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Bamboo
Back to Species Gallery
Species - Imported
Top portion is finished with water-base finish; bottom with oil-based finish
Appearance
Color: Typically available in light (manila/yellow tones) or dark (tannish brown) shades. Colors vary between manufacturers.
Grain: Distinctive grain pattern shows nodes from the bamboo stalks.
Variations: Within Species And Grades: Available either horizontally or vertically laminated. Horizontal construction tends to show nodes more prominently.
Workability
Sawing/Machining: Cuts easily with most tools
Sanding: Due to its unique, fibrous structure, bamboo should not be sanded across the grain or at at 45-degree angle to the grain. Its light color tends to show swirl marks, other sanding marks & finish imperfections, much as a light maple floor can.
Nailing: No known problems.
Finishing: All surface-type finishes have been used successfully with bamboo. Darker colors may tend to show lap marks-moving quickly during application and applying finish quickly around cut-in areas can minimize this effect. Filling is recommended.
Comments Most available factory-finished. Because product is rigid, careful attention should be payed to flatness of subfloor. Origin: Asia. Majority made in China with some from Vietnam.
Properties
Hardness/Janka: Bamboo is a grass. Janka values vary widely between various manufacturers & between horizontal & vertical construction.
Dimensional Stability: Engineered construction
Durability: Availability
Readily available.