For those who haven’t given a thought to a new form of flooring and feared that bamboo would not prove to be a viable option, it’s time to rethink. A very important decision that most homeowners are unable to make is the perfect material that should go for the decking part. Taking into consideration the footfall and activity that decking takes in, choosing a material that is not only durable but also help withstand the natural effects is a primary lookout.

The concept of bamboo decking

Even now wood decking gets the maximum number of votes for the popularity it enjoys, but this can’t be denied either that bamboo decking is coming of age and is currently the second popular non wood decking item in US.

Generally the first few thoughts that anybody would have are:

- What exactly is bamboo decking?
- What is its durability?
- What about the climatic effect?

The list of positives for bamboo is fairly long. And things have changed so much in the last five years that most bamboo manufacturers also stress about maximizing the benefits that this type of decking has.

Durability of bamboo decking

A sharp contrast to what many think, the durability of bamboo is far better than many other products. Sometimes hardwood falls short of its capacity in terms of stability and strength.  No wonder, most Asians choose this as the ‘staple building materials’ and has occupied a pivotal spot in major construction projects.

A fairly new process called ‘strand woven bamboo’ is making its presence felt among the flooring and modern decking.  This is not to say that the non strand versions are disappearing from the scene, but strand variety has a number of benefits too. As a matter of fact, strand woven bamboo renders greater strength to this plant. So, when it becomes moistened, it can be pulled into long fibers. After that, it’s treated and an adhesive is applied to it. Later, the strands are put into planks (only after hardening of the adhesive) that offer extra durability.

There’s a certain measure called the Janka hardness scale that gauges the level of toughness of different materials. Most designers and engineers use this rating for bamboo too so as to get a proper idea about the density and durability of the product.

Benefits

The best things that one can derive while opting for bamboo decking are as follows:

- Highly dense strands
- Sealed and easy staining
- High resistance from insects and decay
- Very clear grain
- Good stability when manufactured in the proper way
- Availability in aplenty- every 3-5 years against 15-50 years for wood varieties
- Absorption rate of carbon dioxide gas is no less than 4-5 times than that of hardwood

With all these and more, it’s imperative that there waste generation will be lesser and installations much faster and same as regular flooring.

Maintaining the decking

No matter how great the look and feel of bamboo is, there is a certain amount of maintenance that bamboo decking requires. Obviously it’s greater than that of hardwood, but it’s worth the effort given.

There are two vital options when it comes to the protection and maintenance of bamboo decking- staining and sealing.
The natural appeal of bamboo is splendid, so it becomes mandatory to seal it using a clear sealant. However, the effect is short-lived. Bamboo’s sheen fades with times, regardless of the quantity and frequency with which the sealant is applied. As a result, a number of homeowners opt for a pigmented stain, which contains certain particles that reflect UV light to maintain bamboo’s color. Buyers will be delighted to know that a variety of transparency is available with regard to pigmented stains. For example- few changes the color slightly, while there are some that resembles paint in the amount that the color changes.

However, treatments must be done every few years like wood to retain that sheen and shine. In case, someone seeks for an alternative, composite bamboo decking is a good option. It looks similar to strand woven bamboo, but there is a greater amount of recycled materials that gets added to it.

While there’s no doubt that the process of bamboo decking is a tad expensive, but the benefits of strand woven bamboo far exceeds than that of the unwoven look.