Bamboo Flooring Durability
Human beings are becoming more and more consumptive all the time. Our present society is considered to be consuming natural resources at a troubling rate and adding wastes to the world at an even more alarming rate. Hence, in recent years, a lot of interest is being taken in the field of renewable natural resources to replace as many items as possible. One such item is bamboo.
Bamboo is a perennially growing grass that can be used as natural fiber raw material. Bamboo has various advantages like having a straight grain structure, it comes in attractive colors, and is characterized by the very important high strength to weight ratio. The abrasion resistance qualities of bamboo are also commendable. It is increasingly being used as a replacement for plastic, wood and even steel. Bamboo is used in the form of laminates along with mortar. Bamboo flooring is much preferred these days as it is a novelty as of yet and comes in extremely attractive textures.
The greatest disadvantage is the lack of durability in the bamboo structure. This is one disadvantage that weighs down heavily on the use of bamboo in a big way. But, engineers have not allowed this to keep a material as useful at the bamboo, out of consideration because this. Recently newer methods are being developed that allow the use of bamboo for the construction of extremely durable structures. The laminates used for high durability are in the form of sandwich plate made using bamboo and mortar. Bamboo has good tensile strength and moderate compressive strength and very low shear strength. Mortar is used to compensate for the low shear strength and moderate compressive strength whereas the lack of tensile strength of mortar is compensated by the use of bamboo.
Now-a-days special preservatives are used to increase the usability of bamboo and using the special laminates structure developed, the functionality of bamboo has increased and the practical application of bamboo, especially in flooring, has been simplified. But, it is important to note that if this particular type of laminate is not used then, the durability of bamboo flooring is quite low and does not make it economically viable. It can only be used for makeshift structures with very short life requirement. But, with the advancements stated above, bamboo flooring can be used for medium to long life span requirement homes.
The use of bamboo as an alternative to plastic, wood or steel can prove extremely beneficial for developing countries (e.g. China). The reason being that bamboo is a natural fiber that can be grown as and when required. It can provide employment to many people in rural areas. Also, it does not contribute to pollution and does not lend itself to creating ecological imbalance.
Top Supplier
Flooring - Brand Names
Authorized Dealer National sale!
Save $1,000's deal direct here
www.fastfloors.com
Fast Floors offers brand name bamboo, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, and cork flooring with discounts up to 70 percent off and shipped to your door.
|