When it comes to beauty and warmth underneath your feet, nothing compares to hardwood floors. However, hardwood floors are not what green building advocates and homeowners would describe as “eco-friendly.” In fact, solid wood can take up to 60 years to harvest, and that’s not the only reason people have stopped buying it.

Hardwood floors are also extremely expensive to install and finish.

So while hardwood floors hold up to their value, they are quickly being replaced by other renewable woods, such as bamboo. Here’s a look at the advantages of installing bamboo flooring in your home or office.

Eco-friendly: While it is not technically wood, bamboo is becoming the next best thing to hardwood floors because it is durable and harder that most hardwoods. When it comes to eco-friendly benefits, bamboo beats most other flooring options. It is in fact a grass that takes only 59 days to replace. As a renewable energy source, bamboo – including strand woven bamboo — reduces carbon dioxide gas, acts as a water barrier, and restores degraded lands.

More Affordable: When the time comes to purchase bamboo flooring, homeowners will be pleased with the prices.

Bamboo is 10 percent to 50 percent less expensive than other hardwoods. Not only is the price to buy bamboo flooring cheaper than hardwood floors, but so is the price to install and maintain the wood. What’s more, bamboo flooring can be installed over several types of subflooring, including concrete.
Easy to Clean: When comparing bamboo flooring pros and cons, another advantage that makes it a better flooring option than hardwood floors is that it is easy to clean. In fact, bamboo flooring is moisture and stain resistant.

Stylish Flooring: Finally, bamboo floors are extremely chic. Homeowners have many choices when it comes to selecting floors, including a wide range of hues, finishes and construction processes. Popular hues include natural, rustic and cinnamon.