The Consumer Advantages of Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring

There are a number of consumer benefits in buying strand woven bamboo flooring. Judged purely as flooring (thus putting aside the environmental benefits for a moment) strand woven bamboo flooring comes out favorably when compared with other traditional flooring types such as hardwood flooring.

The first consideration for many consumers is price. Strand woven bamboo flooring is usually cheaper than hardwood flooring; it can be up to 50% cheaper than some 'exotic' hardwood flooring. 

At the same time there is no sacrifice to quality because of cost. If properly maintained strand woven bamboo flooring will last just as long as oak, maple, black locust and other types of hardwood flooring. It is just as hard and durable as hardwood flooring. Indeed strand woven bamboo flooring has a higher Janka Hardness than most traditional hardwood floors. Furthermore strand woven bamboo flooring is capable of withstanding high traffic and heavy furniture.

And in terms of aesthetics or appearance, strand woven bamboo flooring is as beautiful as hardwood flooring. It comes in a variety of carbonized colors, has a pleasing grain and soothing natural look that suits many interior decorating styles.

Another consumer benefit is that strand woven bamboo flooring is not only easy to install, but it is also easy to maintain. Unlike many hardwood floors, the color of strand woven bamboo comes from the carbonization process. This means the color is throughout the flooring plank. This means that after serious maintenance such as sanding it is not necessary to re-stain the flooring. This saves the consumer time and money. Strand woven bamboo flooring does not require any unusual or complicated maintenance. In many ways bamboo behaves like a wood and can be maintained as such.

Finally, it would be disingenuous not to mention the environment. Old style economics that normally measured GDP, inflation etc. when considering growth and progress have recently become viewed as willfully simplistic. Without an environment there would be no consumer. What benefits the environment also indirectly benefits the consumer. Strand woven bamboo flooring helps stop deforestation and loss of bio-diversity by offering people the advantages of hardwood flooring without the need for cutting down trees. There is no easy way to put a price on such a benefit for the consumer.

Comparison between Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring and Coconut Flooring

Coconut flooring and strand woven bamboo flooring share many similarities. Both are made from renewable resources and both are great alternatives to hardwood flooring. Both coconut flooring and strand woven bamboo flooring are examples of sustainable flooring.

Comparison between Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring and Cork Flooring

Both strand woven bamboo flooring and cork flooring are typers of sustainable flooring. This means that they are made from renewable resources. Both types of flooring are excellent alternatives to hardwood flooring because they both have a low carbon footprint, look natural and beautiful and are healthy for people and pets.

A Comparison of Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring and Hardwood Flooring

In many ways strand woven bamboo flooring and hardwood flooring are similar. Both flooring types are beautiful, natural, strong, hard and long lasting. Both flooring types are both allergen free. However there are some key differences between strand woven bamboo flooring and hardwood flooring that could affect which type of flooring you choose to buy.

Allergen Free Bamboo Flooring

There is some confusion about the terms commonly used. Often people use the terms anti-allergenic, allergen free and hypoallergenic as interchangeable terms. The terms anti-allergenic and allergen free when applied to a product means that product in question has no allergy inducing substances or characteristics. Whereas the term hypoallergenic was developed by the cosmetics industry to refer to products that were 'below normal' or 'slightly' allergenic (see Wikipedia). Thus, a product that is allergen free or anti-allergenic is much better from an allergy sufferer's point of view than one that is merely hypoallergenic.

Scientists are still in much confusion about allergies. They are unsure about the exact cause of allergies. One commonly held theory to explain why there is a much higher incidence rate of allergy among people in the developed world is that since industrialization human environments have become too sterile and whereas the immune system used to ignore foreign bodies such as pollen and dust mite excretion now the immune system has little experience of these substances for people growing up in developed urban centers and reacts to these foreign bodies as a threat. The result is hypersensitivity with the body producing antibodies that release histamine that swells the upper respiratory tract leading commonly to sneezing, runny noses, irritated eyes and itchy skin.

In America 55% of the population tests positive for 1 or more allergy. Food allergies account for only 2% of that figure.

The most common triggers for allergic reaction are: mold, pollen, animal danders and dust mite excretion.

Obviously, if you are prone to allergic reactions it is foolish to keep a pet. There are some dog breeds that are hypoallergenic but not allergen free. The fact that people in the developed world live 90% of their lives indoors is a key one. The way to reduce allergic responses is to improve indoor air quality. This means not only putting allergen free furniture and flooring in your house but also removing items containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are believed to also trigger allergic symptoms such as formaldehyde. This is one of the key purposes of Green Interior Design.

Strand woven bamboo flooring is allergen free in the sense that it allows no where for dust mites to live. Dust mites are microscopic animals that feed on dead human skin and love hot and humid conditions. They are found mostly in bedding, furniture and carpets. By removing your carpet and installing strand woven bamboo flooring you take away a major breeding ground for dust mites whose excrement aggravates allergies.

Another benefit of strand woven bamboo flooring is that it is mold resistant. Mold spores are a common cause of allergic reaction so to have a mold resistant flooring is a vital way to lower your chances of suffering from an allergic reaction or asthmatic attack. The same is true for hay fever.

To sum up, installing strand woven bamboo flooring in conjunction with regularly changing your bedding and making sure your indoor spaces are free of VOCs will greatly improve the quality of your life if you suffer from hay fever, asthma or other common forms of allergic reaction.