• Exotics
• Wood Flooring Int.
• Natural Cork
• Congoleum

What is Bamboo?

Bamboo grows in many regions of the world especially in warm climates where the earth is kept moist with frequent monsoons. Throughout Asia, from India to China, from the Philippines to Japan, bamboo thrives in natural forest lands. Twenty percent of the world’s bamboo grows in China, much of that in the wild. Today, due to increasing demand, it is being cultivated more and more in managed forests. In this region, bamboo is emerging as an important agricultural crop of increasing significance to struggling economies.

Bamboo is a member of the grass family. This fact goes a long way toward explaining several of bamboo’s unique characteristics. We are familiar with grass as a rapidly growing invasive plant, as is bamboo. Maturing to a height of 20 meters or more in a mere four years, bamboo is ready to harvest. And, like grass, cutting bamboo does not kill the plant. An extensive root system remains intact, allowing for rapid regeneration. This quality makes bamboo an ideal plant for areas threatened with the potentially devastating ecological effects of soil erosion.

There are many species of Bamboo. Tall and straight, Mao Zhu or Moso Bamboo is the species of choice for flooring fabrication. Natural Cork Bamboo uses only Mao Bamboo with 5 years of maturity, selecting the base of the stalk for its superior strength and hardness. The remainder of these stalks become consumer goods such as chopsticks, plywood sheeting, furniture, window blinds, and even pulp for paper products. Nothing is wasted in processing bamboo.

When it comes to the environment, cork and bamboo are a perfect combination. Both are renewable, are harvested with no harm to their natural habitat, and produce materials that promote a healthy human environment.

Manufacturing Process

After harvesting, bamboo is cut into strips. These strips go through a sterilization process before being placed in large drying ovens to hasten their curing time. A stringent selection process ensures only premium strips will be used for Natural Cork Bamboo. Selected strips are stacked in layers and glued with an environmentally safe adhesive prior to being put through a 1250 ton press to form panels from which flooring planks are milled.

For convenience and durability Natural Cork Bamboo flooring is pre-finished. Our aluminum oxide finish is unsurpassed in the industry, and with 6 coats applied to the flooring surface offers superior wear resistance.

Natural CORK Bamboo Technical Specifications

Bamboo Styles

Carbonized Vertical		Carbonized Horizontal		Natural Vertical		Natural Horizontal

Trim Pieces

Carbonized Horizontal Nosing	Carbonized Vertical Nosing	Carbonized Horizontal Reducer	Carbonized Vertical Reducer	Carbonized Quarter-Round
Carbonized Square-Nose	Carbonized T-Mold	Natural Horizontal Nosing	Natural Vertical Nosing	Natural Horizontal Reducer
Natural Vertical Reducer	Natural Quarter-Round	Natural Square-Nose	Natural T-Mold