Can I Heat Bamboo Floors?

bamboofloorheatBamboo flooring materials have become quite popular in recent years. This trendy floor covering is similar in many ways to hardwood, but is actually a grass with its own unique look and care requirements.

Bamboo’s popularity is due in part to the increased emphasis on using renewable and natural products in construction. Bamboo is notably more renewable than hardwood, as new growth matures and can be harvested in just 3-5 years. It typically is heavily processed to create a variety of bamboo flooring products.

As a floor covering, bamboo is quite similar to hardwood. Strand woven or natural planks are fairly strong and durable. It is important to note that bamboo is naturally fairly lightly colored. Darker shades of bamboo flooring are achieved through a carbonization process which typically softens the material a bit.

So, can you heat bamboo floors? The answer is a firm “it depends”. Much like hardwood floors, some types of bamboo flooring pair excellently with in floor radiant heat. Manufacturers typically provide guidelines on using their product with heated floors.

When installing a heated floor system with bamboo floor coverings, the same care should be taken as with hardwood. Proper installation of the system and the flooring surface, along with proper acclimation of the floor and startup of the radiant heat will yield the best results. Electric radiant heat can be paired with in floor sensors for precise control and monitoring of the floor temperature.

For more information the options for heating bamboo and hardwood floors, check out the hardwood flooring area of our site.

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