Is Bamboo Right for You?

by Lumber Liquidators

What to look for when buying bamboo flooring

An increasing number of homeowners are seeking out eco-conscious and sustainable materials for their homes. As a result, retailers are expanding the number of options available them.

That is no more evident than in flooring. Bamboo, one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, is becoming a particularly popular and ecologically sound choice for homeowners and builders. The United States Green Building Council’s LEED program even allows points for the use of bamboo floors.

Renowned for its strength and durability, bamboo is actually a grass. Bamboo has an extensive root system and rejuvenates itself quickly after it’s been harvested, thereby requiring no replanting.

As with hardwoods, there are options for bamboo, and retailers are continuously adding more and more choices to meet rising demand.

With several options to choose from, how do consumers make the right “eco-friendly” choice for their home?

“The most important question to ask a retailer is, ‘How old is the bamboo?’ The bamboo brands offered at Lumber Liquidators, such as Morning Star Bamboo, are at least four years old, which increases its hardness,” said Tom Sullivan, founder and chairman of Lumber Liquidators."

Bamboo Flooring Checklist

According to a recent MSN article, there are a number of other questions that consumers should ask retailers prior to purchasing bamboo flooring. A few of these questions include:

• Where was the bamboo grown? (Bamboo from China is nearly always from sustainable plantations. There has been some habitat destruction with South America bamboo.)

• What chemicals were used in sealing and coating?

• Were pesticides used on the bamboo crops?

• Is the bamboo flooring formaldehyde-free?

Brilliant Bamboo

Most people associate bamboo with a light coloring, but it can provide nearly any look and feel. Morning Star Bamboo flooring is one of the top brand on the market today and just added many new choices to its line including Forbidden City Bamboo, a rich, dark-brown floor, offering a premium finish and Tiger Bamboo, a fierce flooring with contrasting stripes that will make a statement in any home. Showcasing bamboo’s durability, all Morning Star Bamboo floors come with a 30-year warranty.

“What surprised our customers the most is that going green with bamboo doesn’t have to cost you a lot of green,” said Sullivan.

Source: “Is bamboo flooring really green?” MSN Real Estate.

Related Articles

• Natural Hardwood Products
• Bringing the Great Outdoors Into Your Home
• Eco-Friendly Hardwood Floors