- Most bamboo used to manufacture hardwood floors comes from the Hunan region of south-central China. Planters harvest the bamboo from fields and plantations in low-lying areas. While pandas feed on this plant, few live in this region, so bamboo harvest is not considered detrimental to the species.
After harvesting, the material is shredded to produce a fibrous material. The fibers are mixed with resins or adhesives, then bonded and heated under high pressure. The high pressure forms the wood fibers into a dense block of wood similar to a log or timber. The final appearance of the wood depends on how finely the bamboo is shredded. Longer fibers (strands) may be twisted or woven manually or by machine to create a different look for the material. - Once the wood block has been formed, it is cut into strips that mimic the size and appearance of traditional hardwood flooring. It has its own grain pattern, which closely resembles wood veneer. The planks vary in length and width, though 6-foot lengths are standard. The edges are often beveled to allow for smoother and easier installation, and the surface may be milled or sanded to achieve the desired finish.
Manufacturers may design these planks for either nail-down or click-together installation. Nail-down floors have smooth edges, while click-together floors feature edges equipped with tongue-and-groove or click connectors. - Strand woven bamboo is manufactured differently than regular bamboo flooring. Traditional bamboo floors are made by drying and slicing the bamboo plants into thin strips. These strips are boiled to remove starches, then glued onto a wood base. This creates a look that is unique to bamboo and does not resemble true wood grain.
Strand woven floors not only look like real wood but are also twice as hard as regular bamboo due to their manufacturing process. This makes strand woven bamboo the better choice for high traffic or commercial applications.
next post