Bamboo Plywood

Bamboo plywood is a great alternative to the conventional types of plywood. It is highly regarded as a sustainable material in building construction. There are many homes made of bamboo plywood today especially in achieving a tropical design or green buildings. There are seen in resorts, spa areas as well as restaurants and other establishments. The growing consciousness of people in green living makes bamboo plywood and other bamboo products popular.

Advantages of Bamboo Plywood

There are many gains when switching from traditional plywood to bamboo plywood. One is that its durable and is a good insulator. It keeps in the heat needed during colder months while it seeps off the hot air during the hotter days. Another great thing about bamboo plywood is that antibacterial which means it won’t get molds or mildew. The most important advantage is of its sustainability. The bamboo groves which are the source of the raw material of bamboo bring an alternative to the depreciating wooden forests. It also a good source of clean air and does not need insecticides or other chemicals to grow.

Types of Bamboo Plywood

There are different treatments, grains, hues and milling of bamboo plywood. This makes it a very versatile type of construction material.

There are three general types of bamboo plywood. The first is the solid type of bamboo plywood. These are strips of bamboo which is adhered and bounded together either vertically or horizontally then glued or nailed in place. The other type of bamboo plywood is the engineered type where another surface is placed over and fastened by the click and lock system of installation. For the strand wood which is considered one of the best types because of its durability is made from thin strands of bamboo. These bounded strips are then exposed to high pressure and heat.

Color is another to consider in bamboo plywood. There are three main types of bamboo plywood according to color. These are the natural, carbonized and stained. For the natural the bamboo has a lighter color or golden brown shade. The carbonized meanwhile is somewhat darker than the natural bamboo plywood. The fibers of the bamboo is heated which has a caramelizing effect on the sugars found in the plywood. These make the darker colors that are from amber to coffee hues. The stained bamboo plywood has a darker color from the stain.

There are also different grains of bamboo. It can either be horizontal or vertical. The horizontal is also known as flat grained. This has an attractive natural feature called “knuckles” or nodes that are found on its surface which creates a random effect on the bamboo plywood. The vertical types on the other hand is more uniform and without exposing the nodes instead the edges of the plank is visible creating strips of lining on the surface.

Uses of Bamboo Plywood

Bamboo plywood is a versatile and visually appealing type of construction material that can be used primarily in kitchen countertops, furniture making as well as flooring. It is resistant to mold as well as termites and ants for the treated types of bamboo plywood.

Buying Bamboo Plywood

Purchasing bamboo plywood should be done to a reputable source of the construction material. There are many imitations of bamboo plywood in the market. It is also essential to know the different types of bamboo plywood to specify in the construction of flooring, counter tops as well as furniture.