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Lots of people are choosing to install bamboo flooring in their homes in recent years. They’ve heard that it lasts a lot longer than most types of hardwood flooring, and it’s more ecologically sound. Bamboo has a number of other advantages, too, and it’s a good choice for many situations.

However, it might not be the right choice for everyone. Hardwood has a long tradition of use in homes, and works well with some antique house styles. Installing hardwood floors takes a lot longer than installing bamboo flooring, though for some people the traditional look of wood outweighs the inconvenience.

Bamboo is a spectacularly beautiful floor type, but it’s not the same as a traditional wood floor. Color variation in bamboo is minimal, so it tends to be more uniform than old fashioned wood.

For some, this is a benefit, but for others, it’s a reason to avoid bamboo. If you’re not certain which you prefer, remember that bamboo is a lot more convenient. The pieces are ready to install and there’s no dust and little mess.

If you love a traditional look, or are restoring a vintage home or building to its original state, you may be turned off by bamboo. However, the market is beginning to develop bamboo flooring that looks a lot more like traditional wood. So, in the future, you may have more options than simply using difficult to sustain wood floors.

Traditional hardwoods include blackbutt, jarrah, karri, iron bark and others. These durable woods can develop problems over the years. Moisture and temperature changes have been known to cause damage, warping and splintering.

Hardwood also tends to be costlier and less sustainable than bamboo. This amazing grass can grow as much as thirty centimeters in one day, and a grove can be harvested in just a few years. A hardwood forest takes decades to produce lumber, and many of these forests aren’t being maintained sustainably.

Bamboo needs no fertilizer, and is reasonably sustainable to farm. However, that doesn’t make every bamboo product ecologically friendly. Learn where your bamboo comes from - some plantations use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and plant unsustainable monocultures.

These irresponsible practices are most common in countries with little regulation, such as China. A little research will tell you whether you’re getting quality, environmentally friendly bamboo or not. A large percentage of the products on the market are made with “good” bamboo - an important concern for those who want to decrease their impact on the world around them.

If durability is a serious concern, bamboo is the better choice over hardwood. Bamboo stands up well to daily wear, and there are a number of floors that come with a warranty. You should, however, be willing to spend the money for a quality product that will last out the years.

Where contraction and expansion are issues, you’ll find that bamboo offers a favorable performance. Unlike hardwood veneer floorings, bamboo will hold up to a number of resurfacings, and there’s no treatment or waxing required. To make sure you get a product that’s non toxic and fully sustainable, look for flooring that uses glues that won’t off gas and don’t contain toxic chemicals.

Anyone who’s curious about how bamboo flooring holds up when compared to hardwood should take a look online. It’s easy to see the whole range of available products and find out more about this great type of floor. It could be right for your home.