Weather and Bamboo Floors

Does weather affect bamboo floors? The answer is yes and no. We’ll explain why.

There are two types of bamboo flooring: solid and engineered. Solid bamboo does “surrender” to the whims of the weather. Like most hardwood floors, they can warp, expand or contract – although bamboo has a better record than their wood counterparts of not expanding and not contracting significantly with changes in the temperature, unlike other woods.

You also have engineered bamboo floors. By “engineered” we mean that the layers of the floor are cross-laminated. The grain of the top layer is made to run from north to south, and the grain of the middle layer – or the heart of the bamboo floor – is made to run from east to west. Some manufacturers produce engineered bamboo floors that are pre-finished with a certain substance and have square edges. These square edges prevent dirt and moisture from penetrating the floors.

Given that engineered bamboo is manufactured with dimensional stability as a priority, the floor lends itself to floating, being nailed down or glued – whatever strikes the fancy of the consumer. This factor makes engineered bamboo floors less susceptible to weather and humidity fluctuations. Most wood and simile wood flooring absorbs and releases moisture. Extreme humidity can even cause your floor to expand or shrink and separate.
However, if bamboo floors are made to float – which is common to engineered bamboo, the floor has the freedom to expand or contract in synch with the weather without the possibility of damage.

In spite of the differences between solid and engineered bamboo in reacting to the weather, bamboo still rates better in weather tolerance when compared to other hardwood floors. In fact, it has been called the “champion” when it comes to adjusting beautifully to the weather. Given its durability and hardness, it also scores high for moisture resistance.

Seasons may come and go, but we doubt very much if you would need to replace your bamboo flooring after a decade or two. They’re highly forgiving and can take a lot of punishment. And if they’ve been giving the green stamp of approval, then this environmental trait probably means it can stand up to the elements...… quite magnificently…





 

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