Bamboo floors come in two grain orientations, vertical and horizontal. This affects the visual appearance of the flooring, from the number of lines within the pattern to its shading.
Both look great but deciding which to choose depends on personal preference and where you plan to use it.
Vertical Bamboo Flooring
A vertical pattern is made from bamboo strips that had been laid on edge, with the wider faces of the strips bonded to each other.
This gives the floor more lines within the pattern, as well as a very consistent and even colouring so it is more popular with people who want a floor to fit in with their design, rather than making it a focal point.
Bamboo floors with vertical orientation are 15mm thick, but are only one-ply thick from top to bottom. These are ideal for smaller spaces, making them feel more open and spacious.
While some sources say that there is no advantage in choosing one orientation over the other, others believe that vertical bamboo is actually harder than horizontal bamboo.
Horizontal Bamboo Flooring
The horizontal pattern in bamboo flooring is made from wider strips laid on top of each other to give it its overall thickness. It is typically three-plies thick on a 15mm floor.
Horizontal bamboo floors feature more of the unique properties of the bamboo grass, with more visible nodes (the characteristic joint in the bamboo cane).
Because if this many people prefer the horizontal style because it looks more authentic and natural, which provides a great focal point.
This design also works better in larger rooms which will not appear cramped by having a floor which is so original and full of character.
Either way...
Whether vertical or horizontal, all bamboo floors offer the same design flexibility and environmental advantages. Each is incredibly strong due to its natural properties as well as extra strengthening treatments.
This type of flooring is still quite unusual but it is in keeping with contemporary fashion for light coloured floors, creating a spacious feel in rooms. Both styles also require some maintenance to keep them looking as good as possible.
