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Bamboo Flooring - Manufacture

The process of creating bamboo flooring can be an important consideration for those looking to invest in the product. Quality issues are a real threat unless the process is well understood.

Bamboo flooring has become immensely popular in recent years for many reasons. The most touted features of the flooring are the simple beauty, durability, low cost, and low environmental impacts of the product. The manufacture of bamboo flooring is part of what sets the flooring apart for other flooring options, and should be a very important consideration when deciding between particular brands of bamboo flooring.

Bamboo Stalks 

Bamboo is a grass, is considered a weed by some, and grows throughout Asia. The bamboo stalks are harvested following 3-8 year maturation, and taken to be processed. As bamboo can regenerate in such a relatively short period of time, it is considered environmentally friendly. Upon arrival at the factory, the stalks are cut into strips to ready the bamboo for carbonization.

Carbonization

After being cut, the bamboo strips are steamed under pressure, otherwise known as carbonization. This process removes sugars and insects, and under normal circumstances, the bamboo retains its natural coloring throughout the process. Darker, or coffee, shades of bamboo have been subjected to longer periods of carbonization, which soften the strips, making them less resilient than the lighter counterparts.

Inspection

The next step in the manufacturing process is inspection and grading of the carbonized bamboo. Marginal, or B quality, bamboo is often sold to bamboo discounters who use the material to create heavily discounted flooring. Good, or A quality, bamboo is taken through additional steps to create the completed floor. After sorting, the bamboo is kiln dried to remove any moisture prior to gluing.

Gluing

Bamboo flooring is bonded using formaldehyde glues. The amount of formaldehyde present in the product varies by quality, but standard and superior manufacturers maintain levels of formaldehyde lower than United States quality controls. The dried bamboo strips are assembled either horizontally or vertically and then glued using a hot pressing technique where an immense weight of heat and pressure bind the strips together.

Finishing

Once the hot pressing is completed, blanks are ready for processing. Much like traditional hardwoods, bamboo flooring is designed in a tongue and groove system. Unlike hardwoods, bamboo floors have up to 18 separate strips bound together for added durability and decreased warping. Following milling, the boards are sealed with an aluminum oxide coating to add additional protection and strength.

Quality Considerations

Unlike hardwood flooring, there are no official guidelines or standards for bamboo flooring. With this lack of governance, some discount manufacturers take advantage of unsuspecting consumers and use substandard raw materials, equipment, or binding processes. Some skip the carbonization process completely, essentially ensuring warping and splitting in their products. As a consumer, be sure to research the brand of flooring you are purchasing to ensure a high-quality product.