Benefits of Bamboo Plywood

Hardwood has been, for ages, the only material for plywood and furniture, however in the last few decades there has been a steady rise in the demand for bamboo plywood. Architects and builders are looking at bamboo as a greener alternative to hardwood. Bamboos are perennial grass, very tall and harder than some chestnut and walnut trees. Bamboo plywood is made by cutting horizontal or vertical bamboo strips and gluing them together under high pressure to form even stronger plywood. So what makes bamboo the go to material for building purposes? Read on.

Harder than hardwood.

Yes, you read that right. Bamboo plywood is stronger than the average maple or oak plywood available widely. The immense strength of the plywood is due to high density of bamboo. Strand woven bamboo, made by fusing glue and strips of bamboo under high pressure, has proven to be harder than oak, ebony, maple and even most Brazilian hardwood. It can effectively withstand force of up to 3000lbs as per the Janka hardness scale, making it one of the hardest plywood. In fact for over thousands of years, Asians have used bamboo for building purposes. The people of China (the highest producer of bamboo) have been using it to make houses, instruments, weapons and scaffolding.

A rustic sophistication.

Don’t be fooled by the modest looking bamboo! Bamboo plywood looks no different than hardwood. Their unique pattern lends a simple yet classy look to your furniture. The rustic charm of the bamboo adds a touch of tradition to your home all the while keeping it contemporary with an array of styles and colors. The horizontal strand woven bamboo shows less joint lines but more character while the vertical strand woven bamboo plywood shows more joint lines but fewer natural features.

Heavy duty

Bamboo ply woods have a longer life span than traditional hardwood. Bamboo is one of the toughest natural materials. After proper treatment in hot boric acid solution it resists dust and insects. They are resistant to moisture and oblivious to dents and scratches. Bamboo does not warp over time and can ideally last a lifetime. They can easily last from 15 to 20 years with minimal maintenance. Furthermore bamboo can be refinished 2-3 times thus increasing its lifespan.

It’s easily installed and wallet friendly

Not only is bamboo harder than most hardwood but also costs less than them. Bamboo is one of the cheapest materials in today’s market because of its relatively shorter life cycle and the fact that it grows in abundance. Bamboo plywood is very comfortable to work with if you are planning to do it yourself. Bamboo plywood fits perfectly without much fuss and there is almost no wastage of extra ply.

Versatility

Bamboo plywood is a dream to work with. Be it counter tops or cabinets in your kitchen or even the flooring of your home it goes just about anywhere and with anything. Bamboo can be used to make furniture in your home. It might be a grass but it is tougher than most hardwood and also more resilient to moisture, moulds and bacteria. The unique texture of bamboo gives your furniture an aesthetic appeal.

Minimal maintenance

Cleaning your bamboo furniture is no herculean task. During manufacturing bamboo is treated in boiling boric acid solution to eliminate sugar or any insects present. This process makes sure that there is no future infestation of insects or parasites in the bamboo. Bamboo plywood is immune to water spills and also inhibits gathering of dust. Just clean using a wet mop to wipe your furniture from time to time and it will keep looking as good as new. Even if there is a scratch or dent you can effortlessly refinish your bamboo product by yourself.

Eco-friendly

Bamboos have a short generation cycle of 5-7 years. So when a bamboo is cut down another one can grow in about 5 years time. On the other hand hardwoods take something from 30-100 years to mature and cutting down such trees cause massive damages to the ecology. Bamboo is thus a sustainable alternative to hardwood. Home owners nowadays want their homes and interior décor to be eco-friendly. No other material is as eco-friendly as bamboo is.