Bamboo flooring and other fixtures utilizing it have been praised as an alternative to quite a number of materials, which explains its boom for homes everywhere. However, with bamboo’s rise in popularity and use, it’s important to re-assess whether or not it’s the most suitable option that homeowners should use.
The main benefit that bamboo has been marketed with is its eco-friendly nature, but what are the other pros and cons? Is it truly and ecologically sound to utilize bamboo as your property’s flooring choice?
Continue reading to explore the advantages and disadvantages of bamboo flooring on the ecosystem.
What Are the Pros of Bamboo Flooring?
Bamboo is a type of woody grass that is rather durable in its nature. Its availability and ease, alongside the simple appearance that it provides, have made it quite a favorite. Here’s a more in-depth look at the ecological perks of bamboo flooring:
- Harvesting and Renewability. Unlike other materials that take longer to harvest and take, bamboos can be planted and mature in as short as three years. It’s also ethical and better for the land when stalks are collected since smaller plants will get sunlight after.
- Erosion Prevention. Many may notice that bamboos in pictures are quite tall, but that’s not the only extent of its length. This plant has quite long roots that are able to adhere to the ground and fight back erosion.
- Recyclable and Biodegradable. Bamboo is likened to hardwood, which can be quite long-lasting. What sets bamboo apart is that it’s quite recyclable, so homeowners can reuse it for their new flooring. Plus, bamboo is natural and won’t take space in a landfill.
- Oxygen Generation. One fun fact about bamboo is that they’re able to produce a lot of oxygen when planted in comparison to trees. Plus, the material itself is known to absorb any harmful greenhouse gases.
What Are the Cons of Bamboo Flooring?
Although it may seem like bamboo truly is the best material that every household should pick as its flooring choice, that’s not always the case. There are certain cons with bamboo flooring, and here’s some of them:
- Urea-Formaldehyde. The adhesive used for bamboo flooring may contain urea-formaldehyde, which is quite a toxic gas. It’s important to skip this variation of bamboo.
- Impact on Biodiversity. Bamboo’s popularity has increased a surge in the lands dedicated to it. Due to that, it can negatively affect the balance of differing land environments and the overall biodiversity of the world.
- Few Forest Stewardship Council Certificate. Bamboo not from an FSC-approved forest means that it was harvested without practicing sustainable forest management. By proxy, the lack of certification may lower the eco-friendliness of the bamboo.
- Shipping Transportation. Another factor that makes bamboo flooring less eco-friendly is transportation. Bamboo is grown and shipped from various countries in Southeast Asia, usually creating carbon emissions in the process.
Should You Get Bamboo Flooring?
Ultimately, it’s up to the homeowner on whether or not the pros outweigh the cons and vice versa. If you want to think past the ecological aspect for a second, paying for bamboo flooring would still land you the ideal quality that you’re searching for from your home’s flooring choice.
Conclusion
To sum it up, bamboo flooring has ecological advantages that make it good to patronize. There are also disadvantages that you may want to consider before making a purchase, especially when you’re truly aiming to lessen your footprint.
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