Bamboo is a plentiful, fast growing grass. It comes in about 1,500 different varieties. Some timber bamboos grow to over 100 feet tall with a 12” diameter. When mature, the root system of a bamboo forest can produce new annual crops of timbers for many decades.

Many bamboo forests are carefully managed and require essentially no pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation. They often occupy steep slopes and hilly lands, beneficial in preventing soil erosion. Many bamboo crops are cut by hand to minimize effects of possible erosion. And, bamboo harvesting does not adversely affect pandas. They feed on a different species of bamboo and live at higher elevations.
Bamboo can be harvested for flooring generally every 4 years. Bamboo shoots reach full size in one to 2 years. After the third year, the plant no longer depends on the shoot for nutrient delivery and the plant benefits from its removal. Hollow round shoots are sliced into strips and boiled to remove starch. Strips are then dried and laminated into solid boards, which are then milled into standard strip flooring in either horizontal flat grain layers or multiple layers of vertical grain. At this time, standard lamination includes urea-formaldehyde binders.
Bamboo is strong and dimensionally stable. Bamboo flooring has 90% hardness of oak. Dimensional change with moisture content is significantly less than for most common hardwoods.
With a natural resistance to moisture and mildew, it is ideal for commercial or residential buildings. To meet building codes, it is often treated with chemicals for insect and fire resistance. Boric acid is the sustainably preferred treatment. Flooring boards are available in several finished color choices including natural and carbonized (darker brown with matte finish), and unfinished (which can be stained in your client's choice of color). Prefinished products all use UV-cured finishes with low-VOC. Water-based urethane can raise the grain.
Most bamboo flooring can be sanded and refinished, dyed or stained, similar to hardwood flooring. Whenever your budget allows, specify the thicker sizes (sizes vary from 1/2”, 9/16” and 5/8”) which can be sanded and refinished many times, extending its life several decades and making it a more sustainable choice. The thinner size (1/2”) is initially less expensive, but can usually only be sanded once.
Bamboo is a sustainable resource also used in other products such as plywood, paneling and veneer, stair nosing, reducer strips, thresholds and grills.
Maintenance is similar to that of hardwood, with periodic cleaning and refinishing as recommended by the finish manufacturer.
Installation is also similar to hardwood flooring. Bamboo can be nailed or glued down depending on wood or concrete subfloor. Moisture levels should be checked before installation and manufacturer’s recommendations followed. When installed properly bamboo can come with warranties on manufacture and finish.
LEED points:In most cases, when choosing bamboo flooring, it is applicable toward LEED MR Credit 6 for rapidly renewable materials.