STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Vanessa · Kate Spade

Bamboo Floors

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Don't know much, but just be aware that sometimes some bamboo floor products are advertised as being "greener" than they really are. I don't know who makes authentic, sustainably harvested/green-ish versions.

We have bamboo cabinets in the kitchen; they're fabulous. Bamboo seems like a really tough material.

Collette · Chanel

We had bamboo floors in a condo in Miami and I have to seriously warn you to never ever wear stilettos shoes on them. They'll leave little divets in the floor. Bamboo is a really soft wood so it will wear quickly.

Elle · Hermes

Some bamboo flooring may be suitable for basements - there are click-together types, nail-down types, glue-down types. Nail-down types obviously wouldn't work, and I'd personally stay away from glue-down types because they're messing and time consuming to install and the glue isn't usually eco-friendly. Click-together types come with a waterproofing/padding roll that's put down underneath - these are also called 'floating' floors. These are by far the easiest to work with because they go down quick and easy (cheaper labor for you!) and can be taken back up again easily if they're ever damaged or need to be replaced.

If you've ever seen Divine Design with Candace Olson on HGTV, she uses a vinyl 'wood' in basements alot that looks fantastic once it's down, and is completely impervious to spills or and moisture that many basements contain. You could totally put it down yourself even.

ETA: Any real wood or engineered (like bamboo) wood floor is going to dent and ding. Laminate floors don't dent or ding, but do scratch more easily if you bring a rock in on your shoe or something, and can't be refinished like real wood and some engineer floors can.

-- Edited by Elle at 14:44, 2009-03-12

Suasoria · Chanel

Another advantage to doing these cosmetic upgrades yourself is that you add instant equity, and hardwood floors will definitely increase the value of the home you end up in.

There are other options in "sustainable" wood floors. 'FSC certified' products mean the Forest Stewardship Council has approved the manufacturer's environmental practices. They might plant x trees for every tree they use, for example, or it's harvested from an approved site that's not ecologically imperiled. Brazilian cherry is often an FSC-certified wood.

Reclaimed wood is another way to go - if you're lucky, someone will tear down a barn, or you can poke around online for places that specialize in salvage of old wood.

Everyone I know who has put hardwood in a kitchen has lived to regret it, due to unfortunate dishwasher or sink mishaps.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

Suasoria wrote:

Everyone I know who has put hardwood in a kitchen has lived to regret it, due to unfortunate dishwasher or sink mishaps.

My parents put hardwoods in their kitchen, and have had a dishwasher leak that has damaged the hardwoods (the dishwwasher went in with the kitchen remodel, so it's not old, just defective/a lemon).

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

I have wood floors in 5 bedrooms of my house. I suggest that for bathrooms, kitchens use tile. For other areas its great. I have used to have wood in my kitchen in our old house and it did not hold up very well, our new house has tile in the kitchen and it is much better.

Kel · Coach

I don't know much about bamboo flooring, but I was just researching about Cork Flooring. It is more durable and resistent to straches and such than wood flooring. Plus it is very green, it renews I believe every 9 years.