As the popularity of hardwood flooring grows, some people are looking for new and different alternatives. One of these alternatives is bamboo flooring. It is gaining in popularity for a number of reasons: it is environmentally friendly, very strong and very beautiful. The major flooring manufacturers such as Armstrong, Columbia and Mohawk have recognized its potential and now offer bamboo flooring.

Bamboo is probably the strongest flooring material used for home purposes. Because of this, it is very durable, more so than most wood floors and almost as strong as stone, while being much more comfortable than stone. In terms of weight, feel and density, bamboo acts just like a hardwood floor.

Bamboo floors can be solid bamboo, or they can be "engineered" floors, where the bamboo is mixed with other woods. The usual way of manufacturing an engineered floor is to have a bamboo surface over a plywood substrata. Bamboo, just like other hardwood floors, can be stained and urethaned for protection.

Bamboo floors are also installed in the same way that hardwood floors are installed. In most cases they are nailed to the sub floor, (they may also be glued), and some newer techniques have been developed whereby the boards are locked together and no nails or glue are required. This is known as a "floating floor".

As with any floor, you want to make sure you have a level sub solo before you install your flooring material. There are methods to level out an unlevel floor, such as using shingles as shims to bring levels together. Proper preparation is critical, so make sure the sub floor is completely dry.

One of the attractions of bamboo floors, to many people, is the fact that they are environmentally friendly. Hardwood forests are being depleted, not enough new plantings are being made, and some hardwoods such as walnut or oak take generations to grow. Bamboo, on the other hand, grows much faster than hardwoods; a bamboo plant can mature in as few as five years. In addition, bamboo self generates since shoots from bamboos that are cut down sprout to create new bamboo plants.

For routine cleaning, if you remove surface dust and dirt from your bamboo floors, you will extend its life considerably. A simple solution of water and vinegar (four parts water to one part vinegar) on a slightly damp mop will be all that is needed. Dry the floor with a rag or towel, since you do not want to let water stand on it.

If you have an occasional stain or spill, wipe it up right away with a damp cloth, then dry it immediately. If your bamboo floor starts to look dull, just buff it lightly with a sander. Given this kind of care, your bamboo floor will last and look good for years and years.