Introduction to Bamboo Flooring• Bambooisnotawood,butareedgrassthatgrowsinmanydifferentclimatesandregionsfromjunglestomountainsides.

Withover1,000species,itisclassifiedbyitsrootsystem,andrangesinheightfrom1’togianttimberbamboosmeasuring100’.BambooismainlyimportedfromAsia,VietnamandChina.

• Bamboogrowsfasterthananyotherplant,andregeneratesfromitsoldroots(somespeciesgrowing18”/day),andcanbeharvestedin3-5years.Thismeansthatitisself-perpetuating(eveninvasive),anddoesnotrequirecostlyreseedingorplantingonceharvested.

• Prematureharvestingand/orproductiontechniquesusedbythemillsinsomeAsiancountriesaresomewhatcontroversialwithintheindustry,andrequireconsiderationandinvestigationbytheflooringmanufacturer.

• Asaflooringmaterialbamboocanbepurchasedinsolidorengineeredforms,finished/unfinished.Itcanbeinstalledasstrips,planksorasafloatingfloor.

Quality of Bamboo Flooring• Mosoisthemostcommonlyusedspeciesofbamboousedforarchitecturalproducts.• Mosospeciesgrowstoarapidheightoffortyfeet,andthenitmatures.Thematuringprocessiskeytostability.Ifcutearly,

beforefiveyears,bamboowillbesofterandinferior.• Mosobamboohasa90%fiberto10%starchratio,makingitverystableanddurable.• Mosoforestsareamixedagefrom1-5years.Inasustainableharvestedforest,onlyfive-yeargrowthor20%ofthefor-

estiscutannually.80%oftheforestisleftintact,maintainingthenaturalhabitat.100%oftheforestcanbeharvestedsustainablyinafive-yearperiod.

• MosogrowsinitsnativeenvironmentinChinaandshouldrequirenoirrigationorfertilizers.Bamboohasfewifany,peststocontendwith.

• BamboostalkiscalledCulm(pole).Themostcommonmethodfordatingbambooculmsisbythetalcontheupperlipofthenode.Youngerplantshaveachalkywhitecoating.

• Harvestingbambooisdonebyhandwithasmallmachete.Theleavesandsmallestbranchesaretrimmedandleftformulch.Theculmsarelashedtogetherandhandcarriedoutofthemountains.

• Culmsaresoldbyweight.TheoldertheCulm,theheaviertheweight,thebetterthepriceforthefarmerreinforcingtheconceptofsustainableforestry.

• Onceculmsareweighedandsold,theyarecutinto2’to13’andthensplitintoroughstrips.• Qualityisimportanttoverifywithmanufacturer.Askifthecompanyisknowledgeableabouttheproductandthemanufac-

turingprocess?Dotheyhavereputablethirdpartyconfirmationtheirstatedqualityclaims?Whatistheirrelationshipwiththefactoryandtheforestprovider?IsthecompanyFSCCertified?

• Lowercostbambooproductscanuseadhesiveswithhigherformaldehydecontent.Anyonecanclaim“noaddedurea-formaldehyde”withoutsubstantialproof.

Styles: referstotheorientationofthebamboostrip

FlatGrain:showsthefacesideofthebamboostrip(typically¾”nodesdisplayed)Harder.

Edgegrain:showedgeofbamboostriptypical3/16”nodes.Hard.

EndGrain:Showstheinternalfiberstructureofthebamboosstrip.Very hard.

Strand:Usesstripsthatarecrushed,mixedwithphenol-basedbinderandcompactedunderpressure.Canbe threetimesashardasredoak.Performswillunderveryhightrafficapplications.Hardest overall.

Bamboo FlooringKacyChilds-Winston,AlexisRushing&BrookeThompson

TRENDS• Accordingtolocalsuppliers,Strandbambooisthemostpopularsalesreprecommendationandconsumerchoice.• Strandbambooisthemostdurabletypeofbambooavailableonthemarket.TraditionalHorizontalandVerticalbamboo

stylesare2xashardasRedOak,Strandbamboois3xashardasRedOak.• Bambooflooringisthestrongestandbestqualityhardwoodflooringavailableonthemarket.• CompanieslikeStarbucks,Nike,GuessandDonnaKaranhavealreadycompleteddesignprojectsutilizinggreenprod-

uctssuchasbamboo.• Strandwovenbamboofeaturesacontemporarylookwithflowinggrainfiberswithlittlevariation.Amoremodernoptionin

bambooflooringisverticalgrain,whichhasalongandlineargrain.• Thebiggestcolorsinbamboothisseasonworkinalmostanypaletteandincludecoffee,gunmetalandtiger.Manufacturing and Construction Techniques• Theouterlayeroftheharvestedbamboostalkisremovedandslicedintofillets/longstrips.Thebambooisthengraded.

Stripsarethenkilndriedtolockinsomemoisturepriortofinalmillingtoavoidtoohighamoisturecontentthatmaylatershrinkandgapwheninstalled.Driedfilletsaregluedtogethertoformplanks,andplanksarehotpressedtoformaper-manentbond.Finalmillingformstraditionaltongueandgroovehardwoodfloor-styleboards.

• Strandbambooisawasteproductofthemillingprocess.• Stripsareprocessedwithafour-sidedplanertostraightenthensoakedinabathofhotwaterwitha1%hydrogenperoxide

toeliminateanypossibilityofpestandtoremoveanyexcessstarch.• Stripsarekilndried.• Carbonizingturnsnaturalproductintoambercolor.Therearenostains;thecarbonizingprocessbakesthoughtheprod-

uct,makingcolorinherent.• Stripsarethenlaminatedtogetherintosingleplypanels.Orientationoflaminationthatdeterminesthestyle:flatgrain,

edgegrainandendgrain.• Manufacturersgradebambooforqualityandlowerqualitybambooflooringisoftenheavilydiscountedduetotheuseof

thislowerqualitybamboo.• Qualityandenvironmentalconsiderationshouldbegiventowhetheramanufacturerhasusedhigh-formaldehydeglues

and/orhighVOCfinishingproducts.

Bamboo Flooring Use & Durability• Therearethreebasicorientationstyles:horizontal,verticalandstrand-woven(twiceashardastheothers).• Horizontalv.vertical–dependsonthepositioningofthestalksinthemanufacturingpriortothegluingprocess.Thebam-

boostalkiseitherrunninghorizontally(shorterpieces)orvertically(longerpieces)withintheplankitself,andthisresultsinadifferentappearanceintheflooringplank.Durabilityofoneovertheotherisdebatable.

• Strand-woven(a/k/adistressedbamboo)manufacturingprocess–Leftoverbamboofromtraditionalplankmanufacturingprocessisshreddedandlaminatedwithanadhesive,andthenformed/sealedunderhighpressure.Finalmillingformsawood-flooringplank.Thisisconsideredtobethemostdurablestyle.Thisincreaseddurabilitymakesinstallationofthisdenserproductmorechallenging.

• Ifadarkercolorationisdesired,duringthemanufacturingprocessthefilletsaresteamedunderpressureor“carbonized.”.Thisprocessweakensthebamboo,andshouldbeconsideredwhenconsideringtheapplicationofthefinishedproduct;however,itdoescreateaninherentcolorinthebamboo.

• Bambooisconsideredtobeoneofifnotthestrongesthardwoodflooringmaterial,andistwiceasresilientasRedOak.Nicksandscrapes,however,aremorevisiblewhentheyoccuronbamboobecausethecolorismoreuniversalthanthatofgrainedwood.

• Bambooflooringisdurableandscoresbetterthanhardwoodsinhardness,dimensionalstabilityandflammabilitytests.• Themorepliesusedinmanufacturing,themorestable(lessshrinkageandexpansion).Usually3-plybambooisusedin

floatingfloorsystems(a/k/alongstripfloors.),71/2”incheswide,and74to87inchesinlong.• Engineeredbamboousesathinveneerofbamboooverstructuralplywood.Duetothethinveneeritwilllikelywithstand

onlyonerefinishinginitslifecycle.Thinveneeredbamboodentseasilyandcanchangecolorwhenexposedtosunlight.

Sustainability & code related considerations• Environmentallyfriendlyandsustainablenaturalresourcethatrequireslittleagriculturallabor(noreplanting),energyir-

rigation,andisnaturallypestresistant.Comparedtohardwood,bamboodelivers25timesmoreusablefiberperacre/peryear,andremovesabout33%moreCO2fromtheair.

• Bambooisthefastestgrowthsegmentinthehardwoodflooringindustryatanannualrateofabout30%.• Bambooiseasytoclean,andresistsmoistureandstains.Recommendedmaintenanceincludessweepingorvacuuming

andmoppingwithadampmopand/ornon-abrasivecleaner.• FSCisanindependent,non-governmental,not-for-profitorganizationestablishedtopromotetheresponsiblemanage-

mentoftheworld’sforests.FSCisanindependent,non-governmental,not-for-profitorganizationestablishedtopromotetheresponsiblemanagementoftheworld’sforests.

• FSCcertificationprovidesacrediblelinkbetweenresponsibleproductionandconsumptionofforestproducts,enablingconsumersandbusinessestomakepurchasingdecisionsthatbenefitpeopleandtheenvironmentaswellasprovidingongoingbusinessvalue.

• FSCisnationallyrepresentedinmorethan50countriesaroundtheworld.• LaceyActstartedsustainableforestryintheearly1900’s,whichreflectsgreateraccountabilityinthesourcingoftimber

products.TheFSCisathirdpartyapprovedsteward.• Formaldehydeisaknowcarcinogen.In1992formaldehydewasdeterminedtoxic,andmanyofthecompositeproducts

usedtomakebuildingmaterialswereregulatedinCalifornia.

Local SourcesStrawSticks&Bricks1739WalnutStreetKansasCity,MO64108-1315(816)421-7171

ProSource8337NiemanRoadOverlandPark,KS66214-1511(913)599-4488

ElementsofGreen1919WyandotteKansasCity,MO64108816.842.0500

Recommended Manufacturers• Teragren:http://www.teragren.com/• Plyboo:http://www.plyboo.com/

Bamboo Floor Pricing Information• Bambooiscompetitivelypricedwithhardwood,issimilarlyinstalled,andcomesinavarietyofcolors.• TeragrenPricingRange• Wholesale:$3.50-$8.00SF• Retail:+50%• Quality is a strong consideration when selecting any surfacing product. Know your product before you buy.

Installation Information• BambooissimpletoinstallasaDIYprojectorbyaprofessionalforapricesimilartohardwoodflooring.• Applicationofsubfloorisextremelyimportant.Aflooringproductisonlyasstrongasitsfoundation,i.e.subfloor.• Canordermaterialunfinishedandpre-finished.Finishedwillhaveabeveltominimizescratchingandunfinishedwillnot.• Specifyatopcoatfinish,checkwithmanufacturer.• Bambooflooringcanbesandedandrefinishedmultipletimes.• Trimandmoldingsareavailablethroughmostmanufacturers.

JobsiteRequirements• Priortoinstallationofanyflooring,theinstallermustensurethatthejobsiteandsubfloormeettherequirementsofthese

instructionsandarecompatiblewithindustrystandards.• Roomtemperatureandhumidityofinstallationareashouldbeconsistentwithnormal,year-roundlivingconditionsforat

leastaweekbeforeinstallation.Roomtemperatureof50-75degreesFandhumidityrangeof35-65%isrecommended.• Extremetemperatureandhumidityswingscancauseproblemsforyourfloor.• Storeflooringattheinstallationsiteforatleast72hoursbeforeinstallationtoallowtheflooringtoadjusttoambient

conditions,includingroomtemperatureandhumidity.Donotstoredirectlyonconcreteornearoutsidewalls.Opentheboxes,removeanyplasticwrappingandspreadtheflooringtoandletitbreathe.Notethatthisfloormaynotbeaccept-ableforbathroominstallationsduetoexcessivemoistureassociatedwithsuchenvironments.

AcceptableSubfloortypes:• PlywoodorOSB3/4”orConcreteslaborExistingwoodfloor3/4”orgreater• SubfloormustbeStructurallysound• •Prep:Thoroughlysweptandcleanalldebrisandloosematerialfromthesubfloorsurface• Level:Flatto3/16”per10-feetradius• Dry:Subfloormustbedryyear-round.Moisturecontentofwoodsubfloormustnotexceed12%;concretemoisture

contentmustnotexceed3lbs.astestedusingthecalciumchloridemethod.MoistureControl:• Ifthemoisturecontentinaconcreteslabexceeds3lbs.,ordryconditionscannotbeconfirmedyeararound,amoisture

vaporprotectionsystemmustbeutilized.• Newconcretemustbefullycured,atleast60days.• Woodsubfloorsmustbedryandwellsecured.Nailorscrewevery6”alongjoiststoavoidsqueaking.Ifnotlevel,sand

downhighspotsandfilllowspotswithanunderlaymentpatch.FurtherNotes:• Flooringshouldbethelastproductinstalledonanynewconstructionorremodelproject.Intheeventthatyourflooris

notthelastproductinstalledatajobsite,youmustprotectthefloorduringcontinuedconstruction.• Neverapplytapedirectlytothefloorsurface.Thisincludes3MScotch-BluePainter’stape.MethodsofInstallation:• NailDownInstallation:• Glue-DownInstallationFinishingthejob• ForUnfinishedFloors:Seal,stainandfinishasotherhardwoodflooring.Allqualityfinishesworkwell,butalwaysremem-

bertotestasmallareatoconfirmexpectedresults.CleaningandMaintenance• Thefollowingsimplestepsshouldatleastbeusedtoensurethebestperformanceandappearance.Theuseofother

productslikewax,wateroroilsoapsshouldbeavoidedanduseofanysuchproductsisatyourownrisk.• Afteryourfloorhasbeeninstalled,floorprotectorsshouldbeplacedunderthelegsofchairsandtables.Doorsleading

totheoutsideshouldhavefloormatsplacedbothinsideandout.• Yourfloorshouldbecleanedweeklywiththeuseofasuctionvacuum(butavoidanyabrasiverotarybrushvacuum)to

removegritanddebrisfromthesurfaceoftheflooring.• Highertrafficfloorsmayrequiremorefrequentcleaningtokeepfloorfreeofgritandabrasivedebristhatcan• damageyourfloorandfinish.Refinishing:• Whenrefinishingisnecessary,andthefloorhasbeenmaintainedproperly,afloorwithasiteappliedfinishorafactory

finishcanberecoatedbyaprocessofcleaning,lightabrasion,andreapplicationofanappropriatefinishproduct.• Ifafullremovalofthefinishisrequired,thefloorcanbesandedtowoodandanewfinishsystemcanbeapplied.

Bamboo Product Comparison• Outof50flooringstested,ConsumerReports,reportedintheAugust,2009,issueofitspublicationthat,3ofitstop4floors

werecomposedofbamboo.ThetopratedflooringproductwasstrandwoveandmanufacturedbyEcoTimber.

Flat Sports Edge Strand End

Summary Bambooisanaturalresourcewithunlimitedapplications.Itisagrassofmanyvarietals.Bamboogrowsfasterthananyotherplant,isnaturallypest-resistant,selfregenerates,andrequireslittleagriculturallaborforeitherplantingorharvesting.Whenmanufacturedintoaflooringproduct,itisdurable,aestheticallypleasing,easilyinstalled,andeasilymaintained.Ithasbecomeatoughcompetitoragainsttraditionaloakhardwoodflooringbothindurabilityandpricing,andisthefastestgrowingentryinthehardwoodflooringindustry.

Bambooflooringisafantasticoptionforadurable,multi-facetedandsustainableinstallation.Conscientioushar-vestingandmanufacturingiskeytoaquality,longlastingflooringsurface.FSCCertifiedbambooisreadilyavailablefromreputablemanufacturersandlocalsuppliersforaminimalcostdifferenceabovenon-FSCCertifiedproducts.Researchmanufacturesthoroughlytoensuresustainablemethodswereusedtoharvestandprocessthematerial.Wellresearchedandqualityproductsmustbeinstalledtothehighestregardtomanufacturerspecifications.Aswithanyflooringinstallation,yourfinishedfloorisonlyasdurableasthesubfloorwhichitisinstalledupon.LocalsuppliersrecommendStrandbamboofordurability,strengthandaesthetics. Bambooflooringisforanyonethatiseco-consciousorlookingforanalternativetohardwoodfloors.Sinceit’sarenewablesource,it’seasyforconsumerstoreplaceifneeded.Itisordinarilyharderthanmanyotherhardwoodsusedforflooringpurposes.Somespeciesofbamboohavehardnessratingsdoublethatofredoak,andbambooisnearlyalwaysratedhigherthanmaple.Anothergreatfeatureofbambooisthatitisresistanttomoisturemakingitagreatalternativeforkitchensandbathrooms.

Samples

Bibliography

“BambooinaSustainableDesignEnvironment.”McGrawHillConstructionContinuingEducation.2011.<http://continuinge ducation.construction.com/crs.php?L=150&C=479>

ElementsofGreen.2011.<http://www.elements-of-green.com/>

Plyboo.2011.<http://www.plyboo.com/>

ProSource.2010.<http://www.prosourcefloors.com/lenexa/Pages/default.aspx>

StrawSticks&Bricks.2010.<http://www.strawsticksandbricks.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=10&chapter=1

Teragren.2011.<http://www.teragren.com/>