If you’re facing a dilemma over engineered bamboo flooring or engineered oak, the good news is; you’re not alone. Many people are attracted to bamboo as an alternative to oak, however, this choice isn’t for everyone. In this article we’ll explain exactly what bamboo engineered flooring is, we’ll touch on what engineered oak flooring is (for anyone who isn’t familiar with the terminology) and we’ll look at the pros and cons of each. However, before doing that, it’s probably best that we clarify one important thing.
And that important thing is that bamboo isn’t technically a wood at all. As any purist will point out when speaking about bamboo, strictly speaking it’s a grass and not a wood at all. Thanks to its strength and size, we often forget this, but it is an important point to bear in mind.
What is engineered bamboo flooring?
Engineered bamboo flooring is constructed in much the same way as engineered oak being made up of layers and layers that are glued together to make a solid core, which is then topped off with a layer of bamboo. The thing about bamboo is that it is much narrower than oak and as such calls for the bamboo to be bonded either side by side or vertically to make the top layer. This tends to result in a wood floor that has more of a patchwork feel to it than a plank feel. Like engineered oak flooring, engineered bamboo flooring is suitable for pretty much every room in the home.
What is engineered oak flooring?
Engineered oak flooring, as any regular reader of this blog will know is made up of layers and layers of ply that are bonded together to make a strong and stable core board. On top of this core board you’ll find a layer of solid oak. It is this construction that makes engineered oak flooring so versatile. Because the core board is made of different layers, it doesn’t expand and contract to the same extent as solid wood. This means that this option can be used pretty much throughout the whole home too, as well as being suited (with the right thickness) for installation over under floor heating.
What are the advantages of bamboo over oak?
It’s fast growing; so it’s eco friendly
Lots of people today are quite rightly concerned about how things are made and how damaging raw materials may be to the environment. From this point of view, because bamboo grows really fast, you can be confident that you’re choosing an eco friendly option.
It has a similar Janka rating
Although bamboo has a similar Janka rating to both red and white oak, most experts agree that the way bamboo is treated and the way bamboo flooring is constructed generally makes it less durable in the long run.
It has an interesting patchwork look
Like oak, bamboo is cut into thin strips to make engineered bamboo flooring, the diameter of the bamboo plant means that to make broad boards calls for the bonding of thin strips of bamboo side by side or horizontally in discs. As you can imagine, oak trees grow to an immense size and can produce wide boards with only one single piece of wood. Many people find the patchwork look of bamboo engineered flooring interesting, but some don’t – it’s all down to personal preference. So it’s important for you to take a close look at both options and decide which you prefer.
It’s cheaper
Although both bamboo and oak engineered flooring have cheap and expensive options available on the market, the general trend is that bamboo is cheaper.
What are the disadvantages?
The way it’s treated makes it less durable
As we mentioned above, although bamboo has the same technical strength as oak when it starts out its journey, the treatment required to make it suitable for the manufacture of flooring renders it less durable.
The natural colour choices aren’t as broad
In its natural state, the colour of bamboo is very like beech. In order to give consumers a choice, it is often darkened using a heating process called carbonizing. If you are looking for a dark flooring option, it’s worth bearing in mind that the carbonization process used to make bamboo dark softens it, which isn’t ideal when it comes to flooring.
Its patchwork look isn’t to everyone’s taste
As already stated, the construction of bamboo engineered wood flooring means that the end product has a ‘patchwork’ effect. Like it or not is up to you, but it’s worth being aware of.
It’s not as resistant to denting, scratching, warping or cupping
And finally, there’s no getting away from the fact that the hardness and the stability of oak is significantly greater than bamboo. When it comes to denting and scratching as well as warping and cupping, oak beats bamboo pretty much hands down.
Engineered bamboo vs engineered oak ‘at a glance’
| Bamboo | Oak | |
| Eco-friendly? | Extremely | Can be – choose carefully |
| Strength | Good | Excellent |
| Look | Highly varied surface | Surface can be highly regular |
| Price | Very low to high | Low to high |
| Natural colour | Limited | Varied |
| Durability | Medium | High |
We hope this article has helped you make a decision between bamboo and oak engineered flooring, but if you’d like more help to make your final choice, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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FAQ
What is Engineered Bamboo Flooring?
Engineered bamboo flooring is made up of layers glued together to make a solid core, which is then topped off with a layer of bamboo. Unlike oak, bamboo is much narrower and needs to be bonded either side by side or vertically to make the top layer, which gives it a more of a patchwork look.
How is Engineered Oak Flooring Constructed?
Engineered oak flooring consists of layers of ply that are bonded together to make a strong and stable core board. On top of this core board, there is a layer of solid oak. This construction prevents the flooring from expanding and contracting to the same extent as solid wood, making it versatile and suitable for any room in the house.
What are the Advantages of Bamboo Over Oak?
Bamboo is an eco-friendly option as it grows rapidly. It has a similar Janka rating to oak, and it has an interesting patchwork look. Generally, bamboo flooring is cheaper than oak flooring.
What are the Disadvantages of Bamboo Flooring?
While bamboo has the same technical strength as oak initially, the treatment required to make it suitable for flooring tends to make it less durable. Also, the natural colour choices aren’t as broad, and some people might not prefer its patchwork look. Furthermore, it’s not as resistant to denting, scratching, warping, or cupping as oak.
Can Bamboo Flooring be an Eco-Friendly Option?
Yes, since bamboo grows faster than oak, choosing bamboo flooring can be an eco-friendly option.