Consumer Reports Tests Oak Vs. Bamboo

Washington, DC, July 13, 2009--Bamboo floors are becoming more popular not only because they are often cheaper than oak, but because bamboo is considered eco-friendly by some since it grows faster than trees.

So Consumer Reports tested 21 different types of hardwood flooring, including seven bamboo floors, ranging in price from $4 a square foot to $9.

The floors were put through a battery of tests including an abrasion test that simulates years of foot traffic, a test designed to see how easily a floor scratches and another test that shows how well a floor can withstand denting.

Also, a wide variety of substances, including ketchup and crayons, are placed on each of the floors to test stain resistance.

Testers say two strand bamboo floors out-performed all of the hardwoods and that bamboo flooring has gotten much tougher.

The top-rated floor was the EcoTimber Strand Woven Honey bamboo. At $5.50, it was named a Consumer Reports Best Buy.

Consumer Reports testers say they also found Armstrong's Bruce Dundee Plank to be the traditional hardwood flooring Best Buy. It costs about the same as the Eco Timber at $5.70 a square foot.