Choosing Bamboo Flooring

Summary: Bamboo is a unique and ecologically friendly flooring choice that comes in a variety of styles and colors to suit many different interior design styles.

Dear Rob:

I’ve been shopping for floors lately, and I’m very intrigued by the bamboo flooring products I’ve seen.  Can you tell me a little bit about bamboo flooring and the differences between different bamboo flooring products?

-Jeff in Wisconsin

Dear Jeff:

Bamboo flooring’s popularity has not decreased since it was introduced into the flooring market. Its versatile style and consistent look have made it a very popular flooring choice.

Bamboo is technically a grass and not a hardwood. However, it is made from processed strips of cane and compressed to be as hard and durable as a regular hardwood floor.  It’s gaining popularity daily because of its “green” qualities. Bamboo is a rapidly renewing resource that matures in three years. Other green qualities include the fact that it regenerates without replanting and does not need pesticides or fertilization to grow.

There are three main styles of bamboo planks: horizontal, vertical or strandwoven. With vertical bamboo, the grain looks more linear and narrow where as with horizontal bamboo the grain is wider and the knots of the bamboo are seen more prevalently. Strandwoven bamboo, which consists of compressed strands of bamboo fiber, is the hardest and most durable bamboo flooring choice.  Within the different bamboo stylkes there are two main colors: carbonized and non-carbonized. Non-carbonized bamboo has a yellowish natural coloring where carbonized has a warmer, rich and brownish tint to it. Because of the growing demand of bamboo, other stain colors are available such as reds, blacks, browns, turquoise and even orange, but carbonized and non-carbonized are the two main colors you will see. One thing to keep in mind is that the carbonized product is softer than the non-carbonized.

Once seen as a contemporary and modern product, bamboo is now being seen in more and more residential homes as well as commercial applications. New products include laminate with bamboo patterns for busier lifestyles and handscraped floors for more rustic and traditional looks. Mosaic tiles and parquet patterns have even been created from bamboo as an alternative to the plank style. Bamboo is not just for floors anymore! Bamboo is also being used to make cabinets and countertops.

When shopping for a bamboo floor or bamboo laminate floor, you want a floor that has a finish with a high UV protection content. You also want to support a company that lets the product reach full maturity before being harvested. If possible, try to select a FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified bamboo floor. This ensures that your floor was harvested properly.

Like hardwood, bamboo requires minimal maintenance. Door mats should be placed at every entrance to keep dirt from scratching the finish of the floors. Regular sweeping or vacuuming should be performed as well. Spills should be cleaned up immediately and not allowed to sit and penetrate the floor. If pre-finished, the manufacturers recommended cleaner should be used. If not, a hardwood specific cleaning solution should be used rather than a generic household cleaner. Using the wrong type of cleaner can permanently damage the finish on the floor.

To protect the floors, chair protectors should be placed on the bottoms of all chairs to prevent gouging. Rubber backed mats should be avoided because the backing can cause discoloration in the floor. Furniture and other heavy objects should not be dragged across the floor. These simple steps will keep your floor beautiful and long lasting.

-Rob

Interior Design Styles and Hardwood Floors

Summary:  Different hardwoods can help define different design styles. Most people think that all hardwood is for traditional lifestyles. This is no longer the case! Design styles include Traditional, Contemporary, Modern, Rustic and Transitional.

Dear Rob:

I love the look of hardwood floors, but my design tastes are very modern, and I can’t help but wonder if hardwood is too traditional to work with everything else in my home.  What do you think?  Are there hardwood flooring choices that tend to work best in a modern home?

-Kim in Ohio

Dear Kim:

Different hardwoods can help define different design styles. Most people think that all hardwood is for traditional lifestyles. This is no longer the case! Design styles include Traditional, Contemporary, Modern, Rustic and Transitional. Other styles include Arts and Crafts, Asian, Cottage, Country, Eclectic, English Country, Mediterranean, Old World, Romantic, Southwestern, Tropical and Tuscan.

When thinking about a contemporary species of hardwood, the most popular is a natural maple with a clear finish coat. The more narrow the board, the more modern the look. Other contemporary hardwood species include teak, yellow birch and beech. This type of wood contributes to the clean lines and crisp look that contemporary design styles offer.

The most traditional hardwood species is oak. Red oak or white oak, it makes no difference. 2 ¼” wide hardwood is the most traditional, but other widths are also considered traditional. Other traditional hardwood species include: walnut, hickory, pecan, pine, Santos mahogany and Brazilian cherry. These woods are popular because they blend so well with woods used to make traditional furniture.

Handscraped hardwoods, no matter what the species can be labeled as traditional, rustic, cottage, country, English Country, Old World or Tuscan. Some could argue that a handscraped look would fit in with a contemporary look if found in an old loft. Heart Pine flooring falls into many of the same categories: traditional, rustic, cottage and country.

Exotic hardwood species like African Wenge, Merbau, Padauk and Jarrah do not fall into the same category just because they are all exotic woods. Typically, woods with less grain are considered more modern or contemporary. Woods with mild to medium grain are more traditional. On the same note, woods that are lighter in color are usually more contemporary and woods that are warmer, darker and richer are usually more traditional.

For those people that have eclectic homes, there are definitely no rules. Some rooms may even have different hardwood species under the same roof! That’s the beauty of it being eclectic. (The new term for this is often referred to as “evolved”).

If you have a traditional home, there is no reason why you can’t use a natural finished maple in your home. If you have a modern home, there is no rule that says that you can’t use a hickory floor. These suggestions are just what are typically selected.

Ultimately, the hardwood that appeals to you is the one that is right for your design style. You get to enjoy your selection every day so the choice should be what makes you happy.

-Rob

Using Tile to Beautify Your Outdoor Living Space

Summary:  Tile can be used outside your home to create a durable yet decorative surface on patios, outdoor kitchens, water features and more.

Dear Rob:

Next summer, I would like to totally redo my back yard, including patios, walkways and maybe an outdoor kitchen.  I’ve seen some tiles I’d love to use, but I’m not sure if they are good to use outside.  Can you give some pointers or ideas for using tile outdoors?

-Kyle in Utah

Dear Kyle:

Extending tile outside can add beauty and value to your home as well as a durable surface for the area you are tiling. Tile and stone are natural products that can add texture, pattern and color to an outside area.

Keep in mind that not all tiles can be used outside. Porcelain tiles and natural stone tiles are the best choices for exterior use. This is because of its water absorption rate. When shopping, look for tiles that are rated for exterior use. Commonly tiles in the impervious water absorption class of less than .5% water absorption are considered suitable for outdoor use. Tiles with a glossy finish are not recommended because when wet the surface may become slippery and accidents may occur.

Another characteristic to look for when shopping for exterior tile is the PEI rating. For areas with high traffic, you want to look for a tile with a rating of 4 or higher. The rating system is as follows:

• PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic) - Recommended for wall use in residential and commercial applications only.
• PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic) - Recommended for both wall use and bathroom floor applications only.
• PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic) - Recommended for countertops,  walls and floors where normal foot traffic is expected.
• PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional.
• PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic) - Recommended for all residential as well as heavy commercial and institutional applications.

Tile of course can be installed on patios, decks and other exterior floor surfaces, but it can also be used in much more creative ways.  Try using tile on exterior columns or stairs. Consider creating a water feature with tile or using tile to build planter boxes. Like inside, tile can be used for walls such as outdoor showers, decorative wall plaques or divider walls to separate outdoor areas.

A great place to use tile or stone is in an outdoor kitchen. Tile can be used for the countertop, the backsplash, the floor area or the area where the grill is built in. Bringing tile to outdoor kitchens adds style and elegance making the area feel like a room outside.

Tile can also be used as a path in a garden or in between areas outside. Rocks or other materials can be used in between the tiles for a different look. Tile is also an excellent choice for pathways where you want to define a walking area.

The same patterns that are used inside can also be used outside. Often, areas outside are larger than areas being tiled inside and can afford a larger more detailed pattern. Just like on the inside, decorative tile patterns add style and design to any area.

Be creative!! Tile can be used in many other ways. Go outside and evaluate areas that do not look complete or do not look as stylish as you want them to. Try imagining those areas with tile or better yet with a tile pattern!

-Rob

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