Bamboo Glossary

A

“A” Grade Bamboo

This is bamboo has been allowed to fully mature before being harvested. This process takes from
five to seven years and allows the harvested bamboo to obtain persistent coloring, and helps build a stronger
resistance to mold and fungi growth. This kind of bamboo flooring has a higher milling standards and less color
variation than “B” grade bamboo and it usually has more coats of finish.

Aluminum Oxide

This substance is an amphoteric oxide of aluminum. Aluminum oxide is used to finish flooring because of its strength. It also serves as a
hard protective coating for many types of bamboo and hardwoods.

B

“B” Grade Bamboo

This is bamboo that has not been allowed to fully mature before being harvested. “B” grade bamboo is harvested before five to seven years of growth. This causes an inconsistent coloring and lesser resistance to mold and fungi growth. It may also use finishes with higher VOCs than “A” grade. Furthermore, it is considered to be weaker than “A” grade but is no less resistant to scratches and dents. “B” grade will have more color variation and poorer millings standards than “A” grade.

Blind Nailing

This points out the process of forcing nails into the grooves of tongue and groove flooring planks. The nail is put in at a 45 degree angle and made flush by using an electric flooring hammer because most types of wood flooring, including bamboo, are too hard to be nailed together by hand.

C

Carbonized Bamboo

This refers to bamboo boiled long enough to allow the plant sugars to caramelize. This finalizes with a darker color. Furthermore, carbonized bamboo is softer than the regular one.

D

Direct Print Bamboo

This refers to bamboo printed with the pattern of another wood grain (for example oak or cherry before being pressed together and sealed). This allows homeowners to have the look of a hardwood, with the benefits of eco-friendly bamboo.

E

Edge gaps

This refers to the distance to the wall, which has to be noticed when laying wood flooring which allows the floor to contract or extract when climatic changes occur. The edge gaps should be minimum 8 mm which should also be observed when heating pipes, door frames, or pillars etc. are involved.

Edge Type

Those refer to the edge of the sides of the strips or planks. While square edge has squared edges, beveled and micro-beveled edges, also known as eased edge present a slight angle on the top edge of the planks. Furthermore, keep in mind that the beveled edge hides sub-flooring imperfections.

Emission classification

This is a very often used term in product information. E1 means that the formaldehyde emission limit decreed by law of 0.1 ppm (= 0.12 mg/m3 air) is detected.

Engineered Bamboo

This is a composite flooring created of bamboo and layers of plywood. Engineered bamboo offers more moisture resistance and is less likely to cup.

Environmentally friendliness

This refers to the factors about bamboo (or other products) that are friendly on the environment. When talking about bamboo, this is a very environmentally friendly product since it does not place strain on the environment to process,
regrows quickly, does not need to be replanted and does not harm a food source for wildlife.

F

Face Nail

This refers to a nailing process which secures flooring to the sub-flooring by using perpendicular nails to the surface of the floor.

G

Glueless Click-Lock

This refers to a very easy DIY installation of bamboo flooring. There is no glue required to install the bamboo. The planks “click” and “lock” into place.

Grain

Grain refers to the alignment of the fibers in the grass. This designates the pattern seen on the flooring. The grains from the bamboo are much lighter than those found in hardwood. They can be horizontal, vertical or strand-woven.

H

Hand Scraped Bamboo

This phase refers to scraped by hand bamboo. No machine to give the flooring an antique/distressed look is required.

Hardness

Hardness refers to the durability of the bamboo material based on the
scale named Janka. This interprets the amount of force it takes to drive a .444 inch steel ball into a plank of wood .222 inches in diameter.

Horizontal Bamboo

This refers to the way in which bamboo strips are laminated together. In the horizontal style, the strips are laid flat. this means top surface shows the bamboo’s natural growth rings or knuckles.

I

Inflammability classification

This scale refers to the likelihood that the flooring will not burn. Bamboo falls into class 1, with a low inflammability, according to American ASTM E648.

Installation Methods

This refer to the mechanisms used when installing bamboo floors. There are two main methods: the nail down/glue down and the floating method. The first method requires the bamboo to be nailed or glued to sub-flooring while the floating method means the floor is not attached to the sub-floor. Instead it “floats” above the sub-floor. Floating installations can also be glueless-click, this meaning that the flooring planks snap together without the need for adhesive. Glue-seam floated floors need the adhesive be applied to the seam of the planks before joining them together.

K

Knuckles

Term used to describe the joints of the bamboo stem.

M

Mixed Grade

Mixed grade refers to bamboo flooring comprised of both “A” and “B” grade bamboo.

Moso

Moso is a species of bamboo plant harvested for making bamboo flooring. It is a very environmental friendly choice since it is not eaten by pandas or other animals.

R

Radiant Heat

This is a type of heating system built directly under the floor or into the floor itself.

Resistance to staining

This refers to the likelihood the bamboo will stain from spills.

S

Scratch resistance

This scale allows the understanding on how the bamboo flooring will behave, when scratched. The quality criterion is derived from scratching the flooring with a diamond tipped equipment.

Solid Bamboo

Solid bamboo is made solely from bamboo strands, and not engineered with other products. It can be horizontal, vertical or strand-woven.

Stained Bamboo

This refers to bamboo colored with a wood stain. It is available in light, medium, and dark shades to fit any décor.

Strand Woven Bamboo

This refers to flooring made from the shredded fiber strands of bamboo which are mixed with an adhesive and pressed together afterwards. The purpose is to leading to even a more stable bamboo flooring.

T

Thickness

This scale refers to how thick the planks of bamboo flooring are. The standard thickness for horizontal and vertical bamboo is 5/8″ and the standard thickness for strand-woven is ½”.

Tiger Strand Bamboo

Tiger strand bamboo refers to a strand woven bamboo which is made from a mixture of natural and carbonized strips with the purpose of looking like tiger stripes.

Tongue and Groove

This is the profile construction milled to the sides of the panel allowing them to be pushed together. The connection of tongue and groove is responsible for stable floor construction. Furthermore, it protects the floor from moisture.

U

Underlayment

This is the thin layer of material found between the sub-flooring and main flooring. In carpet, it refers to foam. The material can be sponge rubber, crumb rubber, or foam. A plastic sheet needs to be added if the sub-floor is concrete. It acts as a moisture barrier for the bamboo. Furthermore, it helps to prevent water from getting on the flooring.

V

Vertical Bamboo

Vertical bamboo refers to the way bamboo strips are laminated together. In the vertical style, the strips are turned on their sides and laminated together in long slender rows. This creates a smooth appearance.

W

Walking-noise insulation

Underlay such as polyethylene foam, PU-foam, corrugated boards, or foam felt are reducing walking noises.

Wide Plank Bamboo

Wide plank bamboo refer to planks that are cut wider than the standard plank, usually 5″ or more wide.