bamboo flooring vs. engineered hardwood flooring?

62 Comments

1. Jenn says:

   May 13, 2010 at 7:21 pm

   i have bamboo flooring i had a flood and there was no damage to it even though it stayed wet for several hours our dog has not scratched it yet seems pretty durable and looks great
2. Mr. Pisster says:

   May 13, 2010 at 8:00 pm

   Don’t forget about cork! I think it looks the best compared to the others.
3. Jillma says:

   May 13, 2010 at 8:12 pm

   I’ve heard that the carbonized bamboo can resist scratches better than the cheaper bamboo. We have the natural bamboo in our formal living room, dining room, and family room. We love it. It can scratch or dent easily, but we don’t mind and you can barely notice.
   One reason we went with the he bamboo over the engineered wood was because our bamboo is a solid piece. If we did have to refinish it, we have 5/8 inch of bamboo to work with compared to just a little bit with the engineered wood.
   The bamboo is very modern looking. If you like the more traditional style of regular wood, then engineered might be better.

   good luck
4. Jenny C says:

   May 13, 2010 at 9:05 pm

   Hi, Bamboo floors refers to floors that are made out of bamboo which is part of the grass family.Bamboo is a beautiful eco-friendly flooring.Bamboo has a lot of benefits as it is 50% more stable and harder than red oak. It is faster growing and a sustainable resource. It is less expensive than hardwood. Just like hardwood it is important to acclimatize your bamboo flooring before installation. Important to get experienced installers and check them out.

   You want to purchase your bamboo from a reputable company that only harvest mature bamboo as some harvest it too young and then the boards are soft. As with any product it is buyer beware and the same is true when dealing with contractors you need to do your homework. Here are some links for more info. Hope this helps.
   http://www.hardwoodlaminateflooringguide.com/bamboo-flooring.html
   http://www.hardwoodlaminateflooringguide.com/pros-and-cons-of-bamboo-flooring.html
5. Gordan says:

   May 13, 2010 at 9:19 pm

   During extreme changes in the weather, natural hardwood flooring can expand and contract so much that it will buckle or warp. The core layer of an engineered hardwood floor gives it the ability to expand and contract without buckling or warping as natural hardwood flooring would. This means that engineered hardwood flooring is less affected by environmental conditions and can be installed in more areas than natural hardwood flooring. For example, unlike a natural hardwood floor, you can install an engineered hardwood floor in a humid or damp basement. An engineered hardwood floor can also be installed over radiant heating system without suffering any damage. If you install a natural hardwood floor over a radiant heating system, the natural hardwood floor could buckle, cup, or shrink.
6. rlbendele1 says:

   May 13, 2010 at 9:49 pm

   Both engineered hardwood and bamboo are about the same for maintenance and damage resistance. Get the one you like the best. Bamboo is a product of China so look out for formaldehyde ( adding formaldehyde to the glue that binds the bamboo together makes it cheaper to make) and other chemicals. So for bamboo do not buy the cheapest, do not buy less than 1/2″ thick. The thin bamboos are a problem from the start. If using engineered hardwood look for a wood grown in North America and produced in the USA. Mannington makes a lot of USA made hardwood. A good engineered wood can last for 75 to 100 years and may out last most of today’s homes. The issue of your dog is only important if it ” wets ” a lot in the home. Can be an issue for bamboo or hardwood. If the pet does “wet” in the house, post the Information and I will give you more ideas.