Eco-Friendly Bamboo Countertops
Bamboo countertops can be a outstanding option for anyone who is interested in replacing their current counters with a new, eco-friendly option.
There are lots of fantastic reasons to consider bamboo, we'll go over them all here.
What Makes Bamboo Countertops Green? Over the past several years bamboo has come to the forefront as one of the premier green products.
Some of the many uses bamboo has in the building trades include, countertops, cabinets, flooring and furniture.
Additionally there are applications of bedding and clothing fabric.
It's green since it is very renewable.
Some varieties used for building products, grow up to a foot every day! There is no tree that comes anywhere close to that, and because of this, it is much more eco-friendly to use than traditional wood products.
Bamboo Products are Very Long-Lasting: Contrary to popular opinion, bamboo is actually a strong building material.
It's considered to be at least as long-lasting as most hardwoods, and stronger than many others.
This means that you can anticipate your bamboo countertops to last for many, many years.
And because of this durability, it makes bamboo even more eco-friendly than other materials less tough, that need replacement every few years.
Recyclable Characteristics of Bamboo: As good as bamboo is, it gets even better, as it is very recyclable.
Products can be recycled after their life cycle is completed, are saved from entering the landfill, and therefore, they are very green.
How Bamboo Countertops Are Made: Bamboo countertops are essentially produced in a few special ways.
Which one you will ultimately decide on will depend more often than not on your personal preference.
The initial type of bamboo countertops are actually a form of laminate.
To create this eco-friendly product, manufacturers start by making cross-brand laminates that they call multilam.
Small strips of bamboo are then glued together to produce the planks.
Once all of the separate planks are assembled, they are all glued together with a formaldehyde-free, non-toxic adhesive.
Once the countertops are delivered to the jobsite and installed, they will most likely need to to have a finish sealer applied.
Use a low VOC sealer to keep your countertops eco-friendly, and as green as you can.
Bamboo Countertops Constructed From End Grain: End-Grain bamboo is an alternative method of manufacturing countertops.
The end grain bamboo is glued together just like the planks.
But, rather than creating planks of long bamboo, the manufacturers of end-grain bamboo countertops create them from rectangular pieces of bamboo.
They're glued together much like the planks and a finish sealer is added.
What is the Cost of Bamboo Countertops? The cost of bamboo is relatively inexpensive when compared to that of granite or solid surface countertops.
The plank-type countertops start at about $35 psf for material only, and the end-grain types of counters cost right around $22 psf, again material only.
This is a job for the professional countertop installer and you should only attempt this job if you are very handy.
The reason for this is that a typical countertop installation requires many specialized cuts, and that is usually a job for a professional countertop installer.
How to Care for Bamboo Countertops: Care of Bamboo is extremely simple.
To keep these eco-friendly countertops in tip-top shape, just clean them with a solution of mild soap and warm water.
As these counters have a finish applied, it's important not to set hot items directly on your bamboo countertops.
Because bamboo is basically a wood product, you should avoid cutting directly on the counter surface as well.
Both the finish and the counter surface can be damage with knives.
Not only the green properties, but the beauty and reasonable cost make bamboo an attractive option for your countertops.
Bamboo is a beautiful and a cost-effective option to traditional wood and the more expensive composite or natural stone counters.
LEED Certification: Another notable 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.
Bamboo Countertops can additionally qualify under LEED EQ Credit 4.
4.
There are lots of fantastic reasons to consider bamboo, we'll go over them all here.
What Makes Bamboo Countertops Green? Over the past several years bamboo has come to the forefront as one of the premier green products.
Some of the many uses bamboo has in the building trades include, countertops, cabinets, flooring and furniture.
Additionally there are applications of bedding and clothing fabric.
It's green since it is very renewable.
Some varieties used for building products, grow up to a foot every day! There is no tree that comes anywhere close to that, and because of this, it is much more eco-friendly to use than traditional wood products.
Bamboo Products are Very Long-Lasting: Contrary to popular opinion, bamboo is actually a strong building material.
It's considered to be at least as long-lasting as most hardwoods, and stronger than many others.
This means that you can anticipate your bamboo countertops to last for many, many years.
And because of this durability, it makes bamboo even more eco-friendly than other materials less tough, that need replacement every few years.
Recyclable Characteristics of Bamboo: As good as bamboo is, it gets even better, as it is very recyclable.
Products can be recycled after their life cycle is completed, are saved from entering the landfill, and therefore, they are very green.
How Bamboo Countertops Are Made: Bamboo countertops are essentially produced in a few special ways.
Which one you will ultimately decide on will depend more often than not on your personal preference.
The initial type of bamboo countertops are actually a form of laminate.
To create this eco-friendly product, manufacturers start by making cross-brand laminates that they call multilam.
Small strips of bamboo are then glued together to produce the planks.
Once all of the separate planks are assembled, they are all glued together with a formaldehyde-free, non-toxic adhesive.
Once the countertops are delivered to the jobsite and installed, they will most likely need to to have a finish sealer applied.
Use a low VOC sealer to keep your countertops eco-friendly, and as green as you can.
Bamboo Countertops Constructed From End Grain: End-Grain bamboo is an alternative method of manufacturing countertops.
The end grain bamboo is glued together just like the planks.
But, rather than creating planks of long bamboo, the manufacturers of end-grain bamboo countertops create them from rectangular pieces of bamboo.
They're glued together much like the planks and a finish sealer is added.
What is the Cost of Bamboo Countertops? The cost of bamboo is relatively inexpensive when compared to that of granite or solid surface countertops.
The plank-type countertops start at about $35 psf for material only, and the end-grain types of counters cost right around $22 psf, again material only.
This is a job for the professional countertop installer and you should only attempt this job if you are very handy.
The reason for this is that a typical countertop installation requires many specialized cuts, and that is usually a job for a professional countertop installer.
How to Care for Bamboo Countertops: Care of Bamboo is extremely simple.
To keep these eco-friendly countertops in tip-top shape, just clean them with a solution of mild soap and warm water.
As these counters have a finish applied, it's important not to set hot items directly on your bamboo countertops.
Because bamboo is basically a wood product, you should avoid cutting directly on the counter surface as well.
Both the finish and the counter surface can be damage with knives.
Not only the green properties, but the beauty and reasonable cost make bamboo an attractive option for your countertops.
Bamboo is a beautiful and a cost-effective option to traditional wood and the more expensive composite or natural stone counters.
LEED Certification: Another notable 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.
Bamboo Countertops can additionally qualify under LEED EQ Credit 4.
4.
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