What you need to know about bamboo flooring

Bamboo flooring is rapidly becoming a popular choice of home owners, builders, and decorators. If you have bamboo flooring or are considering installing it, there are a few things you should know about bamboo flooring. So how is bamboo flooring different from hardwood flooring?

Bamboo is not a tree; it is actually a grass, so it cannot be harvested in pieces large enough to be made into flooring planks. The bamboo stalks are cut into strips, then milled to squared lengths, which are bonded together in layers to form boards. The boards are then milled to resemble hardwood flooring strips. The bamboo flooring strips are naturally blond, sometimes smoked to darker tones. They are then top-coated with a clear, durable finish.

Bamboo floors give a home the same warmth and elegance as fine hardwood floors, with even easier maintenance. As with other flooring, cleaning bamboo flooring begins with regular sweeping or vacuuming to keep it free of dust, dirt, and grit that will eventually dull the surface. For more thorough cleaning of bamboo flooring, you should wash your floor occasionally after vacuuming; liquid dish soap diluted with water will do.

Another good thing about bamboo flooring is that it’s resistant to the swelling and grain-raising problems that moisture creates with hardwood floors. To avoid a cloudy or streaky detergent buildup on the clear finish, don’t use cleaners that contain oil or acidic or caustic ingredients. Vinegar, while fine for cleaning vinyl or laminate, should not be used on either hardwood or bamboo flooring because the acid will dull the surface. Read the care instructions provided by the bamboo floor manufacturer, or check with a store that sells bamboo flooring. Never apply wax to your bamboo floor, as it will cause problems if you ever need to refinish your floor.

Bamboo is much harder than most hardwoods used for flooring and will better resist scratching and denting, but the surface finish applied to both is similar. To make maintaining your bamboo floor easier and keep it looking new, apply an industrial strength, water-based floor restorer. Floor restorers go down smoothly in one easy application and there is no mess.

One application of a commercial grade floor restorer can last months and months, so you won’t be spending every Saturday maintaining your bamboo floors! There are many things to love about bamboo flooring. It is beautiful, durable, and easy to maintain. You can make your job easier by making Pro Shot® Floor Restorer part of your maintenance routine. Pro Shot® contains no petroleum, so there’s no offensive odor.