Bamboo floor is a type of floor made of bamboo. Most of today's bamboo flooring products come from China and other parts of Asia. Moso bamboo is the most commonly used type for flooring.
Video Bamboo floor
Characteristics
Bamboo has been used as an alternative to flooring because of its physical similarities to true hardwoods. Manufacturers and sellers of bamboo flooring promote their strength, durability, environmental friendliness and natural resistance to insects and moisture. The traditional hardness of bamboo flooring ranges from 1180 (horizontal carbon) to about 1380 (natural), while newer manufacturing techniques include bamboo strands of bamboo strands ranging from 3000 to more than 5,000 using Janka hardness tests. Other flooring materials have comparable Janka ratings, with higher numbers indicating tougher materials: red oak (1290); white oak (1360); maple stone (1450); hickory (1820); and Cherry/Jatoba Brazil (2350).
Maps Bamboo floor
Producing
Various forms of bamboo flooring exist. Each varies in the manufacturing process and differs greatly based on economic feasibility and local preferences.
The most common form, especially in Southeast Asia, uses thinly cut bamboo rods as easily cut. They are cut with the same length and can be stained, varnished, or simply used as is. They are then nailed to wooden blocks or larger bamboo pieces. This shape produces more space between each bamboo shaft; flatness and stiffness are not emphasized. This technique is usually used on stage houses, resulting in better air circulation especially during the warmer summer months.
The manufactured bamboo flooring is commonly found in highly processed North American markets. Bamboo flooring is usually made by cutting ripe bamboo stems or stems into pieces. These stems are cut long and then sliced ​​into pieces depending on the desired width. The outer skin and glands are removed. To remove starch and sugar, bamboo pieces are boiled in a solution of boric acid or lime. The bamboo is then dried and planned. Natural bamboo color is similar to beech wood. If the darker color is similar to the desired oak tree, bamboo passes through the process of steaming carbonization under pressure and controlled heat. The carbonization process can significantly reduce floor hardness compared to non-carbonized bamboo, making it softer than some pine and softer than the more common red oak tree.
Most bamboo floors use urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesives in the lamination process. Although the use of UF resins, which emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is harmful to indoor air quality, bamboo flooring uses relatively small amounts compared to other materials, such as particle board. Bamboo floor products that avoid the use of formaldehyde are available, including some listed in the GreenSpec Directory. The panels are then heated to cure the adhesive. The preserved boards are then planned, sanded, and ground. Finally, ultraviolet curing lacquer is applied to the board.
Prepared bamboo floors are usually available on boards with a vertical or horizontal orientation. On the vertical bamboo floor, the component parts stand vertically at its narrowest end and then press the side laminated to the side. The effect is a row and almost uniform display to the surface of a finished floorboard. On the horizontal bamboo floor, blades are arranged in a horizontal direction, on their widest edge, and then join side by side with adjacent pieces using a high pressure lamination system. The characteristic of the bamboo is seen on the finished horizontal surface.
Locking bamboo flooring is the easiest to install. Each floor board has the right locking joints in place. By combining board and color alignment many different styles can be produced.
The woven bamboo flooring can be fixed with clear-coat quite easily, but applying stains on the spot can be a challenge.
Environmental impact
Bamboo is a source of materials that are environmentally friendly and very renewable. As grass, bamboo grows much faster than wood. Moso Bamboo is the main species used for flooring and plywood. Moso bamboo can grow up to 119 cm in 24 hours and 24 m high in 40 to 50 days. It takes about 3-5 years for the bamboo to reach full maturity. Traditional hardwoods can take 20-120 years to mature.
Bamboo can be harvested without the need to replant because the root system is left intact when harvested. The root structure of the rhizome has the ability to hold the soil in place preventing erosion. The root structure of the rhizome is a horizontal trunk that grows below the surface and helps plants to reproduce vegetatively. Plants with rhizomes will colonize or spread laterally. The Lacey Act has recently strengthened accountability in the procurement of wood products. But its enforcement is questionable.
Bamboo reaches maturity in five years which is the optimal age for harvesting. In sustainably harvested forests, only 20% of forests harvested each year allow 100% harvest in a five-year period. In the natural environment does not need irrigation, pesticides, and fertilizers. Bamboo has several pests so pesticides are not needed. Bamboo that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards meets the criteria for environmental sustainability and social responsibility, and some flooring products are available with this option. Bamboo can absorb up to 70% more carbon per year than hardwood forests. All these factors make the carbon footprint low.
Bamboo Floor Maintenance
Like most hardwood floors, bamboo flooring should be treated with care. When mopping, you should use dusters to remove dust and dirt. Rough-haired brooms can be used to remove stubborn dirt from the floor gap. Wet mop should be avoided on the bamboo floor. If you need to mop the floor, wring out the mop until it is completely clean so that extra water is not released to the floor. Cleaning detergent should be checked to ensure that the detergent is safe for hardwood flooring before it is added to mop water. Many detergents contain waxing substances that will dull the color of the floor and leave the film glaze.
The LEED Green Building Council program of the United States allows points for the use of bamboo flooring based on it being a renewable resource quickly.
Since the majority of bamboo wood comes from China, it must be shipped to international destinations by boat and then by truck to the merchant. A study comparing the energy contained (including transport) from bamboo flooring from Hunan Province, China to Denver, Colorado prefers locally sourced concrete on bamboo floors due to the additional carbon costs associated with transport.
There is controversy over agriculture and manufacturing issues related to bamboo flooring production, including the environmental impact of deforestation to plant bamboo and the use of carcinogenic chemicals such as urea-formaldehyde in the glue used for lamination in some products.
Bamboo flooring has caused deforestation, because existing trees are felled to be replaced by bamboo plantations; This leads to soil erosion in the often hilly and mountainous areas inhabited by forests, along with the loss of biodiversity in the region as other flora and fauna are cleared for bamboo. In addition, the use of pesticides, weed killers and fertilizers in bamboo production can have an impact on the environment.
During the manufacture of bamboo flooring, some manufacturers use urea-formaldehyde as a glue to bind bamboo. According to the strict standards of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), there should be no more than 0.05 ppm (parts per million) of outgassed formaldehyde. According to standard products LEED USGBC with Urea-formaldehyde is not eligible for the category of Low Emitting EQ Products 4.4. Manufacturers now offer free formaldehyde bamboo flooring, but they can claim that they "do not add urea-formaldehyde" without providing substantial evidence. Manufacturers can use equipment that is itself harmful and polluting. Some manufacturers may request their products to be registered under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 standards for quality control and 14001 for the EMS environmental management system, although this standard is not necessarily very high.
References
External links
- Responsible Construction and Renovation Instruction Manual, PWGSC, 2000.
- Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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