Bamboo or Laminate flooring? Which one is the Right Option?

Laminate Wood Flooring

Flooring is an essential component that sets the tone for the entire living space. However, with so many possibilities available, selecting the correct material can be difficult.

If you are unsure which flooring is best for your home, worry not. We can help by providing thorough information about two of the most demanding floorings:

  • Bamboo Flooring
  • Laminate Flooring

Once you have details of both the floorings including pros and cons, you will be able to make a better decision.

So, let's dive into the information.

Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo is a versatile and renewable source which was earlier popular in Asian countries, but now the Western countries have also started realising its benefits.

Though bamboo is a type of grass but is strong enough to use as flooring.

Let’s understand the other aspect of the bamboo flooring by understanding its benefits and disadvantages:

Pros

  • Affordable: One of the major benefits of bamboo flooring is affordability. It 's less expensive when compared to hardwood but equally appealing in appearance.
  • Durable: Bamboo is alluring, strong, and durable. This long-lasting material can last for years (10- 25 years).
  • Gorgeous Designs: Natural colours of bamboo flooring offer a wide range of dramatic shades to suit your style and taste preferences.
  • Strong: Furthermore, bamboo flooring boasts resistance to hard abrasions, making it suitable for installation in high-traffic areas throughout your home.
  • Sustainable Resource: As we are all aware, our natural resources are reducing day by day, and in such a situation, people who are aware prefer to use renewable resources. Bamboo is a species of giant grass that grows back in only 4 – 7 years on average. As a result, they are more sustainable than hardwood floors.

Now that we are aware of the advantages of the bamboo flooring installation, we should not forget to get details of its demerits. Because there is no material which comes without any cons, so let’s learn about its disadvantages.

Cons

  • Susceptibility to Moisture: Australia's diverse climate, with pockets of high humidity and extreme temperature fluctuations, can be challenging for bamboo flooring. Excessive moisture can cause the planks to warp, swell, or even crack. This is particularly true in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries.
  • Prone to Scratches and Dents: Bamboo, while relatively hard, isn't as scratch-resistant as some other flooring options.

Laminate Flooring

When it comes to choosing flooring in Australia, laminate flooring has top the competition. The demand for this flooring is on a constant rise.

The reasons behind its popularity are quite obvious: Durability, affordability and aesthetics.

Pros

  • Premium Quality: Laminate flooring, being synthetic, has amazing quality and beauty, especially in higher-priced materials. Its range spans from budget-friendly to expensive options, catering to various budgets.
  • Moisture Resilience: Laminate exhibits exceptional resistance to moisture and stains, along with robust abrasion resistance, requiring minimal upkeep.
  • Comfortable Underfoot: Premium laminate floors offer a comfortable walking experience akin to bamboo flooring, ensuring a pleasant feel with every step.
  • Variety of Hues: With laminate flooring, you have access to a diverse array of shades, capable of emulating natural materials across a wide range of design styles and patterns.
  • Durable and Scratch-Resistant: Laminate flooring outshines bamboo in durability, as it typically withstands scratches, fading, warping, and denting with greater resilience.

Cons

  • Limited life span: Laminate flooring has a shorter lifespan than solid food because it is susceptible to moisture.
  • Environment Impact: The production of laminate wood flooring can have significant environmental consequences because the flooring is non-biodegradable, which means it will not degrade naturally in a landfill. This could exacerbate the growing difficulties of waste management and environmental contamination.

Summary:

Now that you are aware of the pros and cons of both floorings, you can weigh them and decide which flooring would be perfect for your needs.

Don’t forget to consider the needs and requirements of your home. If you are still not able to come to a conclusion, contact our flooring experts at First Choice Flooring. They will help you find the ideal flooring based on conditions and your budget.