What is Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring?

Q:  What is strand woven bamboo flooring?

A:  Strand woven bamboo flooring is a process of weaving fibrous bamboo fibers together so that they make a stronger material than ordinary bamboo flooring.   Bamboo is not inherently hard, so it must be strengthened by other means.  Strand weaving is one such method of hardening bamboo floor.

Q:  What’s the big deal about strand woven bamboo?

A:  The big deal is that bamboo flooring is made out of a grass, not wood.  Yes, it’s a grass.  This means that bamboo is really not a suitable material for flooring.  Think about:  dog claws, kids’ toys, high heels, etc.  In fact, bamboo kind of sucks ass when it comes to a flooring material.

Q:  So why not use, say, a hardwood?

A:  Yup.  That’s the very idea behind hardwood.  Hardwood is hard and it’s wood.  Pretty simple.  Oak, hickory, maple, and beech are all great hardwood for flooring.

Q:  What about this “carbonized bamboo flooring?”

A:  Even worse.  Carbonized or carmelized bamboo flooring is a process that darkens the wood.  Bad thing is that is also weakens the wood.  Up to 30%.  So, strand woven helps to counteract this weakening.

Q:  Is strand woven bamboo flooring more expensive than “ordinary” bamboo flooring?

A:  Yes.  It does entail an extra process.  So, it comes at a higher price.

Q:  Who can you recommend for strand woven bamboo flooring?

A:  A company in my own neck of the woods (Seattle, WA), called Teragren.  Their brand of strand woven bamboo is called Synergy.  Note:  I’m not making a single red cent out of recommending Teragren; it’s just one that many homeowners seem to have good words about.  Believe me, when I can figure out a way to make money by recommending them, I’ll let you know.