Bringing some tropical flavor to your backyard can easily be done with some imagination and artificial thatch. For example, your gazebo is transformed into an island tiki hut just by installing thatch on the roof. Quality artificial thatch looks authentic and an artificial thatch roof will withstand the elements so it won’t mold or rot away, even if you live in an area that has a variety of seasons and sees drastic temperature fluctuations. Plus, man-made thatch resists pests, too, so your tropical hut will look terrifically authentic for years.
The landscape around your home is perhaps just as important as the house itself. You can never go wrong with adding bamboo to your yard to help give it a more welcoming feeling, and a better look. Bamboo edging and borders for landscaping is becoming more and more popular. It is a strong yet lightweight material making it easy to put wherever your yard needs it the most. The edging and borders come in several sizes and can be easily cut to fit any size you might need. There is also a large variety of shades to choose from, making it easy to add to your landscape. Bamboo can be added on gardens, pathways, or really anywhere you think your landscape could use it. It can be used both in a home setting, or a professional setting, bamboo looks great everywhere.
Bamboo is proven to be a reliable building material and is widely regarded as one of the most sustainable building materials in the world. It’s been used as an alternative to wood for thousands of years, and it has the durability to last many, many years while withstanding the elements — but just how strong is bamboo?
How Strong Is Bamboo?
Bamboo’s strength is often underestimated. When you first look at it, it is not as impressive in size as a tree, and it doesn’t seem like it could be as strong as steel. Additionally, you probably wouldn’t believe that bamboo could stack up against concrete or be comparable to a material like the futuristic and strong carbon fiber. However, one of the most impressive qualities of bamboo is its strength. Let’s look at some facts about bamboo durability compared to other common building materials.
Wood vs. Bamboo
Over the years, bamboo has emerged as a sustainable alternative to wood because it is strong, grows fast, is long-lasting and is fully recyclable. While bamboo is technically a type of grass, it is actually three times stronger than timber. It also has a higher tensile strength, so it can withstand more tension or stretching pressure before breaking.
Additionally, bamboo takes around three years to mature, which means it can regenerate quickly after being harvested. Trees, meanwhile, can take decades to reach maturity. Building with bamboo lessens environmental impact without compromising strength or longevity.
Bamboo vs. Other Building Materials
Bamboo has some impressive qualities that allow it to keep up with and even exceed the traits of other popular building materials like carbon fiber and concrete.
For example, some species of bamboo have a greater tensile strength than steel and can withstand compression better than concrete. Bamboo structures can also withstand harsh weather conditions like earthquakes, snowfall and hurricanes, making building with bamboo an appealing option.
If all of that wasn’t enough, bamboo accomplishes all of this while being far more flexible and malleable than any of the other materials we just mentioned, and it maintains the same strength as carbon fiber at a fraction of the cost! Bamboo is an amazing resource that provides spectacular durability benefits while being one of the most renewable building materials on the planet. As mentioned, bamboo grows much faster than trees and is most certainly easier to harvest than steel or concrete is to create.
The Amazing Benefits of Bamboo
Bamboo is one of Earth’s greatest resources and is a wonderful alternative to many of the building materials that most of us would think couldn’t be replaced! Furthermore, no resource that can boast the same reliability is nearly as renewable and eco-friendly as bamboo, and few materials are as beautiful. Let’s dive into some of the plant’s many benefits for building.
Durability
How durable is bamboo? Well, bamboo has proven itself to be a very strong and reliable building material throughout history, and there’s science to support this claim. Whenever bamboo faces off against other staples in the building material industry, it consistently outperforms them in strength and flexibility.
Bamboo has a high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning it’s deceptively strong despite its light weight. Plus, when treated properly, bamboo becomes resistant to rot, decay and pests, adding to its durability.
Cost-Effectiveness
When thinking about the projects around your own home, there is simply no other material on earth that can offer the immense strength and durability of bamboo at the same cost-effective price. The plant’s affordability is primarily due to the rapid speed at which it grows. Since it reaches maturity in as little as three years, there is always an abundant supply ready for harvesting.
Bamboo can also adapt to disturbed soils, reduce erosion and improve soil fertility. And we have to mention how bamboo stores and absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide, making it an effective solution for mitigating the effects of climate change. Overall, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more sustainable building material!
Simple Growing Process
One of the best things about bamboo plants is they’re fairly easygoing and can grow very quickly. Like other plants, they can thrive with the right amount of sunlight and water. However, because of their regenerative nature after harvest, it’s important to remember that some bamboo species can overtake a landscape and become challenging to remove.
Versatility
Outside of the construction industry, bamboo is incredibly versatile and used to produce many of today’s popular products, from bedsheets and towels to toothbrushes, rugs and phone cases. It is widely loved for its strength, softness and antifungal properties. The bamboo pulp is also used in its raw form to make paper-based products.
Take Advantage of the Strength of Bamboo
For your next DIY project, take advantage of the fantastic benefits of bamboo and experience strength, cost-effectiveness, durability and eco-friendliness that you won’t find in any other material. Check out our:
Forever Bamboo provides great prices on a wide variety of high-quality bamboo materials you need to complete your project, and we will also provide support for any installation questions. Contact us today to get started!
Bamboo is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of applications other than commercial building. Many home remodeling television shows and interior designers are choosing bamboo as the go-to decorative piece when achieving a minimalist look.
Bamboo poles are a great material to use for all your outdoor or indoor projects. Simply beautiful, they are versatile and perfect for many functions. Bamboo is also very eco-friendly and durable! Their durability also means that you’ll be using the bamboo poles for a long time and don’t need to replace it as often.
Mexican palm leaves have been used for centuries by different cultures around the world. At Forever Bamboo, we sell Mexican thatch as coverings for tiki bars, gazebos, and palapas. Five thousand years ago, palm leaves were used as clothing to protect against various weather conditions. The natural fibers in palm leaves act as a waterproof material that is ideal for constructing rain capes.
Bamboo paneling is both eco-friendly and attractive, perfect for home or business use. You can use bamboo paneling to cover walls, ceilings, cabinets, bar fronts, and more. Bamboo Paneling is relatively easy to install on just about any surface; let’s take a look at how to install bamboo paneling in your home!
Surface Area
Be sure to consider the surface where the bamboo installation will occur. You’ll want to make sure that it is smooth to avoid awkward bumps in the paneling. Surface areas that are prone to excessive moisture exposure are also not recommended for bamboo paneling, which is a general rule for any wall covering material. Before you begin installation, it is best to clean the surface to ensure that the paneling will be installed under the best condition and will have the maximum lifespan.
Size the Panels
Our bamboo paneling comes in a convenient carpet roll style that can be cut horizontally or vertically. In order to decide how much and where to cut, you’ll obviously want to measure the surface area you want to cover and write the measurements down so you won’t forget. Once you have your measurements, you can begin cutting the panels to size. For horizontal cuts, mark the paneling with a marker and cut carefully with a chop saw. If you plan on cutting paneling vertically, use a box knife with a sharp blade. Cut all the way through the mesh fabric backing between the strips of bamboo. Always use sharpened or new blades to avoid tears and rough edges.
Install the Panels
Bamboo paneling can be installed using nails, staples, or glue. If using nails, you will want to pre-drill holes in relation to the size of the nail being used. Due to the natural density of bamboo, paneling is subject to cracking and splitting. Slowly drill holes 1” from top to bottom every 10”. Hold the paneling firmly on the surface area you wish to cover and apply nails slowly.
If you decide to use staples to apply the paneling, you will need an industrial staple gun with stainless steel staples. Hold the measured and cut bamboo paneling in place and staple every six to eight inches from top to bottom. For additional reinforcement, you can staple the paneling on all edges.
When using glue for installation, be sure to use contact cement to coat the mesh backing thoroughly. Allow the adhesive to set for 10 to 15 minutes, and then apply to the surface you’ve chosen. Press all areas of the paneling firmly to ensure effective contact with the wall’s surfaces. You can reinforce the paneling with staples or nails, just keep in mind that holes must be pre-drilled for nails prior to gluing the paneling to the wall. Allow 24 hours for drying time and periodically check to make sure the paneling stays in place.
Finishing the Installation
To complete paneling, apply a coat of our Total Wood Protectant. The varnish will enhance the look of paneling and protect the color if used outdoors. All that’s left to do after you’ve applied the oil is to sit back and admire the new look of your space!
Need Help?
If you need some guidance while installing your bamboo paneling, don’t worry! We have customer service representatives on standby ready to help you – just give us a call at 877-912-2244 or contact us online to get the answers you need!
Not sure how to properly re-thatch a palapa structure? In this post, we will explain step by step how to re-thatch a palapa with Mexican palm thatch. Depending on the size of your palapa, a double layer of thatch is required to achieve an authentic island look. Make sure to measure your palapa roof accurately for best results. Below is a breakdown of how much thatch is required to cover each palapa. Continue reading How to Re-Thatch a Mexican Palm Thatch Palapa
In the next couple of weeks we will be producing short tutorial videos that will be available to view on our website and new YouTube page. These videos will display our thatch, bamboo fencing, paneling, bamboo poles, reed fencing, Bac Bac matting, and Lauhala matting. In each video, we will be educating our viewers about each product and ways in which you can install and enhance your home or business.
Here’s a list of topics that will be discussed in each tutorial.
