Eucalyptus/Bamboo Flooring

Thanks in advance for any responce you guys can give.

I am remodeling my kitchen (only about 200sqft) in a couple months and am trying to do my homework on flooring. I would like to do something that is environmentally friendly ie eucaplyptus or bamboo. However there is a lot of conflicting information on bamboo. I also know that wood is not necessarily the best choice for kitchens but I really hate how cold tile gets in the winter.

I have been looking at woven strand bamboo since I hear that it is much harder than the horizontal and vertical types. The bamboo I have been looking at is here:

Board Dimensions: 72" x 5a 1/2" x 9/16"
3/16" (4mm) Strand Woven Wear Layer
Nail, float, or glue
Micro-bevel edge
Multi-Layer Birch Core with Poplar Backing

I have also been looking at eucalyptus

Does anyone have any experience with either the wood or the finish? This has been one of the few places I have been able to find hardwood eucalyptus. I have been having trouble finding a source for Eucalyptus hardwoods in my area (southeastearn Va). If anyone knows of another, the info would be greatly appreciated.

Again thanks for any info. I will check back shortly to post any info as needed.

[Peter Kodner]

This is as good a place as any to address the Green" aspect of wood & Bamboo. There are numerous domestic wood flooring options where the lumber is harvested form managed forestry practices. LEED Certification are on these products. Bamboo, which is grass, is only harvested on a shorter cycle (should be about 8 years) and is no more or less environmentally friendly than wood. If you factor in the footprint from the means of harvests (China or third world countries) with the utter disregard for impact coupled with the carbon footprint for transportation, domestic wood makes far better environmental sense than many so called "green" products.

I am not even addressing the quality control concerns or the questionable materials used for binders and adhesives many imports use. Factor this in and it is a no brainer to me to use products gown and milled here in the good old USA.

FYI: I am an avowed liberal committed to being as green as I can. I read significant information and participate in seminars on this topic and how it relates to flooring and other aspects of the construction industry. I never cease to be amazed at the marketing hype used by some manufacturers to embellish their Green creds at the expense of many other products that fully comply with or exceed the goal.

Linoleum, is a good point. Ever wonder why it is not manufactured domestically? Let's get a few responses before I share what I have been told.

[rgfloor]

Peter Kodner said Linoleum, is a good point. Ever wonder why it is not manufactured domestically? Let's get a few responses before I share what I have been told.

I have been told the equipment is too expensive and can not be made to operate within environmental regulations.

[Barry Carlton]

I was told (at the Forbo school) that it is so toxic to manufacture it cannot be made in the US

Peter Kodner said Linoleum, is a good point. Ever wonder why it is not manufactured domestically? Let's get a few responses before I share what I have been told.

Can we please keep this on topic? I dont care about linoleum, and I am well versed on the environmentally friendliness of bamboo and eucalyptus. I was looking for recommendations on where to buy and if anyone had used these products?

Not sure where your ideas of linoleum came from but it couldnt be farther from what i was asking about.

[Barry Carlton]

I think we thought that since you were presenting 'green' products that you were open to other green ideas. We need to emphasized that grass and wood do not react identically. Not knowing what your atmospheric living conditions are, it may be difficult to address your needs.

[Peter Kodner]

With all due respect, it came from your original post:

I would like to do something that is environmentally friendly

Not to appear unfriendly, but it would seem your interest isn't as you posted or am I mistaken? How are you able to classify Australian Cypress as green to the apparent exclusion of managed forestry lumber from this country? Do you have an agenda I am missing here?

If you have already made a decision on the product, why throw that "green" red herring in? The memebrs here use this board to inform as many as possible and your post brought up a very salient issue about what is green. This is very in line with our efforts to dispel erroneous information about flooring that is far too prevalent.

[Jerry Thomas]

From what I have gleaned, Bamboo "as a whole" is over rated concerning the hardness issue. I have been told that bamboo stalks are used for Janka testing ... not the part the flooring mainly consists of.

I can't swear 100% that is true but my sources are usually reliable . I should add that I have never personally installed any bamboo .... people around here just have no interest in it.

[steve h]

Peter you're correct in your opinion and knowledge of bamboo floor has been a green product. What makes the manufacturers try to tell us that it's green is because it is a renewable product in a short period of time other than that it is not green. I personally have not seen woven bamboo. I need to do some reading on that. But as far as vertical and horizontal high have installed thousands of feet. A kitchen is problematic, because the possibility of water spillage, dishwasher leak, icemaker leak and a whole host of things. The other thing density tests of bamboo shows that it is dense but Maple does the same thing. And they have a lot of soft wood on the surface that you walk on that scratches very easily. As long as you understand all that up front that your floor in a qualified installer and happy floors.

HAVE A GREAT DAY

[Peter Kodner]

Bamboo does not grow in a size that allows the specimen size requirement to be met.