How durable are bamboo floors ?looking to use them in a Apt building?

Answer 1

I TOTALLY disagree with the others claims of the durability of bamboo. While it is certainly durable to a point, it is not near as durable as many other floorings out there. The green people push it because it is a very environmentally friendly product to use. But it needs a lot of care, scratches easily, dents easily, and flaws are very difficult to buff out. Ask anyone who has bamboo floors. Most of them need to take a lot of extra precautions. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly product for an apartment building, I would look into cork flooring. Not the cheap stuff they use on cork boards, but the stuff they cut especially for floors. They are using it in a lot of commercial buildings now, like library's and restaurants, because it has a real natural beauty like wood, is very soft on the feet, and is very easy to maintain if properly sealed when you install it. Not to mention, it's super quiet, so the people on the lower levels will never hear the people upstairs clomping around. Do an Internet search on cork flooring, and you are sure to find a lot of information. I just installed it in my own home. I found an article about 18Th century castles in Europe. The marble and limestone floors had long deteriorated, but the cork floors were still in mint condition!!

Answer 2

I'm not too sure about how bamboo floors hold up. But I do know that cork flooring is beautiful and durable. I have then in my home. They are glued down and also avaible in clickable installation and they are warm to the touch. Remember how hardwood floors are cold in the winter? Well these arent. Try Lumber Liquidators. Maybe there is a store near you or you can order the catalog. Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

very durable - http://www.ifloor.com/articles/bamboo/foryou2.html
good building material and not just a fad - http://www.askthebuilder.com/580_Bamboo_Flooring.shtml
Success Story - Soon after 2000 square feet of flooring was installed at Misugi Design in Berkeley, it was submerged for a week due to flooding. A few pieces cupped very slightly, but the floor remained intact. Any other hardwood floor would have been ruined. This story illustrates the incredible durability of bamboo!- http://www.healthyhomeplans.com/articles/information9.php

I'd say to go for it!

Answer 4

bamboo floors are very hard but they scratch very easily. Bamboo wicks moisture but does not absorb it so it does not absorb the polyeurathane thus leaving a coat on the surface and not in the wood. wearing shoes with a single grain of sand in the sole will scratch the floor. The floors look beautiful but do not wear shoes on them.

Answer 5

If your wanting wood then bamboo is the way to go... very durable.. and friendly to the environment too as it is a grass and not a tree.... I'm doing bamboo as well in horizontal. love it....

Answer 6

bamboo flooring should last a lifetime (30 to 50 years).