Bamboo Flooring Cost for Flooring DIY at Home

Bamboo offers many advantages and disadvantages as hardwood floors as a flooring material. Bamboo is a beautiful natural material that increases the value of a home. However, bamboo can be scraped, and it is susceptible to breaking in humid environments. Bamboo flooring cost about $6,000 on average, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $15,000.

What is Bamboo Flooring?

Bamboo is a grass that is extensively processed to generate flooring and other home improvement items, although it is commonly referred to as hardwood floors. All bamboo floors are engineered. First, the grass strands are sliced and shredded before being put back together using heat and glues to make the flooring boards.

The types of solid bamboo flooring include vertical bamboo planks that have a striped appearance. The "knuckles" in the grain pattern often associated with bamboo flooring are seen in horizontal bamboo flooring. The hardest and most expensive type of bamboo flooring is woven strand bamboo planks, which interlocks the grass strands together.

Bamboo can be "carbonized" to darken the surface because it is naturally light in color. In addition, carbonized bamboo flooring is softer than bamboo flooring that has been left untreated. Bamboo flooring costs between $5 and $8 per square foot, comparable to other hardwood flooring options.

Bamboo flooring is attached to the subfloor by gluing or nailing. It costs $3 to $5 per square foot to hire a professional installer. However, when it comes to the benefits and drawbacks of bamboo flooring, there is some debate over whether it is a sustainable material.

On the one hand, it's a fast-growing plant with a large supply, making it a rapidly renewing resource. Bamboo also relieves strain on other wood species, particularly exotics. On the negative, the most bamboo floor is manufactured in countries where quality control is lax.

As a result, some brands contain VOC-emitting adhesives and formaldehyde. In addition, most bamboo flooring is imported from other countries. The expense of shipping adds to the material's carbon footprint and price. If you're concerned, check for a bamboo floor from companies that have received Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for their harvesting and production procedures.

Pros

High-quality bamboo flooring is just as durable as hardwood flooring.

Bamboo flooring has a clean, contemporary style that is ideal for folks who appreciate modern décor.
Bamboo flooring that is properly treated is easy to clean with a mop and light soap.
Bamboo floors are refinished depending on the plank thickness.

Bamboo flooring, unlike carpet or tile, requires little maintenance.
DIY-friendly laminated bamboo floors have a top layer attached to numerous sub-layers.
Bamboo is a renewable resource with a small carbon footprint.

Bamboo floor is less expensive than hardwood alternatives and can look just as excellent.
Some bamboo flooring is resurfaced up to four times due to its toughness.
The most durable bamboo flooring option is strand woven bamboo.

Prefinished bamboo floors are available. They're ready to use once they've been installed. There is no need for sanding, staining, or coating.
Bamboo floors are available in a range of styles. Carbonized bamboo changes color without the use of dyes or chemical treatments.
Bamboo flooring is made from fast-growing, renewable grass.

Because bamboo does not collect dust or mites, it is an excellent choice for allergy patients.
Bamboo flooring absorbs moisture and holds it on the top surface, making it easy to wipe away.
Most bamboo flooring is restored by sanding off the top layer and putting a fresh coat of stain or sealer.

Cons

Bamboo is often regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly flooring options. However, some companies use manufacturing procedures that reduce the material's environmental friendliness.
The same heat that darkens the bamboo also softens it by up to 20%. The carbonization process, which gives the bamboo its color, also weakens the fibers.
Bamboo planks are made up of sliced and shredded bamboo stalks that are put together using a resin adhesive and high-pressure heating.

Most bamboo planks contain volatile organic compounds, often known as VOCs, which can cause VOC emissions.
Only a few tonal hues of bamboo flooring are available.
Bamboo's modern appearance does not go with every kind of decor.

Bamboo grass absorbs a lot of water and is prone to water and humidity damage.
Low-cost bamboo flooring is prone to scratches and dents.

How to Install Bamboo Flooring

Installation costs may include removing existing floors, particularly if the home already has hardwood or tile floors, and prepping the subfloor for the bamboo installation. If the old subfloor needs to be repaired or replaced, the cost of installing a bamboo floor can skyrocket.

Hardwood floor repair expenses range from $450 to $1500. The cost of repairing joists ranges from $40 to $60 per square foot. The cost of repairing a subfloor is between $500 and $720. Installers must remove all molding, trim, and baseboards before installing flooring, which takes time.

Underneath the bamboo flooring, some homeowners prefer to place vapor barriers or foam underlays. On average, underlayment costs $2 to $4 per square foot, including installation. You can also stain your bamboo to fit the color scheme of your home.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

1. What is the Difference Between Hardwood and Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo and hardwood flooring have comparable properties and pricing. However, deciding between the two is difficult. Bamboo is normally lighter in color than most hardwoods, while darker varieties that have been "carbonized" are available.

Bamboo also offers a more consistent texture and grain than hardwood, with a unique grain pattern on each board. In addition, bamboo is plucked from living shoots that can renew. Thus, it is a more sustainable resource.

Bamboo flooring is made without cutting down any trees. These two flooring materials have a lot in common. They both need to be sealed against water, they both scratch easily, and they are both considered luxury natural flooring choices that will add value to your property.

2. What is the Price of Bamboo Flooring?

Bamboo flooring prices are $5 to $8 per square foot, comparable to standard hardwood floorings such as oak and maple. Cheaper bamboo flooring cost options contain glues that produce dangerous VOCs. Seek goods that are guaranteed to emit no or extremely low amounts of VOCs and have been verified by the Forest Stewardship Council as responsibly harvested (FSC).

If you want a professional to conduct the installation, add $3 to $5 per square foot for labor. When purchasing bamboo flooring, take accurate room dimensions and order 10% extra than you require to accommodate for wastage.

Materials and labor typically cost between $5 and $15 per square foot on average. A 250-square-foot room costs between $1,250 and $2,500. Bamboo floors can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $20,000 for a 2,500-square-foot home, with the average labor cost at $4 per square foot. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of bamboo to help you understand Bamboo flooring costs.

3. Should I Hire a Professional Installer or DIY the Installation?

You can install any bamboo or hardwood floor. It's usually a low-risk do-it-yourself project. However, there are a few DIY installation errors to avoid, which can cost you as much as or more than hiring a pro. In addition, professionals can do the job with minimal trash, saving you money.

Uneven floors will necessitate removing the flooring and reinstalling the wood. Unfortunately, some DIY installers discover that the room they're working in isn't square. When it comes to aligning grain with the room, knowing where to start makes all the difference.

You might decide that hiring a professional and saving yourself the time and stress of a DIY project is a better option. However, if you plan to do it yourself, get prices and a free consultation from a local floor installation pro.

4. What is the Difference Between Solid bamboo and Engineered Bamboo Flooring?

Solid bamboo planks are installed similarly to solid hardwood boards. Blind-attached tongue-and-groove boards are commonly nailed to the subfloor via the boards' edges. Over an existing concrete floor, solid bamboo planks can also be cemented down. Professionals normally handle the installation of nail-down or glue-down bamboo planks.

Solid bamboo flooring is also available in thinner varieties for use as a floating floor. Floating bamboo flooring sometimes employs a tongue-and-groove method. The boards' edges mechanically connect. The planks could also have a normal tongue-and-groove design, in which the boards' edges are bonded together.

In either case, the entire floor is supported by a thin layer of foam underlayment and has no permanent connection to the subfloor. This approach is more user-friendly for DIYers. It also has the benefit of allowing the floor to expand and contract as humidity levels fluctuate.

Engineered bamboo has a surface veneer that is attached to a plywood or MDF core. The click-lock floating bamboo floors installation method is always used with these items. Engineered bamboo is less expensive than solid bamboo, and most DIYers install it.

Most bamboo floor is prefinished at the factory, but if it isn't, it will need to be treated with urethane following installation. Staining raw bamboo boards before using a urethane sealant is another option.