What Is Handscraped Bamboo?

Bamboo Flooring

• Bamboo floors are made from the canes or stems of the plant. It takes between three and five years for the canes to grow large enough for harvest. They are then cut, boiled, glued together to make boards and milled. The process also includes a preservative treatment which is soaked into the wood. The most common species of bamboo for flooring is Phyllostachys pubescens, which matures in three years. China is the largest manufacturer of bamboo flooring.

Handscraped Versus Distressed

• Handscraped flooring has the differences and discrepancies found in anything done by the human hand. Distressed flooring has regular scrape marks due to the mechanical tools that created the appearance. Handscraped flooring takes longer to make than distressed and costs more. The texturizing can be done when the floor is already laid or it can come already impressed on the boards. The finish is important to preserve the carefully applied markings. Often up to seven coats of a diamond finish are applied to protect the texture.

Finished Appearance

• A stain or finish applied to handscraped wood highlights the marks. Darker floors show the texture more than a natural stain. The finish pools in the cuts and scrapes made in the bamboo and deepens those marks making them more obvious. The most expensive handscraped floor finish is called hand rubbed. These floors are finished by hand on site, as opposed to being factory dipped. The process brings out the richness of the bamboo and leaves a burnished sheen.

Installation Options

• Bamboo is a durable flooring that is ideal for many home designs. It can be installed as a tongue-and-groove planking system, which is how many hardwoods are laid. This is also called glue-click and requires no hardware to connect the pieces. It can also be nailed or glued into place. Bamboo is also appropriate for a floating method over cushioning tiles. This method helps prevent warping due to imperfections in the sub-floor and squeaks that often occur with wood flooring.