Bamboo Flooring vs. Laminates

Laminate floors often resemble natural products, including bamboo.

In recent years, bamboo has become popular for flooring, especially valued because it is a grass and easier to replenish than hardwood. Laminate floors are not made out of wood, but give the impression of wood, stone or tile, and are a less costly alternative to the real thing. There are a number of considerations to be made when comparing the durability, maintenance and value of bamboo and laminate flooring.

Properties of Flooring

Bamboo flooring is created when hollow bamboo stalks are cut into strips and dried and laminated together with a resin with low formaldehyde emissions. The direction of the strips, which side is being shown, and whether or not they are carbonized, creates a variety of patterns and shades of color for bamboo flooring.

Laminate flooring is made up of several layers of melamine resin, fiberboard and a photographic applique all fused together with a clear protective coat over them. A low emission formaldehyde is also used in the gluing process in the creation of laminate flooring.

Durability

Durability is the measure of how easily flooring will become dented and scratched. Laminate flooring has strong resistance to abrasion and can be used in high traffic areas. Bamboo is not as abrasion resistant and should be protected, for example, by using area rugs wherever chairs might be dragged across the bamboo such as under a dining table.

If the top layer of laminate is punctured or scraped, it cannot be repaired. Bamboo can be repaired because it is solid bamboo throughout.

Maintenance

Laminate floors are highly resistant to becoming faded by sunlight or stained. Bamboo floors are less resistant and should be protected against fading and staining.

Bamboo flooring has a greater moisture resistance than laminate. Bamboo can be used in the kitchen if care is taken to wipe up any water spills quickly. Laminate is not advised for kitchens, and is most often used in family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and dens.

Neither floor should be damp mopped, but swept, dry mopped or vacuumed without the brush beaters. If liquid is used for cleaning purposes, the liquid must be wiped up quickly.

Patterns and Colors

Laminate flooring comes in a large selection of colors and patterns made to resemble hardwoods, tile and stone. The colors for bamboo flooring are limited to bamboo's natural color or its darker, carbonized color. Some stains are available, but generally the natural look of bamboo is valued.

Cost

Bamboo will often cost three to four times more than laminate for materials alone. Beyond that, the installation of laminate flooring is relatively easy and can be a do-it-yourself project. Laminate floors do not need to be sealed. The installation and sealing of a bamboo floor is almost always handled by professionals, making it somewhat expensive. Bamboo will often increase the value of a home.

References

• Floorfacts: Comparing Hardwood Flooring versus Laminate Flooring
• The Flooring Professor: Think you want a new bamboo floor?