​Bamboo flooring performance in Colorado

Bamboo flooring is gaining popularity in South Denver and Colorado Springs. It's a "green" product, nice looking, and has a good story. There are some things to be aware of when shopping for bamboo flooring for a Colorado home. Not all bamboo flooring is created equal. Make sure you know the difference between woven strand and organic (see below).

• KILN DRIED: This is super important to the performance of the bamboo. If it is too wet when it gets the Colorado then you have already lost the battle.
• HARDNESS: Not all bamboo is created equal. We have learned this over time by installing different manufacturers. Woven strand is head and shoulders above organic bamboo. We highly recommend woven strand in Colorado. Woven Strand bamboo is the hardest wood product out on the market today. It is perfect for active households with kids and pets.
• FINISH: Not all sales reps know what kind of finish and how many layers are on hardwood products. This is very important to know because the performance of that finish depends on when you'll have to refinish the product.

Cali Bamboo is our ONLY vendor when it comes to selling bamboo in Colorado. Why? Because they are hands down the best. Most local flooring companies get their bamboo from the same Colorado distributors. We used to do this until we figured out that NOT ALL BAMBOO IS CREATED EQUAL. Cali Bamboo is a green company which offers a superior finished product which includes a finish that is super low on VOCs.

What is Strand Woven Bamboo? Strand woven bamboo flooring takes regular bamboo flooring one step further, to make a stronger, higher quality, and nicer looking flooring. It is made through a special manufacturing process, using bamboo shoots that are four to six years old. First, the shoots of bamboo are cut into long strips. These strips are boiled and ground down even further by a machine. Once dried, they are heated to a high temperature and woven together (hence strand woven bamboo). The woven bamboo is then put under very high pressure and laminated using a non-toxic, water resistant resin. This seals the bamboo flooring, adding to its strength, and making it more resistant to moisture.

Strand woven bamboo can be found in numerous shades, ranging from natural bamboo color to a fairly dark shade. The grain and “pattern” will vary slightly from each batch, so it is recommended to keep that in mind. Bamboo flooring can be installed in any room of one´s house. However, it is important to note that if bamboo gets wet and is not dried quickly, the wood can swell and will no longer sit properly. Furthermore, if you decide to install bamboo flooring in a bathroom, it will not usually be covered by warranty.

The main difference between the two is in how the plant is processed. As mentioned above, in strand woven bamboo the plant is shredded into small fibers which are then heated and compressed by high pressure. This makes strand woven bamboo flooring far more durable than regular bamboo flooring. Of course, it also makes it more expensive. They also look slightly difference, but both can be very aesthetically pleasing. Keep in mind that strand woven is more compact, and is therefore a little harder to work with as well.