Benefits

One of bamboo's most popular benefits is that it is eco-friendly. Bamboo can grow as much as 3 feet in a single day, making it an excellent renewable resource. This plant is currently grown in many places around the world, including the United States. The rapid regeneration of bamboo has made it a popular material for a variety of "green" products, from cookware to paintbrushes. However, there is another side to the debate. Trees regenerate as well. Though it may take longer for trees to grow large enough to be harvested, they provide more wood when the time comes. This ultimately means that harvesting wood requires less energy, fuel and labor.

Function

When considering bamboo flooring, one important aspect is the hardness of the product. Bamboo tends to come in two distinct varieties--carbonized and natural. Carbonized bamboo is darker in color but much softer than its counterpart. To achieve the deeper color, the bamboo is steamed, which softens the wood considerably. Natural bamboo flooring is harder and lighter in color. Bamboo is very comparable to wood flooring in hardness. Hardwood flooring can vary greatly in hardness depending on the specific species. Most flooring is compared to red oak, the most popular selection for hardwood flooring in the United States. Natural bamboo is about 50 percent more stable than red oak flooring.

Types

There are many different varieties of bamboo flooring, which can vary greatly in quality. The first thing to check when determining the quality of the product is the finishing. Scrape the surface of the product with a coin and observe the effect. If the finish flakes right off, expect to refinish your flooring every few years. Bamboo flooring is often difficult to refinish. Fans of bamboo note that bamboo will never need refinishing if cared for properly. Hardwood flooring, on the other hand, can usually be refinished several times, depending on the type of wood. The option to refinish can be beneficial if you might consider redecorating and changing the color slightly in the future.

Features

One immediately noticeable difference between bamboo and hardwood flooring is the appearance. Bamboo is usually available in either dark or light variations. For both choices, you will typically see great variations in color throughout the room. This can be aesthetically pleasing or disrupting, depending on your personal decor. Hardwood flooring offers nearly endless possibilities for color and style. You can find woods ranging from light, yellow-brown to deep red. Some offer a very consistent grain, while others have many swirls and variations. Your selection of hardwood species will determine the appearance.

Considerations

There are several options for the installation of bamboo flooring. The most common installation methods involve gluing the flooring to hardwood slabs or stapling it to wood subfloors. Some bamboo flooring can be floated, but this requires careful preparation of the subfloor and is not always an option. For all installation types, the subflooring must be flat and should allow for a tolerance of 3/16 inch over 8 to 10 feet. Hardwood flooring is usually nailed or glued down. However, many types of hardwood flooring can be floated over existing flooring as well. Your final decision should take into consideration the appearance, cost and durability of the flooring, selecting whichever option best meets your needs.