Carole Levy
Natural strand bamboo flooring is not just really durable in high-traffic areas, it’s also eco-friendly and sustainable.
Bamboo shares the benefits of hardwood but is actually a grass, growing to full height within three to five years, and harvested leaving the root intact. This makes it highly re-newable so any fears of being part of robbing nature can be laid to rest.
Bamboo flooring is elegant and matches all décor styles – and it stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
In its natural strand form, bamboo provides the look and feel of solid timber. The boards can be easy to install yourself with the right click and join system – and won’t need sanding and polishing. Equally sustainable, and higher priced, solid bamboo is best laid by a professional.
Strand bamboo upkeep is cruisy, with just a vac or sweep needed for particles, and an occasional damp mop using a non-wax, non-alkaline floorboard cleaner.
Keeping with the sustainable theme, there are places that sell beautiful recycled timbers – salvaged from the likes of bridge, shearing shed, wharf or warehouse. These won’t be cheap but what you get more than makes up for outlay.
Using recycled timber for a deck, as an example, saves chopping down trees and preserves a vital natural resource. Old seasoned timbers have their own striking aesthetic, adding a sense of drama to what can otherwise look merely serviceable. They also offer all-important stability to a deck because they don’t expand and contract like new timbers.
Inside or outside the home, beautiful woods continue to be a hot design ticket. Aim for the best you can afford, apply judiciously, and expect it to deliver substance and style for years to come.
