Does Bamboo Floor Shrink Or Expand More Than Wood Flooring

Bamboo in general is slightly more resistant to both moisture and mold than hardwoods.

Does bamboo floor shrink or expand more than wood flooring.

The softest bamboo floors are typically much harder than oak. Although it is commonly grouped with hardwood flooring bamboo is not actually a wood but rather a woody grass. If you re concerned about formaldehyde you should ask that about any building material especially engineered wood floors. In conditions of extremely high or extremely low humidity bamboo flooring is more likely to crack than is hardwood flooring.

Bamboo a native plant to tropical regions with heavy rainfalls grows much faster than hardwood and has a different cellular structure. Engineered bamboo floors are the same and can also be used below grade. If the flooring is installed in a very humid climate the moisture in the air can cause the floor planks to swell and buckle while in a dry environment the planks can shrink. You might think this makes bamboo flooring impervious to water but that s not the case.

This is a natural process for bamboo and wooden flooring and occurs seasonally with temperature and humidity changes. Engineered flooring which is attached to the subfloor. Usually categorized with hardwood bamboo is different enough to make a difference in this area. It is the top non engineered wood ish floor product for dimensional stability.

As bamboo is a natural product it will absorb any humidity in the air and start to expand. The fact is that bamboo is a perfectly serviceable material with the same available finishes as on wood and the same wear guarantees as wood. Which over time could result in shrinkage warping buckling and even cracking.