New flooring types are quickly becoming popular with homeowners that want a stylish option to traditional hardwood flooring. One type that a lot of people are trying is bamboo. It looks very similar to hardwood flooring, but how does it compare?
We’ll break down the pros and cons of traditional hardwood flooring and the alternative bamboo flooring to see which one is best. Before you pour your money into new flooring, make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
| Hardwood Flooring | Bamboo Flooring | |
| Cleaning | Daily with a broom, mop or vacuum. Can wax it to restore shine. Do not saturate it or use a wet mop. | Daily with a broom, mop or vacuum. Do not wax it. Do not saturate it or use a wet mop. |
| Durability | Should use harder woods for more durability. Can be prone to denting or scratching. | More durable than most hardwood options. |
| Installation | Nail it down | Floating floor, nail it down or glue it down |
| Good for Allergies | Yes | Yes |
| Lifespan | Over a century | 20 to 25 years on average |
| Pet-Friendly | Yes but prone to scratching | Yes |
| Price | Around $10 per square foot depending on the wood species | $5 and $7 per square foot |
| Professional Install Costs | Around $5 and $8 per square foot | Around $4 and $7 per square foot |
| Refinishing | Able to refinish it | Able to refinish it with care if you sand it |
| Waterproof | No. Can stain, mould, warp or have mildew growth | No. Naturally resistant to mildew and mould. Slightly more waterproof than hardwood |
Care/Maintenance
- Bamboo – You can use a dust mop, broom or vacuum to pick up any debris. There is a bamboo-specific cleaner you can use to restore shine. Don’t use wax-based products or waxes to try and bring your bamboo flooring back because it’ll soak in.
- Hardwood – You can use a dust mop, broom or vacuum to pick up any debris as long as the vacuum is for hard flooring to prevent scratches. Use a spray product with a microfibre cloth to add shine back to the floor, and you can wax it if you’d like.
- Winner – Hardwood because bamboo is more difficult to maintain.
Durability
- Bamboo – Bamboo is harder than a lot of traditional hardwood flooring. However, lighter bamboo flooring isn’t as durable as darker options due to a carbonisation process that weakens it.
- Hardwood – The Janka Hardness Scale will set the standard for your flooring’s durability. Harder options that are less prone to scratching include Brazilian Walnut, Brazilian Cherry and Ebony. Hardwood is more prone to scratching and a softer option that isn’t as durable against kids and pets.
- Winner – Bamboo because it is harder than most hardwoods.
- Winner – Bamboo because it is harder than most hardwoods.
Installation
- Bamboo – You can float, nail down or glue down bamboo flooring. You’ll have to cut and measure the bamboo planks to fit your area, and you’ll need a tape measure, mallet and power saws.
- Hardwood – You nail down hardwood flooring. You’ll have to cut and measure the hardwood before nailing it down. To install it yourself, you’ll need a nail gun, hammer, crowbar, mallet and other tools.
- Winner – Bamboo because it’s easier and less time-consuming to install.
Price
- Bamboo – Bamboo averages between $5 and $7 per square foot to buy it. To have it installed professionally, you should expect to pay between $4 and $7 for every square foot.
- Hardwood – Hardwood averages between $3 and $`0 per square foot to buy it. To have it installed professionally, you should expect to pay between $5 and $8 per square foot.
- Winner – Bamboo because it’s usually the more cost-effective choice out of the two.
So, looking at the chart and the breakdown of the most important features, is bamboo flooring better than hardwood? They’re both very durable options. People who want an easier installation with a more affordable choice should go with bamboo.
People who want a floor that can last for 100 years, is easier to refinish and has dozens of colours and styles available should go with hardwood.