Bamboo has emerged in recent years as a great green option in many different applications. Currently, bamboo is being used for flooring, counters, cabinets, furniture, clothing, and bedding.
It’s green because it is extremely renewable. Bamboo grows very, very rapidly – some strands grow up to a foot a day! When you compare that with any kind of tree, you realize that’s extremely fast. Because bamboo grows so quickly, the idea is that using it for building applications is more eco friendly, than using wood.
Contrary to popular belief, bamboo is actually a very strong building material. It’s considered to be at least as strong as most hardwoods, and stronger than many others.
This means that you can expect your bamboo countertops for many, many years. Products that last longer are far more eco friendly than those that need to be replaced within a few years.
Bamboo is also recyclable. Products that can be recycled are greener than those that must be thrown into a landfill at the end of their useful life.
There are actually a few ways to make bamboo countertops. Which you ultimately decide on will depend mostly on your personal preference.
The first type of bamboo countertops are actually a form of laminate. One of the most popular makers of this type of countertop is All Totally Bamboo. To create their eco friendly product, they start by making cross-brand laminates that they call multilam.
Small strips of bamboo were glued together to create the planks. Once the planks are complete, they are put together with an adhesive that is non-toxic and formaldehyde-free.
These countertops are typically delivered with no finish – which means that they’ll need to have a sealer applied once they have been installed. To keep a project green, it’s important to apply an eco-friendly, low-VOC sealer.
Another type of bamboo countertops are typically called end-grain bamboo. Just like the planks, they are glued together. However, instead of creating long planks, the companies that make counters out of end-grain do so by taking rectangular pieces of the end-grain. They’re glued together and a sealer is added.
When compared with popular choices like granite, bamboo countertops are downright cheap.
Unless you are extremely handy, it’s wise to hire a professional to install counters. Because specialized cuts need to be made, it’s a job that’s usually best left to professionals.
Cleaning these green counters is quite simple. You can keep them clean with warm water and a mild soap. Because they have a finish applied, it’s important not to place hot items directly on your bamboo counte tops.
Even though bamboo is a strong material, it’s also important not to cut directly on the counter. Both the counter and the finish can be damaged with a knife.
We love bamboo because of it’s green properties and its reasonable cost. If you like the look of wood, be sure to check out bamboo as you choose new countertops!
Brightfields Natural Trading Company Eco-friendly Bamboo boards are supplied in their natural, raw and unfinished state. They are square edged and can be cut, joined, machined and sealed to your requirements.
Brightfields Eco-friendly Bamboo boards have a beautiful, distinctive grain, that is amplified by its warm colours. Bamboo is used as a finished structural component, and is harder and more durable than most hardwoods. These boards are ideal for use as kitchen countertops, bars, cupboards, and furniture, and work well with other modern finishes like glass, steel and aluminium.
In addition to their high resistance to water damage and scorching, Bamboo boards do not swell, shrink or crack. When using Brightfields’ Bamboo boards, we always recommend sealing them when used in kitchens. Boards can be sealed with a polyurethane finish, traditional timber treatment products or environmentally friendly, natural oil-based products.
Please contact Brightfields (alistair@brightfields.co.za)for prices on bamboo counters as well as other natural products made from eco-friendly, sustainable materials such as sisal, seagrass and mountain grass. A wide variety od bamboo products are also available. Trade enquiries welcome.
Source: Brightfields
Using natural, sustainable building and decor materials should go hand-in-hand with other eco-friendly systems such as water conservation devices and renewable energy. With the increasing uncertainty of municipal water supply and unpredictable climate patterns in South Africa, it is also wise to ensure that you have adequate water storage facilities. JoJo Tanks are the affordable, quality choice for water tanks and water tank stands in South Africa. Contact us for a free quote.