring has high density. Density of bamboo flooring is 750 kg/m3

Bamboo flooring is extremely hard, and durable

Resistant to moisture

Bamboo is also more resistant to Moisture compared to other hardwoods because of

the extreme changes in humidity where it is grown and harvested in. It is less likely to
expand and contract like other wood floors which causes gaps and other unsightly
effects.

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It is healthy

Bamboo flooring is also a great alternative for those with allergies as it is easy to
maintain and does not collect harmful allergens like carpet and grout in tiles.

Better air circulation, cooling in summer

Alternative to hardwood flooring

Bamboo flooring is undoubtedly a modern, durable and environmentally friendly

alternative to hardwood.

Cheaper than hardwood

Bamboo flooring is very cheap since it is available very easily and it the re-growth
rate is also fast and hence can be afforded by anyone .But, one should get a minimum
warranty for 15-20 years on the bamboo flooring since it is much durable and can be
maintained easily.

Easy to clean

Cleaning methods are another advantage of bamboo flooring Easy to clean,

as bamboo flooring doesn't trap dirt, most spills can be cleaned up with a mop or
sponge.

Easy for installation and maintenance

Bamboo flooring is easy for installation and maintenance. Bamboo flooring is

available in the tongue and groove form like hardwood that installs easily and
quickly. Bamboo flooring can be installed in a variety of applications, from direct
stick to a floating floor option. Bamboo flooring is capable of being quickly installed

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ready for use with minimal disruption, giving you peace of mind knowing you dont
have to camp out or stay at the in-laws for an uncomfortable amount of time.
The damaged bamboo floorboards can be replaced, direct stick boards can be routed
out, removed and replaced, whereas click & lock the boards are simply unlocked,
removed and replaced with new ones.

alternative to hardwood flooring

Bamboo flooring is an inexpensive alternative to hardwood flooring. Bamboo is a

grass and can be re-harvested, so the resource is countable and price is always better
than hardwood which is not be able to be counted in the materials.

Also, due to its advantages, bamboo is recognized as a green material under the
Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certification.
Bamboo certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
meets criteriafor environmental sustainability and social responsibility, and several
flooring products are available with this option

3.2 DISADVANTAGES

Bamboo is not a hardwood, its a type of grass

.The biggest disadvantage of bamboo floors, are that they are easily dented or
scratched. Therefore, heavy furniture can cause considerable damage to bamboo

floors.One of the biggest disadvantages to bamboo flooring is that it does not take
well to stains when compared with wood.

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Brittle

One of the biggest disadvantages of bamboo flooring is that it is more brittle than
hardwood. These floors are extremely easy to dent and scratch. Walking on them
with high heel shoes will likely leave a dent in them. If you own a dog or cat, you
should be aware that the claws can easily leave little scratches all over the floor just
from ordinary moving around.

Floating
One of the next disadvantages of bamboo flooring is floating issues. If you have
flooring that you want to cover with bamboo, you may have a problem. Not all
bamboo flooring can be floated over sub floors.
Color Fading

Like a number of other floor types, the color of bamboo flooring can fade when
exposed to sunlight. In order to protect bamboo from sunlight

high glue to material ratio

Bamboo stalks are very thin so this requires manufacturers to glue many strips
together to produce a material that is thick enough to be used as flooring as a result
there is a high glue to material ratio

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Limited colors

When compared to hardwood, one of the disadvantages of bamboo flooring is the

coloring options. Hardwood can come in a wide array of colors, but bamboo only
comes in two colors. This is because bamboo resists attempts to stain it. If these two
colors won't look well in your home, you have no other option but to choose

another type of flooring. The different colors are not achieved by using stains instead
its done by heating the bamboo which the longer you heat bamboo the softer it gets

Heating of bamboo
The color variation of bamboo floors depend on the extent of heating, and the lighter
floors are usually the less heated ones in comparison to the darker floors
.Overheating of bamboos, make them softer and more susceptible to scarring.
Therefore, the lighter floors are stronger than the darker ones.

Expensive

One major drawback of bamboo flooring is cost. Compared to linoleum and vinyl
flooring, bmboo can be somewhat expensive. And the more durable the bamboo is,
the higher the price tag. Discounted bamboo flooring may be an indication of a
weaker surface. Bamboo flooring is more expensive than the other types of flooring
and it needs proper care and maintenance..

Bamboo is only suitable for certain environments

Another bamboo floor disadvantage is the fact that bamboo is only suitable for
certain environments and rooms. Since bamboo floors are made primarily from
bamboo shoots, a woody material, they are susceptible to moisture damage. This
means that they should not be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, or below-grade

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environments. Below-grade environments include basements, and any other areas that
are below ground level. Some manufacturers approve bamboo floor installation in
these areas if the floor is of the floating variety. Unfortunately, only some bamboo
floors can be floated

Bamboo flooring cant be refinished.

Eco-hazardous:
For installing the flooring, instead of natural adhesives, when formaldehyde is used
as a binder, it turns out to be hazardous and toxic
. Availability of inferior quality material
Bamboo takes 3 5 years to fully harden but yet it grows to full length in as little as 3
months, most bamboo is cut to soon giving you soft inferior material Bamboo comes
from China who clear cuts the plant after 3 months so they can make more profit and
the end result is softer bamboo that has not been allowed to harden

As a result of inferior bamboo that is harvested to soon and glued with toxic
Chinese adhesives the bamboo is highly prone to denting from shoes, furniture, kids,
pets and dropping objects on the floor. As soon as you get indentations in the floor
the finish becomes highly prone to flaking and peeling
Usage of toxic glues

The bamboo flooring is manufactured using toxic glues that create off-gassing that
makes many people sick especially people with allergies, respiratory issues or
compromised immune systems Poduction of bamboo floors is suspected to produce
some toxic byproducts. It may even contain high levels of urea formaldehyde, as it is
used in the processing of bamboo floors.

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4. BAMBOO FLOORING MAINTENANCE AND

CARE
4.1 Maintenance
4.1.1 Pre-Installation
Your bamboo floor care begins even before installation. Allow your flooring to
acclimate for at least 72 hours; this can be achieved by simply opening both ends of
your bamboo flooring boxes and allowing them to adjust to the humidity in your
home. The amount of humidity in your home should stay in a range of 30-60% to
minimize the rate of expansion and contraction in the planks. Clear out all debris on
the ground; make certain that the entire floor is clean and flat. Before installing,
inspect each plank for defects.

4.1.2 Installation
Follow the manufacturers installation instructions carefully, as they are your best
source for bamboo flooring facts. Use all recommended adhesives. If you are gluing
your bamboo floor down make sure to clean any excess glue as you go. This is
important because once the glue dries it is incredibly hard to remove and may require
an additional purchase of adhesive remover.

4.1.3 Post Installation

The key to lasting beauty of your bamboo flooring investment is proper maintenance
throughout the life of your floor. There are precautions and general maintenance
guidelines that should be followed to maintain the beauty of your bamboo floor this
is essential bamboo flooring information for owners who want to preserve their
investment. The floor should be dusted, mopped, vacuumed or swept with a soft
bristle broom as necessary to remove grit and dust from the surface.
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Dust build-up or small pebbles can get caught under shoes and cause scratching or
finish removal. Walking on a dusty or dirty floor is the quickest way to damage a
finish. You should also place walk-off mats at all exterior entrances and area rugs at
high traffic zones to capture as much of the harmful debris as possible, before it
reaches your bamboo floor. Kitchen floors experience the most traffic in a home. To
prevent premature wear of the hardwood floor, place an area rug in front of the sink
and stove area. Shake out or vacuum the rugs frequently. Use felt glider pads on the
bottom of your furniture; they will prevent scratches caused by chairs, couches, and
tables. Keep the felt pads free of dirt and grit as well. Take particular care when
moving heavy items such as refrigerators or cabinetry never drag these items across
your floor without sufficient protection. As with all hardwood floors, heavy
appliances, especially sub zero refrigerators, have been known to scratch and even
indent flooring. If youre using a hand truck to move these items into place, make
sure it is one with rubber wheels.

4.2 Bamboo flooring discoloration Some Tips to

Help Ensure Your Bamboo Floor Doesn't Just
Fade Away.
Whilst manufacturers now use advanced processes and treatments to prevent bamboo
flooring discoloration, fading can still occur unless you take steps to protect your
floor from the causes of color fade.

Most importantly, it is necessary that preventative measures begin at the installation

stage by making sure the sub floor is cured before starting to put down the flooring.

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One of the biggest causes of bamboo floor discoloration is sunlight, so be sure to

screen your flooring from the suns rays by installing blinds or screens, especially if
the room that your floor is installed in faces the sun.

Keeping the floors coating in good condition will provide good protection from color
fade, this is easily accomplished with regular light cleaning as with any other floor.

You should also try and maintain humidity at a constant level, this can be done by
installing a humidifier. Do try and remember that some discoloration of bamboo
flooring is quite normal and usually happens as the floor ages, similar to many
hardwood floors. By shielding the floor from the damaging elements the fading will
often go unnoticed, as the process is very gradual.

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5. BAMBOO COMPARED TO
HARDWOOD FLOORING
Using bamboo flooring is the fact that it offers durability which is even better
than what the best hardwood can offer.

Some bamboo can look quite similar in appearance to that of hardwood timber
flooring

Bamboo is relatively cheaper than traditional hardwood flooring

Hardwood floors like oak and maple come in a variety of colors, widths and
finishes; bamboo, however, is limited to just a few shades, the most widely
available being natural and carbonized.

Bamboo flooring is more sustainable than hardwood flooring

Both are attractive.

Bamboo is more environmentally friendly, since it is a rapidly renewable

resource versus hardwood trees that take decades to reach maturity.

Compared to some hardwoods, bamboo flooring is easier to maintain since it

doesn't require waxing.
The installation process is very similar.

Faster than wood

Compared with wood, bamboo has many virtues: high strength, large tenacity,
strong rigidity, tractability and so on, and has better physical mechanics
performances .Its static bending strength, rigidity ,and strength of extension are
more than twice that of wood . Folding strength and surface degree of bamboo
flooring made of bamboo are larger than that of wood flooring.
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BAMBOO FLOORING HARDNESS COMPARED WITH

HARDWOOD

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6. CONCLUSION

Flooring is one of the most important part of the building. Floors

are literally the basic of our home both practically and aesthetically.
Bamboo flooring created a revolution in the floor design world. It
has gained a reputation of being the best alternative to stylish
flooring because of its unique features like the tropical glow and
durability, resistance to moisture and insects and yet having
similarities that of the wooden flooring
The floor is the setting for our furniture and possessions.
Since it forms a very important part of the surface area of any
room. Its color and texture will have a dominant effect on the
overall decorative scheme.

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7.REFERENCE

www.google.com
www.bamboo flooring.com
www.love to know home improvements.com
Vanitha Veedu
Wikipedia

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