Is carbonized bamboo healthy?
Plus, carbonized bamboo is a sustainable, non-toxic flooring option that can protect the health of both your family and the planet.
What is the difference between Strand and carbonized bamboo?
The difference between natural and carbonised bamboo flooring is the colour. Natural bamboo flooring highlights the natural colour of bamboo, which is golden and blonde. Carbonised bamboo flooring has a dark brown coffee colour which has been achieved by smoking the bamboo under extreme heat in an industrial kiln.
Is carbonized bamboo stronger?
Carbonized bamboo. Carbonizing decreases a floor's strength and makes it softer.
Is carbonized bamboo toxic?
While high concentrations of formaldehyde can be harmful, bamboo floors are not toxic inherently. Additionally, they are subject to rigorous regulation to ensure that products are safe before they hit the market.
Which type of bamboo flooring is best?
Strand woven bamboo flooringStrand woven bamboo flooring is by far the best type of bamboo for any kitchen. Due to its robust nature, it can withstand changes in temperature, humidity and moisture, which are to be expected in a kitchen. You will also notice that it is stronger and more durable than solid bamboo.
What are the 3 types of bamboo flooring?
There are three types of bamboo flooring: vertical, horizontal, and strand-woven. Vertical bamboo floors are developed by fusing stalks in a vertical manner, which produces consistent, vertical lines that yield a modern look and feel.
What are the disadvantages of bamboo flooring?
DisadvantagesCannot be used in bathrooms or rooms with excessive water.Not waterproof.The surface can scratch if objects are dragged across it.
How long will bamboo flooring last?
20-25 yearsBamboo flooring has a number of practical benefits. Many bamboo options can last upwards of 50 years if properly maintained, although the average lifespan ranges from 20-25 years with normal family wear-and-tear. It is harder than most hardwoods, which makes it extremely durable.
Can you stain carbonized bamboo?
Natural bamboo has a Janka hardness rating of 1380, making it harder than many domestic hardwoods, including oak, birch and ash, but at 1180, the rating of carbonized bamboo is significantly lower. Nevertheless, both materials accept stain about as readily as maple or a hardwood with a similarly close grain.
Is bamboo better than laminate?
Bamboo flooring is more natural than a laminate floor, which is one of its major assets. Some home buyers love the look of a natural bamboo floor and they will eagerly choose it over a laminate option. This is especially true for lower-quality laminate floors, which are not very durable and look “fake.”
Is bamboo better than hardwood?
Bamboo is a notoriously eco-friendly material compared to traditional hardwoods. It has greater durability, hardness, and water resistance. In many cases, bamboo is also a more affordable material than other hardwoods.
Can you mop bamboo floors?
Yes, you can clean your bamboo floor with a mop, but it must be either dry or wrung out completely leaving it only slightly damp.
What is stranded bamboo flooring?
Strand woven bamboo flooring is made by compressing bamboo fibres under extreme heat and pressure. This gives strand woven bamboo flooring its great strength and durability. After the bamboo has been harvested, it is cut, stripped down and shredded into bamboo fibre strands, before being woven together.
What color is natural bamboo?
light golden colourNatural bamboo is a light golden colour, which can really brighten up and add character to any room. There are different types of natural bamboo which can all look slightly different depending on the style you choose.
Is engineered bamboo durable?
Engineered bamboo flooring is a durable, sustainable flooring option. It's available in myriad colors and styles, and it's appropriate for every room in your home, including the damp ones.
Is dark bamboo natural?
Bamboo is naturally a golden colour. To create a dark coloured bamboo floor, the floor either needs to be smoked (carbonised) or stained. When the raw bamboo is carbonised, the colour changes from a golden blonde colour to a coffee brown colour.
What is carbonized bamboo?
Carbonized bamboo is a popular type of flooring that is widely misunderstood. The word "carbon" may evoke visions of rock-hard bamboo flooring. And while bamboo does hit the top of the Janka hardness scale, carbonizing has absolutely nothing to do with this quality. Featured Video.
Why is bamboo carbonized?
Instead, bamboo is carbonized to give the bamboo a deep, rich, darker color, much like the process of staining wood.
Why is bamboo different color?
Carbonized bamboo flooring, on the other hand, is a completely different color through and through because it "cooks" in the oven. Here are facts about bamboo flooring's carbonization process that help you cut through the marketing-speak.
Does carbonizing bamboo change color?
Foot traffic and especially the sun's UV rays hasten stain's color-change. But carbonizing bamboo is even more internal, changing the very material itself. No pigments are introduced. It is a heat-intensive method (steaming or boiling) that works deeply on the "sugars" within the bamboo.
What is the color of bamboo?
Bamboo, in its natural state, has a beautiful light color similar to straw.
Is carbonized bamboo staining permanent?
If you like the look of stained hardwood flooring, you may like carbonized bamboo. Carbonizing bamboo is more permanent than staining.
Is bamboo flooring softer than regular bamboo?
Bamboo flooring subjected to the carbonization process is about 1/3 softer than regular bamboo.
What is carbonized bamboo?
Carbonization is a process this material undergoes to darken its color. When bamboo is carbonized, it’s subjected to high levels of heat. As a result, the bamboo goes from being naturally blonde to being a rich brown hue. It’s a very similar process to sugar caramelization where heat is applied to light-colored sugar to darken its color.
Can you go wrong with bamboo flooring?
If you’re looking for a beautiful, durable, and eco-friendly flooring option , you can’t go wrong with bamboo floors. But even if you’ve already decided to install bamboo flooring, you may still have numerous options to choose from. If you’re not familiar with carbonized bamboo flooring, you might be a bit confused about what to expect.
Can you refinish carbonized bamboo?
If you prefer the look of stained hardwood, you’ll probably be drawn to the appeal of carbonized bamboo. Unlike hardwood staining where the color stain is applied only to the surface of the plank, carbonized bamboo retains the same, rich color throughout the plank itself. Given its consistent hue, this material can be refinished without ever losing its visual appeal or vibrant tone (Check out how to refinish bamboo flooring).
Is bamboo carbonized?
Now understanding carbonized bamboo flooring also requires you to know the impact of carbonizing on bamboo materials. Because of being carbonized, the bamboo turns to be 1/3 softer than the original bamboo materials.
Is The Carbonized Bamboo Different From The Other Types Of Bamboo?
Is the carbonized bamboo different from the other types of bamboo or other floorings? The answer is definitely yes.
How does carbonized bamboo work?
Carbonization of bamboo is a technique using extreme heat through steaming or boiling that changes bamboo’s natural color. The temperature level and the length of time the bamboo receives heat determines how dark the bamboo will be. The process actually cooks the bamboo, changing it to a darker, more “caramelized” color. Carbonization can produce a vast spectrum of colors or shades ranging from a slightly darker shade than bamboo’s natural light-yellow color to a beautiful, deep, rich, brown coffee color. Because so many colors are possible, you can choose the perfect shade of Ambient’s carbonized bamboo flooring to match the existing decor in your home.
How hard is Ambient bamboo?
It’s used to measure the amount of force required to embed a 0.444″ steel ball into the piece of wood to half of its diameter. Higher rated woods are stronger than lower-rated ones.
Can you refinish carbonized bamboo?
Therefore, if you ever want to refinish your carbonized bamboo flooring, you will still have the same rich color after sanding as you did before. If you refinish stained strand bamboo flooring, you will not stain it back to the original color on-site.
Does bamboo flooring have carbonization?
However, all Ambient’s bamboo flooring is now “strand woven.” During this process, the flooring undergoes compression to the same density regardless of whether it is carbonized or not. In other words, the carbonization process has a 0% effect on the hardness of the bamboo flooring.
Where is bamboo used?
• Bamboo is being used in road reinforcements in Orissa, India. Bamboo bridges have also been built in China, capable of supporting trucks that weigh as much as 16 tons.
What is bamboo charcoal made of?
Bamboo charcoal is made of bamboo by the pyrolysis process.Bamboo charcoal can be classified as raw bamboo charcoal and bamboo briquette charcoal. Raw bamboo charcoal is made of bamboo plant parts such as culms, branches, and root, basically solid biomass.
How long does it take for bamboo to grow?
Bamboos take a couple of years to get established. Water them regularly and fertilize them to ensure that they get well established. Bamboo plants are expensive because they are hard to propagate. You can sometimes grow them from freshly grown branches, but it’s really hit or miss.
What is the difference between bamboo and rattan?
Rattan is solid core while bamboo is hollow, and rattan is more flexible than bamboo which is why it is used for making furniture as is to be able to be bent.
How fast does bamboo grow?
It’s the fastest growing woody plant in the world: Individual culms (stalks) can grow as fast as a foot per day (my elderly father-in-law would sometimes relax in our yard with a lawn chair and say he was watching the stuff grow).
What temperature does wood need to be to be carbonized?
The carbonization of wood in an industrial setting usually requires a temperature above 280°C, which liberates energy and hence this reaction is said to be exothermic. This carbo-nization, which can also be seen as a spontaneous breakdown of the wood, continues until only the carbonised residue called charcoal remains.
How tall is a bamboo stem?
An analogy might be as a bamboo stem somewhat like a “slinky” toy. It may be about four inches tall when sitting, fully compressed, but it can “grow” to 20-30 times that length by stretching it out--without losing any of the cell’s diameter-
What is carbonized bamboo flooring?
Bamboo is often steamed or smoked for long periods of time. Known as carbonization, this process lends otherwise light-colored bamboo an amber hue, which many homeowners prefer to the straw color of natural bamboo.
What is the process of carbonizing bamboo?
The carbonization process also softens the material, thereby making it more susceptible to damage.
Is bamboo durable?
The light color of bamboo may also be problematic in that it is not nearly as sophisticated or versatile as the deeper hue associated with carbonized bamboo. As a result, you may struggle to find decor to match your straw-colored bamboo floors.
Is bamboo flooring good for bathrooms?
Because it holds up well to water and humidity, natural bamboo is great for bathrooms and kitchens.
Is carbonized bamboo good for dining?
Pros: Carbonized bamboo has a rich and sophisticated color, and is thus perfect for upscale dining rooms and parlors. You need not worry about selecting decor based on the floor, as carbonized bamboo can accommodate a wide array of styles. The dark hue of carbonized bamboo minimizes the appearance of grime, thus allowing you to go longer without cleaning.
Can you refinish bamboo?
Although it is reasonably easy to refinish dented or scratched bamboo, this added effort and expense is rarely necessary for natural bamboo floors. Fortunately, some of the damage associated with bamboo carbonization can be prevented by treating the floor’s surface with an aluminum oxide finish.
Does bamboo light up windows?
The appearance of natural bamboo doesn’t appeal to everybody, but many homeowners actually prefer its straw-like color, which lends itself well to natural lighting. If you have an abundance of windows and skylights, natural bamboo may complement the light and airy feel of your home’s interior.

Bottom Line
- Carbonizing bamboo gives the flooring a darker shade.
- This process can be calibrated to make the bamboo lighter or darker.
- If you like the look of stained hardwood flooring, you may like carbonized bamboo.
- Carbonizing bamboo is more permanent than staining.
Carbonizing Is About Color, Not Hardness
- Yes, the word "carbon" implies hardness and longevity. After all, carbon is the oldest element on Earth. Carbon fiber technology makes for incredibly strong creations, even forming the fuselage for Boeing Dreamliners. Except for small detail: carbonizing has nothing to do with hardness. Instead, bamboo is carbonized to give the bamboo a deep, rich, darker color, much like the proce…
Carbonizing Bamboo Helps It Mimic The Look of Hardwood
- Bamboo, in its natural state, has a beautiful light color similar to straw. While many homeowners desire some properties of bamboo (i.e., it is considered a "green" material, since it is a grass, not a wood), they do not feel that this color is suitable for their home.
Steamed, Not Stained
- When you stain a hardwood floor, you introduce pigment to the wood's cellular, porous structure. Wood stain eventually lightens. Foot traffic and especially the sun's UV rays hasten stain's color-change. But carbonizing bamboo is even more internal, changing the very material itself. No pigments are introduced. It is a heat-intensive method (steaming or boiling) that works deeply o…
Bamboo Becomes Softer, Less Durable
- Bamboo flooring subjected to the carbonization process is about 1/3 softer than regular bamboo. As Dan Harrington of Galleher Hardwood Co.says: "Carbonization weakens the material, making it softer and more brittle, and it increases the bamboo's capacity to absorb water, making it less dimensionally stable." However, the surface is treated with the aluminum oxide finish that is cust…