The Reason Bamboo Countertops are Green:
Bamboo has emerged in recent years as a notable green option in many distinctive applications. As well as bedding and clothing fabrics, bamboo has been used in the building industry to make countertops, cabinets, flooring and furniture, among other things.
Bamboo is harvested every few years and it is a incredible option to traditional wood products Because of its rapid growth pattern, bamboo is the ideal eco-friendly alternative to the much slower growing tree/wood products.
Bamboo is Long-Lasting:
Contrary to popular opinion, bamboo is actually a strong building material. It is equal to the strength of many hardwoods and is even harder than a number of other hardwoods.
With these strength characteristics, you can anticipate that your bamboo countertops will have a very long life cycle. And as a result of this durability, it makes bamboo even more eco-friendly than other materials less long-lasting, that need replacement every few years.
Recyclable Characteristics of Bamboo:
Another notable green feature of bamboo is it's recyclable characteristics. Products can be recycled after their life cycle is completed, are saved from entering the landfill, and are very green.
How Bamboo Countertops Are Made:
There are essentially a few ways to produce bamboo countertops. It is a matter of personal preference as to what type you select.
Bamboo countertops manufactured from bamboo laminate is the initial type you can select. About the most popular manufacturer of this type of bamboo countertop is All Totally Bamboo Multilam cross-brand laminates are used to make this eco-friendly product.
Small strips of bamboo are then glued together to produce the planks. Once the planks are complete, they are put together with an adhesive that is non-toxic and formaldehyde-free.
Once the countertops are installed, they will have to be completed successfully with a sealer on the jobsite. One special note is to be sure to stay green and make use of an eco-friendly, sealer that is low in VOC's.
Bamboo Countertops Constructed From End Grain:
Countertops produced from end-grain bamboo is an alternative type you may be interested in. As with the plank method above, they are glued together. However, instead of producing long planks, the companies that create counters from end-grain, do so through taking rectangular pieces of the end-grain bamboo. These pieces are glued together and a finish sealer is then applied.
What Do Bamboo Countertops Cost?
The cost of bamboo is relatively inexpensive when compared to that of granite or solid surface countertops. Plank style counters start at approximately $35 psf material only and the cost of the end-grain type is about $22 psf, material only.
Unless you have installation experience, it is most beneficial to leave the installation to an expert. The reason for this is that a typical countertop installation requires many specialized cuts, and that is frequently a job for a professional countertop installer.
Care of Bamboo Countertops:
Care of Bamboo is extremely simple. Just use warm water and mild soap to clean them. Be sure to use protection trivets when locating hot items on bamboo countertops, to protect the finish on the counters.
As with all wood countertops, you ought to take care not to cut directly on the bamboo. Knifes can damage both the counter finish and the bamboo countertop itself.
Not only the green properties, but the beauty and reasonable cost make bamboo an attractive option for your countertops. If wood is appealing to you as a countertop material, be sure to give bamboo due consideration.
LEED Certification:
Another great fact about bamboo is it can qualify for LEED Credits.
Bamboo Countertops can contribute to certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Rating System™ MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials. Additionally you may receive credits under LEED EQ Credit 4.4.
To learn more about Bamboo Countertops, visit our article Bamboo Countertops. Likewise for green living tips, visit our site Green Living Made Easy. An additional artilcle addressing green countertops that you may be interested in would be Recycled Glass Countertops.
