ADVICE TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS
Assessing the quality of bamboo flooring
A high quality bamboo floor is generally superior to that of a hard wood floor. This is due of its hardness, long life, elegance, superior grain definition, high fibers strength, insect resistance and contains no harmful chemicals, making it user friendly. After more than 10 years of scientific and industrial research, a highly competent Chinese bamboo timber industry has evolved to supply a rapidly growing world market. A large number of factories have been established to accommodate this growing demand; but with varying quality and prices. Bamboo quality depends on cultivation conditions, climate, soil, location, plant species and age at harvesting. All the above, and more will affect the hardness, density, and strength of the end product. The bamboo raw material should be mature, have thick stalks, thin fibers and insect and fungal free. To assist the prospective purchaser, we recommend they note the following comments.
1. Your Supplier
When considering bamboo flooring for your home, visit more than one supplier, examine the products available, compare the quality and price, and check if the premises and staff appear professional and knowledgeable.
2. Bamboo Quality
Carefully examine the bamboo product. The board density is very important. The greater the density the better. Weight is one factor, hardness is another. Score the surface with your fingernail or a coin; this will also enable you to calculate the hardness.
3. Resin Strength
To produce bamboo flooring, many bamboo strips are bound with high-grade resin to form each floorboard. Many factors affect the resin hardness and durability, such as quality and quantity of resins, temperature, pressure and curing rate of the processes. Bamboo floorboards incorporating these factors will not split, warp or twist, unlike boards using inferior resins or processes.
4. Colour and Textures
Bamboo floor has many qualities and different characteristics. They can brighten and enhance one area, different colour of finishes highlight or subdue another. There are many different colours and finishes in our range; but the variations in each category are quite minimal.
5. Moisture
Raw bamboo contains 8-10% moisture; but controlled drying of the raw material ensures evenness and avoid splitting, wrapping or twisting. A reputable supplier is aware of all these considerations, and visits their manufacturer on a regular basis.
6. Insect and Fungal Proofing
The raw bamboo plant contains many sugars, starches, and proteins on which insects can live and thrive, and aid fungal development. The stringent process of bamboo strips by boiling at high temperatures, removes the sugars, starches and protein, and neutralizes any insect life and fungi.
7. Accuracy of Boards Size
Bamboo boards are manufactured to +/- 1mm. Excess glue should not be present on any board surface, including tongues and grooves, for this will prevent close jointing, or level fit to a sub floor.
8. Finishes of Bamboo Boards
Generally two processes are used, coating or rolling. Coating, by far, gives a superior finish. When purchasing your floor, check several boards from different cartons, to ensure a consistent brightness of colour, and the surface is pristine, and unblemished, without wrinkles, scratches, bubbles etc.
