There are less moisture related complaints with bamboo floors then there are with wood floors. When considering wood flooring for wet areas bamboo flooring in a bathroom or kitchen is a good choice. While moisture related conditions do arise with bamboo flooring, like engineered wood flooring bamboo is more stable than solid wood for over concrete or wet area installations. With bamboo flooring moisture problems are usually a site related condition. Frequently a moisture problem is caused by conditions such as water under the structure, leaking pipe, excessively wet concrete or too much moisture in a buildings structural components at the time the floor is installed. Improper maintenance can also result in the introduction of excess moisture.
The major component in many cleaning chemicals is water. Water can have a detrimental effect on bamboo floors which is a hygroscopic material. When bamboo is exposed to air its tendency is to either dry or gain in moisture. The loss or gain in moisture will continue until the material is in equilibrium with the humidity and air temperature. If too much moisture is gained the bamboo will swell and if too much moisture is lost it will shrink. While bamboo is somewhat more stable then wood in this respect, both are affected.
Bamboo is dimensional stable at its saturation point of about 25–30% moisture content. Below this point it begins to shrink until it reaches 0%. As it starts to gain in moisture it expands until it reaches the saturation point again. Once back at the saturation point of 25-30% it again stabilizes.
When bamboo flooring is manufactured it is kiln dried to an average of 8-10%. Bamboo when made into a floor is dried significantly below the saturation point. Once at this point the flooring is expected to stabilize with the environment in which it is installed. Since the floor still has a natural tendency to gain or loose moisture, it is imperative that the environment be maintained at a suitable level.
Bamboo flooring by its nature has greater dimensional stability and less expansion and contraction than traditional wood floors. This stability is further enhanced by its constructional lay up. In regard to moisture bamboo floors out perform solid wood flooring due to its innate moisture resistance and stability with minimal expansion and contraction.
With engineered flooring the expansion will be significantly less. The reason for this is that alternating layers of the laminate are prepared to run in opposite directions. Since they are not all running in the same direction they have a natural tendency to pull against one another, which helps to maintain stability. While the engineered floor is more stable in this respect, equilibrium moisture content still remains critical. The moisture content of wood and bamboo that is in storage or installed at a point below its fiber saturation point has a natural tendency to fluctuate. This fluctuation is a result of changes in the relative humidity and air temperature within the environment in which the material is stored or installed.
Bamboo flooring and engineered flooring are indeed your better choices for bathrooms, kitchens and over concrete as they are more stable for these areas than a solid wood floor.
About Terry Weinheimer
Hi Terry
i’m in the process of building and i would love to get wooden or bamboo flooring, the most used flooring in my reign are tiles that are placed on to a concrete slab, however, i want to get bamboo flooring and i’m worried because i live the Oman (middle east) and in the summer time out side temperatures can get up to 100 degrees or more! we do have air conditioning in all the rooms however the air is not on all day and night, usually used in the rooms with people are in only!
please advice will bamboo flooring be a good idea? i would hate to spend so much then must change my flooring within couple of years.
looking forward hearing from you
thank you so much
Nadia
My advice would be to acclimated the bamboo flooring for a couple of weeks in the bathroom where you want to install it. Most would say that long is not needed but if it were my house I would do it anyway. Also make sure that your concrete slab is dry per the bamboo manufacturers installation requirements and use whatever vapor barrier they suggest.
Once installed you will want to keep water off the floor for if damage is going to occur it will likely be from water.
I live in Oregon, USA an area with lots of rain and where it does not get real hot. If any of you readers have experience with bamboo and wood floor in areas like the area Nadia lives please share.
Terry
We are wanting to install bamboo flooring in our lake house at Greers Ferry, AR. We need to know when we turn off the ac and or heat when we are not there will it damage the bamboo flooring? If it would, could we install a dehumidifier to keep the flooring from being damaged?
To protect the floor you will need to maintain the temperature and relative humidity in a range that is specified by the manufacturer of the floor you use. If you are in an area with high humidity a dehumidifier will help. For those living in an area with low humidity they will need to add moisture. Once you determine the controls suggested by your flooring manufacturer talk with a heating and air conditioning company to determine what type of system will be best for you.
Thanks for the information.
Hi Terry my son would like to build a bali gazebo and is thinking of using bamboo flooring. Is it suitable as it would get some weather on it. Thanks Vivienne
Vivenne
While the idea of using bamboo sounds like it would make a great looking floor he is likely to be quickly disappointed. Bamboo flooring products are manufactured using lamination processes. When exposed to excessive moisture, problems will generally occur. I would suggest that he use a tile, stone or pressure treated wood.
Terry
Hi Terry,
Do you have any experience with Bamboo flooring over under floor heating. We are putting down a concrete slab and will use heating coils in this to take the chill out of the flooring we use over the top. Just wanted to get an opinion.
Thanks,
Brett
Brett
Many bamboo floors can be installed over under floor heating. You will need to properly regulate the temperature of the floor and the relative humidity. You will also need to carefully follow the bamboo flooring manufactures installation specifications for installation over this type of heat. Make sure that the flooring manufacturer approves their product for installation over this type of flooring before you purchase it. If you have questions on a specific floor give the technical department of that manufacturer a call as most technical departments are happy to answer questions that will help prevent future problems.
Good luck, Terry
Hi Terry
We are tossing up between bamboo or gloss porcelain tiles. What would you choose and why?
We are committed to carpet on the upper level. So we are only considering for the lower level.
Regards
Thomas
Since you posted this question under this article I would imagine your are asking if I would choose a porcelain tile floor or bamboo floor for a bathroom or kitchen!
Porcelain tile flooring and bamboo flooring two very different floor covering products and with them you achieve a very different decorating appearance. The first thing I would ask myself is what is the look that I am trying to achieve? Next I would ask myself if the look I want to achieve can be accomplished with the product that gives me that look? If it does I would go with that product unless the manufacturer states that their product is not suitable for that particular type of installation.
A porcelain tile will hold up better to water than a bamboo floor if you plan on splashing or spilling a lot of water on it. That said, a good quality bamboo flooring product will work out well in a bathroom or kitchen when reasonable precautions are taken and the floor is not abused by such things as allowing your children to use the tub like a play pool and splash water all over the floor.
So I guess my short answer is that I would pick out which ever I liked the look of best, make sure the manufacturer approves it for that use, and install it to the manufacturers specifications including pre testing the concrete slab if it is to be installed over concrete.
Terry