What is Carmelized Bamboo Flooring?

In summary, you’re looking at carmelized bamboo floor above. Bottom right is the familiar natural straw-like color of bamboo.  Upper left is the carmelized version.

Bamboo flooring that is treated so that it has a darker color is often called carmelized bamboo flooring.

An alternate term is carbonized bamboo flooring–same thing.

Why the Flooring is “Carmelized”

I think it’s called carmelized because the heating process, either through boiling or steaming, changes the sugars within the “wood” (I use that term lightly) to a richer, more coffee-like hue.  This carmelizing process is variable.  So, not all carmelized bamboo looks like mahogany.  It can have a light brown color; it can have a deep brown color.

The Downside of Carmelized Flooring

But one hugely bad thing about carmelized bamboo is that it is softer than “ordinary” bamboo.  And believe me, ordinary bamboo is soft enough, as it is.  You don’t need to soften it further.  Yet it’s estimated that carmelized bamboo is 30% softer than the other stuff.

There are lots of really unhappy homeowners who have carmelized bamboo.  Just sayin’…