Bamboo Flooring
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Introduction to Bamboo Flooring • Bamboo is not a wood, but a reed grass that grows in many different climates and regions from jungles to mountainsides. With over 1,000 species, it is classified by its root system, and ranges in height from 1’ to giant timber bamboos measuring 100’. Bamboo is mainly imported from Asia, Vietnam and China. • Bamboo grows faster than any other plant, and regenerates from its old roots (some species growing 18”/day), and can be harvested in 3-5 years. This means that it is self-perpetuating (even invasive), and does not require costly reseeding or planting once harvested. • Premature harvesting and/or production techniques used by the mills in some Asian countries are somewhat controversial within the industry, and require consideration and investigation by the flooring manufacturer. • As a flooring material bamboo can be purchased in solid or engineered forms, finished/unfinished. It can be installed as strips, planks or as a floating floor. Quality of Bamboo Flooring • Moso is the most commonly used species of bamboo used for architectural products. • Moso species grows to a rapid height of forty feet, and then it matures. The maturing process is key to stability. If cut early, before five years, bamboo will be softer and inferior. • Moso bamboo has a 90% fiber to 10% starch ratio, making it very stable and durable. • Moso forests are a mixed age from 1-5 years. In a sustainable harvested forest, only five-year growth or 20% of the for- est is cut annually. 80% of the forest is left intact, maintaining the natural habitat. 100% of the forest can be harvested sustainably in a five-year period. • Moso grows in its native environment in China and should require no irrigation or fertilizers. Bamboo has few if any, pests to contend with. • Bamboo stalk is called Culm (pole). The most common method for dating bamboo culms is by the talc on the upper lip of the node. Younger plants have a chalky white coating. • Harvesting bamboo is done by hand with a small machete. The leaves and smallest branches are trimmed and left for mulch. The culms are lashed together and hand carried out of the mountains. • Culms are sold by weight. The older the Culm, the heavier the weight, the better the price for the farmer reinforcing the concept of sustainable forestry. • Once culms are weighed and sold, they are cut into 2’ to 13’ and then split into rough strips. • Quality is important to verify with manufacturer. Ask if the company is knowledgeable about the product and the manufac- turing process? Do they have reputable third party confirmation their stated quality claims? What is their relationship with the factory and the forest provider? Is the company FSC Certified? • Lower cost bamboo products can use adhesives with higher formaldehyde content. Anyone can claim “no added urea- formaldehyde” without substantial proof. Styles: refers to the orientation of the bamboo strip Flat Grain: shows the face side of the bamboo strip (typically ¾”nodes displayed) Harder. Edge grain: show edge of bamboo strip typical 3/16” nodes. Hard. End Grain: Shows the internal fiber structure of the bamboos strip. Very hard. Strand: Uses strips that are crushed, mixed with phenol-based binder and compacted under pressure. Can be three times as hard as red oak. Performs will under very high traffic applications. Hardest overall. Bamboo Flooring Kacy Childs-Winston, Alexis Rushing & Brooke Thompson
Transcript of Bamboo Flooring
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
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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/>
