Homeowners who want to install bamboo flooring but aren't particularly happy with the blond coloring of natural bamboo floors have other choices.
There are darker flooring options available with carbonized bamboo.
These options, along with staining processes used by some manufacturers allow consumers to have more choices in bamboo flooring than just blond.
Carbonization is a process similar to that of caramelizing sugar.
When sugar is heated it becomes a warm, amber color.
The longer it is heated the darker the color of the sugar becomes.
Carbonization of bamboo is similar.
The bamboo is subjected to high heat for long periods of time.
The fibers become darker due to the heat.
The coloring can be controlled by controlling how long the fibers remains in contact with the heat and how hot the material is allowed to get.
Deep, dark ambers are arrived at by allowing the bamboo to remain in the heat for longer periods of time, while subtle; honey colors can be reached at lower temperatures for shorter periods of time.
The carbonization process alters the structure of the bamboo somewhat but it still remains a strong flooring choice.
The strength is not compromised to the point of it being a factor in deciding on whether or not to use bamboo.
In addition to carbonized bamboo natural floors being one color choice in this type of flooring, some manufacturers will use stains or dyes to achieve an array of colors.
This staining or dying process is done after the bamboo planks have been created.
This process of coloring does not affect the strength of the bamboo in any manner and allows consumers to have a much larger variety of colors to choose from.
Carbonization and dying are two coloring processes that allow flooring manufacturers to offer a rainbow of colors to consumers.
These options add to the growing popularity of bamboo flooring.