Sybil- I don't do carpet. Of course, living in Florida going to the beach it is not very smart to have carpet to begin with. We have hardwood floors, ceramic tile and bamboo. But to be frank- I do it for the health of my family, ease of use, my connections and love for Asian and Tropical decor etc.  Katerina

Sybil- Bamboo floors are very durable. Bamboo is very strong. But you have to get the kind that is natural. There are only two real colors for Bamboo that are the real colors. One is very light and the other is darker. But scratches will show just like on any wood floor. We use it in our guest rooms where it is not that high traffic. In our home office, which is like 600 square feet we opted for the distressed by hand hard wood in a nice amber darker color because the scratches look like part of the floor. Because we have office chairs, we still had to get special wheels on them that are made for wood floors. You have to do the same for Bamboo. Also, you need to make sure you are really buying Bamboo, because there is fake bamboo and real bamboo. So buy from a reputable company, not online at those close out places. 

The best thing about both is you never have to wash the floors nor should you. Once a year we do a wipe over with a vinegar solution. Just sweep and go! 

Sybil- I found the word I was looking for. If you buy Bamboo you have to buy the Carbonized ones. That is the only coloring that is natural to the bamboo and will not fade out or get ruined. There are only 2 shades, a light one and a darker one, but still not too dark. 

Bamboo can grow once it is sprouted and above ground- 2 inches an hour! But it takes years to sprout and you have to leave it covered underground until it sprouts above the ground.