There is a significant amount of misinformation in the market relating to the use of “bamboo” in dry climates.   Or, more specifically, the reason some people have been “burned” (with massive shrinking and delamination) in dry climates has nothing to do with bamboo as a raw material, and everything to do with the actual source for the material.

There are a number of reasons for this: climate conditions where production occurs; relatively low-cost industry sector and associated market competition with respect to price, and the general fact that not all bamboo flooring products are made the same way.

Firstly, bamboo flooring is produced in the sub-tropical regions of China and Vietnam, where the factories are located in close proximity to both the raw material and ports for international shipping.  This is the first strike with most bamboo producers – the ambient conditions around the factories can reach 70-100% relative humidity, and make it nearly impossible to lower the product’s moisture content to a suitable level through the standard “air drying” method.   In order to effectively dry the fiber and boards, kiln assemblies must be used.  Dovetailing into point #2 (market price, competition) is the fact that kilns cost more money (to buy and to run), and most “buyers” (importers, flooring brands, etc.) are not willing to pay more for their material than their competition, especially when the industry and public has grown to adopt the thought that when they buy bamboo, they are buying “bamboo” as opposed to “Sustainable Flooring” brand bamboo, for example.  Since the standard quality “guidelines” associated with most domestic woods have not transferred over to the bamboo industry overseas, it becomes a difficult call for bamboo importers who rely solely on price for their sales to pay more for bamboo than they may normally be selling their material for.  It basically becomes a vicious cycle – buyers demand lower prices, importers need to pay less, factories need to keep their prices as low as possible, and the added expenses to make higher quality products are avoided.

In dry climates it is important that the bamboo flooring being installed is acclimated to the actual site and regional conditions, which either involves a tremendously long “acclimation” period (potentially many months on site, stacked, and stickered), or sufficient kiln-drying prior to packaging.  Construction schedules generally do not allow for 3 months of acclimating time (in the right environment – where there are no big influxes of moisture, like those typical in a construction project – drywall, paint, laying subfloor, etc.).  Being that we are based in the heart of a dry climate (Colorado), we really understand how moisture affects the product (both in the product and being associated to the site), and since we have partnered with a factory that understands our requirements for quality (on all levels – moisture just being one component), we lower the moisture content of the bamboo material we bring in to our Rocky Mountain distribution center.  We use a series of efficient boilers coupled with an automatic conveyor drying assembly to bring the material to a suitable level for a relatively quick installation.  Our product has addressed the common misconception that uninformed sales people regularly relay to consumers about using bamboo in dry climates: that they are destined for problems.  It is true that most bamboo products installed in the same fashion most “traditional” woods are installed (limited acclimation) will have issues in dry climates, but not if the product coming out of the box was designed to overcome that problem.   If bamboo is at equilibrium with site conditions, it excels in its stability.