Bamboo is fast emerging as a suitable flooring material. Bamboo flooring has an appeal of its own. The eye-catching pattern that is formed by the slightly darker bands at the nodes of the bamboo makes bamboo flooring all the more special. Bamboo flooring is good to opt for. However, it is advisable to carry out an evaluation of the pros and cons of bamboo flooring before taking the decision to opt for it.

Making use of bamboo in flooring offers the following advantages:

• Hardness and durability: Though hollow inside bamboo is extremely hard and strong. It is even stronger than many of the hardwoods. It is very resilient too and can resist denting.

• High moisture resistance: Bamboo is highly resistant to moisture and resists spills very well. This makes bamboo flooring particularly good for kitchens and bathrooms.

• Environment friendliness: With the earth becoming fast depleted of hardwoods it is environment friendly to make use of bamboo flooring instead of hardwood flooring as bamboos can grow and reach maturity several times faster than hardwoods and can be ‘cultivated’ too.

• Easier to be cleaned: A simple sweep daily and application of a mop once a week is all that is required to keep the bamboo flooring clean.

There are some disadvantages associated with bamboo flooring also:

• Bamboo flooring cannot be floated sometimes. Hence, it is to be determined what kind of restrictions apply to installation of the bamboo flooring.

• There have been complaints of bamboo flooring being more brittle than hardwood.

It is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages associated with bamboo flooring and then take a decision regarding whether or not to opt for it.

However, in general, bamboo flooring material have been learnt to be simple to keep clean, easy wearing, especially attractive and very stable. Their sustainability has been known to be the main reason for their current popularity. And such popularity is expected to rise in times to come.