Though the installation of bamboo floors only came into heavy popularity in the US in the late nineties, the use of bamboo flooring actually dates back to China's Ming Dynasty. Some people think bamboo is an exotic type of wood, but bamboo is actually a member of the grass family. This grass is quite different than the soft and bushy lawn that you walk on. Giant varieties can grow up to a hundred feet tall. There are around 1,000 species of bamboo, with Mao bamboo, native to Asia, being the most commonly used bamboo for flooring.

Bamboo grows very quickly. The root of the bamboo starts growing in spring and within 5-8 weeks most varieties have reached their mature height. It then takes 5-7 years for the bamboo to mature enough to be harvested for flooring. The root remains in the ground and will grow and be harvested again in another 5-7 years. This means no replanting is needed after harvesting. To learn more about this, check out the history of bamboo page.

Being a sustainable resource that can last for ages when properly cared for, bamboo floors are good for both your home and the environment.