Every week, almost a million acres of forest disappear in locations all around the world. That's a pretty alarming number, and it's causing people everywhere to rethink the way they look at business, manufacturing, and any other sector that makes use of wood. A single sixty foot tree, cut for the lumber market, takes as much as sixty years to replace. However, a piece of bamboo that's the same length can be replaced in less than sixty days. That's why bamboo works well as a substitute for many uses where wood would ordinarily be preferred.

Bamboo is officially the fastest growing plant in the world, is as strong as steel, and has even been used as a steel rebar substitute in concrete. One popular use for bamboo that helps save wood is in the flooring industry.

Flooring made from bamboo has many of the same benefits as timber flooring. It's easy to clean, doesn't harbor allergens, feels natural and is simple to install. In addition this material has a unique look of its own and is both sustainable to produce and environmentally friendly when grown under the right conditions.

Bamboo flooring comes in many different types, but most are made from compressed bamboo. Solid planks from this material are available, but some flooring is simply veneered with bamboo, so make sure you do your research and know what you're getting.

In addition, most bamboo flooring comes prefinished and ready to install, and can be installed on a number of different surfaces. That makes it much simpler and more convenient to put in place than hardwood.

Remember to find out what bamboo species your supplier uses, and which conditions the plant is grown in. One of the best traits about using bamboo as a wood replacement is that not much fertilizer or pesticide application is required, and often, none at all is needed.

Does that mean that all bamboo flooring is equal? Unfortunately that's not the case - some of the cheaper bamboo products include cheaper, toxic glues, are made with monocultured bamboo, or use inferior pieces. If you want a really durable, sustainable floor that'll be healthy in your home, these are all undesirable methods.

If you're in the market for a new floor, and you want to have the lowest negative impact on the environment you can, bamboo is a wonderful choice. After all, this material can cut down on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is great for naturally reducing erosion from water, and can even help to restore land that's been degraded by other activities.

Don't worry about not being able to match bamboo flooring to your existing decorating scheme, either. You don't have to have an Asian or Polynesian theme in your home to have bamboo on your floor.

You can find many different looks and styles, depending on the way the floor was manufactured. Heat treated bamboo is even available in a wide range of colors, from light blonde to dark walnut. Just remember that a darker floor is softer and easier to damage. - 109