What is Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring?
Q: What is strand woven bamboo flooring?
A: Strand woven bamboo flooring is a process of weaving fibrous bamboo fibers together so that they make a stronger material than ordinary bamboo flooring. Bamboo is not inherently hard, so it must be strengthened by other means. Strand weaving is one such method of hardening bamboo floor.
Q: What’s the big deal about strand woven bamboo?
A: The big deal is that bamboo flooring is made out of a grass, not wood. Yes, it’s a grass. This means that bamboo is really not a suitable material for flooring. Think about: dog claws, kids’ toys, high heels, etc. In fact, bamboo kind of sucks ass when it comes to a flooring material.
Q: So why not use, say, a hardwood?
A: Yup. That’s the very idea behind hardwood. Hardwood is hard and it’s wood. Pretty simple. Oak, hickory, maple, and beech are all great hardwood for flooring.
Q: What about this “carbonized bamboo flooring?”
A: Even worse. Carbonized or carmelized bamboo flooring is a process that darkens the wood. Bad thing is that is also weakens the wood. Up to 30%. So, strand woven helps to counteract this weakening.
Q: Is strand woven bamboo flooring more expensive than “ordinary” bamboo flooring?
A: Yes. It does entail an extra process. So, it comes at a higher price.
Q: Who can you recommend for strand woven bamboo flooring?
A: A company in my own neck of the woods (Seattle, WA), called Teragren. Their brand of strand woven bamboo is called Synergy. Note: I’m not making a single red cent out of recommending Teragren; it’s just one that many homeowners seem to have good words about. Believe me, when I can figure out a way to make money by recommending them, I’ll let you know.
