Here in the Untied States, we are just discovering the amazing versatility of bamboo so it may be surprising to some to find that bamboo is the most widely used plants on earth.  It is widely used in the tropics in the construction of homes and bridges. In Asia, it is common to see scaffolding made entirely from bamboo. It has also proven to be essential in earthquake architecture. In Limon, Costa Rica, only bamboo houses from the National Bamboo Project stood after the violent earthquake in 1992. It is also use to make paper, and often common goods. Okay, maybe that we knew; but there is more, much more to bamboo.

A Renewable Choice

As one of the fastest growing plants on the earth, bamboo yields 2500% higher usable biomass than any traditional hardwood source. While traditional hardwood sources, like oak, can take decades to grow to maturity, bamboo takes 4 years and continues to grow by forming new shoots.

Amazing Strength

 Bamboo’s tensile strength exceeds that of mild steel actually making it one of the strongest building materials available. It can withstand up to 50,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. Technically, bamboo is a grass, and classified as a woody plant, and not wood and varies in hardness from top to bottom.

Characteristics

Bamboo experiences much less contraction than traditional wood products. This makes it an excellent choice for areas that experience high humidity or wide temperature variations. Bamboo products, such as flooring, experience less cupping or bulging.  Wood products are measured in Stability, and durability using another wood as the standard. In terms of stability, or the natural contraction and expansion of the wood, wood is usually measured against the Northern Red Oak. Bamboo is 50% more stable than Red Oak.  Durability refers to the actual hardness of the wood and its susceptibility to dents, scratches and gashes. In this, bamboo is equal to maple, which is the industry standard.

Beauty

Nothing compares to the natural beauty of bamboo, which offers a beautiful and consistent grain. Many enjoy the rich warm tones of carbonized caramel color, the natural hues of the neutral blond color and nature's beautiful growth patterns, grains, and growth joints inherent only in bamboo.
 

How Tucson Residents Use Bamboo

Tucson residents are going green and making use of the large number of bamboo products available. New processing methods have turned bamboo into plywood, planks, veneers and paneling that look and feel like wood products. They can be used anywhere wood is used: floors, cabinets, walls, furniture and kitchenware. Designers and architects have found bamboo floors to be unique, elegant and serene, and specify it for homes, offices, hotels, and retail stores as part of a design element.  It has also come in to favor in the use of countertops. Highly durable, bamboo countertops offer a beautiful and durable alternative to maple. The plywood from which it is made is so versatile that it is being implemented in countless applications, including shelving, furniture, cabinetry and much more.

Some Air Quality Issues

Take some time to do your research and find bamboo products that are urea formaldehyde free. All products that contain chemicals give off a gas of chemical emissions over time. In all products it is important to consider minimizing the use of potentially dangerous chemicals in the home. In 1987 the Environmental Protection Agency classified UF as a potential carcinogen. UF free products are out there and can be found with minimal effort.

Area residents are choosing to include bamboo products into their building and interior design plans for many reasons. For some it is purely aesthetic. For others, bamboo is a great earth friendly choice that is a highly renewable resource. Whatever your reason is to consider bamboo, there is a wide selection available locally so continue to look for more products, innovations and implementations.

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