WHAT IS BAMBOO?
Grass! Even though it can be used like hardwood, bamboo is actually a grass that can clump, spreading several inches a year; or run, spreading as much as 30 feet in a year. One third of the bamboo poles in a grove can be harvested each year indefinitely as that is its regeneration rate. Bamboo groves produce at least twice as much fiber per year as our fastest-growing softwood forests, yet produce wood harder than oak and nearly as hard as maple. Oak trees in contrast, take approximately 120 years to grow to maturity. In addition to being attractive, easy to maintain, and harder than standard hardwoods, it also represents a considerable ecological savings since it reduces the need for virgin lumber, often harvested using clearcut methods and bamboo forests sequester seventeen times as much carbon as any softwood forest!
Bamboo is gaining popularity due to it's strength, natural beauty and multi faceted uses. In fact, next time you are in the San Francisco airport - take a look at the floor of the bookstore in the international terminal! Or, look up and notice the 70 foot tall bamboo plants that contrast so beautifully with the glass, steel and polished stone.
WHAT MAKES BAMBOO SUSTAINABLE?
• In Asia and South America, many cultures keep their traditions intact because everything they need is provided by this plant which costs only time.
• Bamboo is useful in controlling erosion, as the rhizome web knits the soil together. Bamboo keeps dams and canal banks intact where tree roots rot and cause leaks.
• Most low-VOC paints are interior paints, but a couple of low-VOC exterior paints are available.
• The leaves are as nutritious as alfalfa, so feeding them to livestock creates no waste in the system.
WHERE WOULD YOU FIND BAMBOO IN YOUR HOME?
Over half of the world's population relies on bamboo for daily use. Among the 1,500 uses applicable in our region, are: furniture, cabinetry, flooring, baskets, cases, panels, screens, scaffolding, structural posts, fences, wall coverings, mats and crown molding.
dining table
living room furniture
kitchen cabinet
Alameda architect Darrel DeBoer employs bamboo in his homes because it's a naturally ornamental shape.
However, the most popular and convenient application for bamboo is flooring.
GRASS FLOOR FACTS
Flooring is available in two general grain styles - vertical grain, where the rectangles are placed next to one another in single ply or in 2 or 3 ply, and horizontal grain where the wide side of the rectangle is seen on the surface. Most of the pre-finished flooring comes with a slight bevel between them which emphasizes the distinction between pieces.
Bamboo is generally available in several pre-finished colors (such as natural, amber and cherry) and since bamboo accepts many different stains it is exceptionally versatile and can be blended to match almost any interior palette. The finish chosen can have a much greater impact on long-term durability and scratch-resistance. Eventually, all floors will scratch, and bamboo can easily be refinished, unlike laminate flooring.
INSTALLATION TIPS
The product is typically factory pre-finished and can be installed like any hardwood floor is- by nailing or gluing it down. Bamboo is also available unfinished, and can be sanded and finished on site. Like other solid floorings, bamboo should be acclimated outside of the packaging in the room for several weeks before installation to get the humidity and temperature to equalize top and bottom.
CARE & FEEDING OF YOUR FLOOR
Routine maintenance is a function of the finish applied. Bamboo flooring can be sanded and refinished like any other solid wood flooring. The "vertical grain" configuration allows more cycles of sanding than the 2 or 3 ply.
Credits & References
Darrel DeBoer, Architect / Author "Bamboo Building and Culture" 2003, Berkeley Press
Photo Credits: Ed Gulick, Green Resource Center; Thom Harrison, owner AlterEco (bamboocabinets.com)
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