What are the different cuts of bamboo and how are they processed?

Bamboo wood floors are available in two different cuts, vertical and horizontal.The terms "vertical" and "horizontal" refer to the manner in which bamboo strips are laminated together to make bamboo wood floors.

A natural bamboo stalk is hollow along with fairly thin walls. After the harvest, the bamboo is cut lengthwise into strips or 'fillets' which are curved being a part of round stalk. The strips are milled along their outer edges to make a flat strip for traditional bamboo flooring. These bamboo strips are than boiled, dried and laminated or glued together to make the floor planks into either of the two styles.

In the vertical style, a number of strips are turned on their sides and glued together in long and slender rows, with their narrow edges (the thickness of the bamboo stalk)facing up. This creates an attractive pattern of bamboo wood floors, with edge grain and thin lines between the laminated strips.

In the horizontal style, the bamboo strips are glued together along their narrow edges so their wider surfaces face up. In this style, the strips are also laminated in three layers so the thickness is similar to that of the vertical style. The three-layered approach, with the wider flat surface of the bamboo strip showing on top, is called the horizontal style. Also, as the strips are laid flat, the natural growth rings, or "knuckles" of the bamboo stalk show on the top surface of bamboo wood floors.

To ensure their structural bonding, both these styles of bamboo wood floors receive a final pressing after lamination. Later, they proceed for the last steps of milling and finishing.

The horizontal and vertical-style bamboo wood floors are available in natural blonde or carbonized coloring, and both are admired for their distinctive and naturally attractive features.