| Bamboo floors, clothing, furniture, even | | | | The manufacturing process uses fewer |
| towels! If you haven't heard the bamboo buzz | | | | chemicals than traditional flooring and the |
| by now, you have to wonder where you've been. | | | | product requires fewer chemicals for |
| This fast growing grass (one of fastest | | | | maintenance. This makes it a good choice if |
| growing plants on the planet, in fact) is | | | | someone in your household suffers from |
| being touted as the miracle material for its | | | | allergies or chemical sensitivities. And it's |
| renew ability; its ability to resist mold, | | | | a great tidbit for cocktail parties... |
| bugs and water; and its natural anti fungal | | | | seriously. |
| and antibacterial properties. Found all | | | | |
| around the world, there are about 1000 | | | | This flooring also gets top marks for |
| different species of bamboo growing in East | | | | strength and durability. Made from robust |
| Asia, northern Australia, India, Africa and | | | | species of Chinese bamboo, strips are dried, |
| from South Eastern America down to Argentina | | | | processed into a layered, laminated, product |
| and Chile. Although American consumers are | | | | which meets or exceeds the performance of |
| quickly developing an appetite for this | | | | traditional woods like maple and oak. |
| versatile foliage, we're still way behind | | | | |
| Asia where the plant is used as a food | | | | Bamboo floors are extremely resilient as well |
| source, scaffolding, paper, fishing rods and | | | | - they bounce back upon impact and are less |
| charcoal. | | | | likely to dent. This quality makes them |
| | | | easier on your knees and back - perfect for |
| One of the biggest uses in North America, and | | | | spontaneous dancing. It also means the floor |
| certainly an area of growing popularity, is | | | | won't need refinishing as often as |
| bamboo flooring. These floors are a selling | | | | traditional flooring. |
| point in any home because, besides their | | | | |
| aesthetic qualities, they bring a number of | | | | Bamboo is inherently water resistant, which |
| benefits to your residence. | | | | is enhanced through the lamination process. |
| | | | This gives it an anti-warping quality that |
| Environmental features are a rising trend | | | | makes it ideal for areas where traditional |
| with today's savvy home buyer, and bamboo | | | | hardwoods and laminates shouldn't be used, |
| floors are both green and gorgeous. Choosing | | | | like basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and |
| bamboo flooring saves trees, literally! | | | | kitchens. Bamboo floors are a great way to |
| Bamboo is renewable: some of the larger | | | | transform your basement before a sale! Give |
| species can grow more than a meter a day, and | | | | that dank space a bright, clean new look. |
| this grass can be harvested every three to | | | | |
| five years, leaving traditional forests | | | | And for those of you who were wondering - |
| intact (hardwood trees can take 60 to 80 | | | | it's also easy to care for - just spin a dust |
| years or more to mature). | | | | mop or damp cloth across the surface, and |
| | | | you're done! Just one more reason to choose |
| Most bamboo floors are low-VOC, meaning they | | | | bamboo. |
| don't off-gas like other flooring products. | | | | |