Many older homes have existing hardwood floors. These types of floors can sometimes be difficult to match to the more modern variety. Bamboo flooring is becoming popular due to its many natural attributes. Here are some tips on matching hardwood to bamboo.

Matching Hardwood to Bamboo Plank Width

For a more seamless transition, you need to take into consideration the width of the plank. Having drastically different plank sizes will make your floor appear mismatched. More massive planks are very popular because it can make the room seem bigger. Older homes tended to use smaller plank sizes due to the manufacturing limitations at the time. When it is possible, make sure to run the wood in the same direction; this can give your floor a more continuous look.

Leveling the Finished Heights

The second part of the equation is the finished height of the floor. The contrast will be undeniable if the two flooring types meet at different heights. There are a couple of ways that you can ensure this match. You can purchase flooring that is the same depth, or you can change the height of the subfloor to accommodate the differences in the height of the flooring. Make sure to use the correct subfloor material to have a stable base for your floors.

Using Flooring With Similar Wood Grains

Since bamboo is an engineered wood product, it can be difficult to match the wood grain precisely to other types of hardwood. Bamboo is characterized by having even horizontal lines across the surface. Each plank is very uniform due to the process; this differs from standard hardwood floors. A higher quality hardwood will have grains that are more even to get a closer match to bamboo. You can also select an engineered hardwood to achieve a closer match for your bamboo flooring.

Coordinating Complementary Tones and Hues

The coloring of the wood can make the transition appear more natural. You have two options when it comes to matching the tones of hardwood and bamboo. You can refinish your floors and stain them to match, or you can purchase products that already have similar tones. On often overlooked caution to take when buying darker-colored bamboo flooring is that the grading is different, and the planks will not appear as homogenous as a lighter color. This can be a good thing if you are trying to match it with your hardwood flooring.

What to do With Transition Pieces

When all else fails, you can use transition pieces in between your different types of flooring materials. These transitions are sometimes referred to as T-molding. There are ones that are flush as well as ones that can accommodate different flooring heights. In many older homes, this transition is achieved by changing the orientation of the wood flooring. This way it became more of a decorative feature than an apparent transition. This technique can change the style of your home.

Final Thoughts

There are many details to consider when matching hardwood to bamboo flooring. Width, height, grain, species, color, and transitioning materials are the most crucial of your flooring aspects to follow. Good luck with your project. If you need the help of a flooring expert, call Macdonald Hardwood Flooring today.