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We’ve been debating how to trim out the Barn/House when the time comes. With the Marmoleum flooring, stainless fixtures and other industrial accents we’re going to have a very modern look. Traditional wood trim just didn’t seem to fit the space or the ecological imperatives of our construction well enough.
Then I discovered Bamboo Plywood. I was impressed. I’m not a huge fan of Bamboo flooring mostly for aesthetic reasons, but this stuff is incredible, and will fit in great with our overall look. (You may remember we’re also gong with bamboo sinks in the bathroom.) Here’s what The Natural Abode, a great resource for shopping green, had to say about it. Also you can click on their logo if you are interested in purchasing it yourself.
Why Use Bamboo?
Bamboo is a sustainable alternative to the traditional hardwoods that contribute to deforestation across the globe. It is an evergreen plant and is incredibly efficient with water and mineral consumption. It removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows and is the most efficient plant on Earth at doing so. Bamboo is a grass, and it grows like a grass: fast. Bamboo can grow to its full height and diameter in a matter of months and be ready to harvest for flooring in 4 to 5 years. Compare that to Oak which takes an average 80 years to mature.
It can bear great weight yet remain flexible; bamboo is nature’s wooden steel, in fact bamboo’s weight-to-strength ratio makes it stronger than steel. Its versatile nature has made it a cherished material: today bamboo can be found in flooring, clothing, food, furniture, paper, house infrastructure… the possibilities are endless.
Well it’s decided, we ordered some samples to play around with, just to make sure. We’re going to go with the 1/2″ carbonized vertical grain for all of our baseboards, door trim and stair accents. We will rip the 4′x8′ sheets into 4″ strips for the baseboard and other trims. This stuff is very hard, which equates to durable once it’s in, and splits because of it’s rigidity if you are not careful nailing it. It will be a challenging material to work with, but we’re up for it and think it will really be worth the extra effort.
That’s all for now, talk to you soon.
That’s an excellent point! We’re using a friend in the flooring business to source our material from. He’s looking into what he can find to ensure that the products we are receiving meet our standards.
Thanks, Dee. That is good info to know. It’s sad when companies make false claims. In the case of environmentally friendly products, they’re not just conning someone into buying a product; they’re preventing that person from making a difference. And sometimes a consumer unknowingly purchases something they thought was healthy for their family when in fact it was not. As Scott said, we’ll make sure we source from an environmentally conscious company.
And thanks for your support! We are very excited to move!
[...] Marmoleum, recycled glass back splash tile, radiant heat (eventually powered by wind and solar), bamboo trim and doors, ductless AC, and Healthier Choice carpet pads in bedrooms. Everything (including the [...]
I cannot wait to someday use bamboo somewhere in my home! Though I have read and those looking into bamboo should know that some bamboo companies are not selling the greenest of bamboo. As Consumer Reports Greener Choices website reports:
“Environmentally friendly manufacturing” – Three of the companies, Jonäno, Mad Mod, and Pure Bamboo, were charged with falsely claiming their products are made using an environmentally friendly manufacturing process. In reality, toxic chemicals that release hazardous air pollutants are used in the manufacturing of rayon, according to the FTC. ”
Many companies offer wonderful bamboo products that are indeed eco-friendly. But it doesn’t hurt to look into the brand you are interested in and be sure of what you are using!
I am loving the progress of your home! Not too long until you move in!