Home décor and styles come and go. What was once a must-have in the 1980s, is back. Whitewashed flooring in your home makes for beautiful rooms. Neutral and monotone shades are today’s modern décor choices.
With so many flooring options on the market, bamboo flooring continues to be a popular selection for many homeowners. People choose bamboo wood for its longevity, sustainability, and beauty. This leads to the question of whether you can whitewash bamboo flooring is pertinent today. This article will delve into what is bamboo flooring and can you whitewash bamboo floors.
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What is Bamboo Flooring?
Bamboo is known to be one of the fastest-growing natural woody grasses in China. Bamboo is a type of plant that regenerates from its own roots. No fertilizer or pesticides are used in bamboo crops. The rate of growth in terms of harvesting is 3 to 5 years mature. Bamboo is an excellent natural material for a wide variety of uses.
People have been using bamboo as a key blueprint material in their homes for thousands of years. From ground covering to furniture and décor pieces to actual home building materials, bamboo is a choice natural material for homeowners, then and now.
Resembling hardwood flooring, today’s bamboo floor manufacturers create aesthetic flooring choices. Classic horizontal (flat grain), vertical (end grain), or strand-woven (stranded) are three types of flooring grain available. Strand-woven bamboo has the most durability of the three types. And, strand-woven has a marbling appearance to it. This matters because if you are planning on whitewashing your bamboo floors, you need to be aware of what stain or sealer you use.
Just like hardwood floor shopping options, you can purchase either solid or engineered bamboo flooring. Solid bamboo is constructed of strips of bamboo glued together. And, engineered bamboo flooring is created by adhering a thin top layer of bamboo to a plywood core.
What is Whitewashed Flooring?
Inspired by Scandinavian style, whitewashed flooring brings coziness and a serene vibe to any room. Reminiscent of the shabby chic and beachy home trends from the 1980s and 90s, whitewashed flooring is on trend today in kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. The whole house. Smaller spaces look bigger. Older homes look brighter.
Your local and national home improvement stores offer an abundance of whitewash stains and sealers that are safe to use on bamboo, hardwood, or engineered flooring. Whether you choose to DIY apply the white stain or hire a professional, there is an application process to follow. Stain manufacturers provide applications and use directions to assist you in your DIY home project.
Whitewashing Bamboo Floors
Today’s whitewash stains and finishes are up to the task of working on your bamboo floors. You might want to consider hiring professionals to help you. As discussed earlier in this article, there are three types of bamboo flooring. All three types can be whitewashed. Although strand woven takes a little more consideration. DIY whitewashing is not recommended for this strand woven bamboo flooring.
Bamboo floors can be whitewashed. Whitewashing is a stain that allows the grain of the bamboo to show. Staining bamboo flooring has a similar process to staining hardwood. Several top-choice whitewash latex paints can be used to accomplish the whitewashing job.
How to whitewash your bamboo floors.
There are several steps of preparation to do before applying the whitewash stain to your bamboo flooring. Because bamboo embodies a natural waxy protective coating, you will need to first thoroughly sand the floor space so that your whitewash stain absorbs evenly.
1. Remove baseboards to avoid damage from sanding. Youalso may want to use a dust mask for protection.
2. Sand the floor with fine-grained sandpaper or sander until the natural shine has been removed from the bamboo. This will remove any scratches or stains, as well. You will need two different sandpapers (220-grit and 300-grit) because you will need to sand twice in the process. After the first sanding pass, move on to sanding again with a finer grit to ensure a very smooth surface.
3. Now that your bamboo surface is prepped, it is now time to apply the whitewash stain.
4. If you haven’t mixed up your whitewash stain, it is time to create the color you want, and you can test out the whitewash on a small area of your floor.
5. You’ll want to mix equal parts of the white latex paint with water. Apply a thin coat to the area with a clean cloth and if you are staining wipe off the excess paint. Allow drying time in between coats. (Adhere to product directions). And, it is also recommended to sand in between coats.
6. Once you have achieved the whitewash look to your bamboo floors, utilize a sealer for added protection.
Caring for Your Whitewashed Bamboo Floors.
Your whitewashed bamboo flooring will definitely attract and show dirt and debris due to the lighter color. Remembering that bamboo is a natural material, you’ll want to stray from using any harsh chemical cleansers and avoid heavy wet mopping or steam cleaning. All that said, maintaining and caring for your bamboo floors is easy.
Your best bet is to vacuum debris and dust from your flooring and to use a lightly damp microfiber mop.
Also, consider cleaning with a natural cleanser solution such as mixing ¼ cup of white vinegar into one quart of water. This will remove any dirt brought into the house from foot traffic.
There are also specific cleansers for bamboo floors. You can find these at any home improvement store.
Conclusion
Bamboo is an exceptional natural material to use in your home. It is water-resistant, mold and mildew resistant, insect resistant, and environmentally friendly. As the home décor industry moves more and more toward sustainable materials, bamboo flooring is a favorite for homeowners. For homeowners seeking a subtle beachy atmosphere, whitewashed flooring is a great look.
Today, bamboo floor manufacturers offer pre-whitewashed bamboo flooring. However, if you already own installed bamboo floors, there is a relatively easy process to whitewash your floors. Professionals and DIY-ers have all of the tools at their fingertips available at home improvement retailers.