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Bamboo flooring provides an excellent alternative to traditional hardwood flooring.  Growing in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has many features that make it stand out when compared to hardwood.  Although harvested mostly in China, bamboo flooring is now widely available in North America and Europe.  Many of those that adopted bamboo flooring early on point out its environmental friendliness.  The bamboo plant regrows within a few seasons and can be harvested repeatedly without permanent damage.  In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows much quicker than any tree.  When done responsibly, bamboo plant harvesting can be accomplished in a environmentally friendly manner.

How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods?  High quality bamboo flooring provides a tougher surface than even the rarest and most expensive hardwoods.  Moisture does not affect bamboo in the way that hardwood suffers from water damage.  Where traditional hardwood may buckle and crack due to water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem.  Bamboo flooring is engineered like a laminate and treated under extremely high pressure with a high quality adhesive.  This makes bamboo flooring extremely hardy and resistant to abrasion, where a hardwood floor would end up showing scratches.  Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past few years as well.

Best of all, bamboo flooring is easy enough to lay down without any professional help.  Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is produced with a tongue and groove construction, making them considerably easier to install.  Before installing a bamboo floor, let the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours.  Although bamboo flooring is very resistant to moisture, they do need some time to adjust to their new climate before installation.

What should be done to maintain a bamboo floor?  Upkeep requirements are fairly easy for bamboo flooring.  Be sure to clean the floor after installing it, using a mop with only a little bit of water.  Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation.  This will prevent dust and dirt from collecting on the finish.  A mat should be placed at the entrance to prevent dust and dirt from coming into the room.  Dirt and small rocks will end up damaging the finish, and a mat can do a great deal to prevent this problem.

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Although carpet and hardwood are great options in many areas of the home, they are sometimes inadequate.  Certain areas of the home like the kitchen, or garage, frequently demand a greater level of durability and resilience.  Carpet is susceptible to dirt and stains, producing a dingy looking surface that may also attract odors.  Hardwood offers a tougher surface than carpet, but it also suffers from problems with moisture.  A damp hardwood gradually warps and cracks.  After many years of expansion and contraction, moisture damage can really degrade the appearance of a hardwood floor.

Places in which water damage and accidents occur can cause scratching or gouging in the flooring as well.  Laminate flooring is a wonderful solution for water damage and durability issues.  With a laminate floor, designers can have the classic appeal of hardwood if they so desire, while avoiding many of the typical problems.  Laminate flooring is largely impervious to moisture issues and will not absorb water.  Stains are not an issue, and with prompt clean up, should not leave a mark at all.
Best of all, laminate flooring is very affordable, and can be found in a large selection of shades, colors, and styles. 

Laying down laminate flooring is also relatively simple.  As soon as a set of tiles can be unwrapped, check each to make sure there are no broken tiles.  Once sure that all the tiles are in good condition, give the tiles a few days to acclimate to their new atmosphere.  There may be some contraction or expansion involved when the laminate flooring tiles change environment. 

Be sure to follow all manufacturer guidelines that are included with the tile product.  Specific instructions on how to glue the tiles are very important, and can affect the overall performance of the tile.  It is also important to ensure that the tiles are placed with a quarter of an inch space between the wall and the flooring.  Although an extensive set of tools is not needed for in home installation, you may need something to cut the tile around corners, fireplaces, stairs, etc.  A wet tile saw would provide all the cutting power needed for laminate flooring.

Having a level surface for laying down tiles is also important.  Be certain to fill any holes in the subflooring, or sand away any protruding areas that might stick up afterward.