Bamboo is usually seen in vast forests and is often associated as an invasive type of plants. In case you don’t know, bamboo is actually a grass and not a kind of tree. It may also be seen in some home backyards although not as popular as other kinds of house plants. However, bamboo has many uses, especially in home improvement and construction purposes.
But before that, we would want to know the different types of bamboos. Some bamboos may be ideal for planting in your garden, while some are sturdy enough to be used as bamboo panels. In fact, there are many stores in NZ that sell construction materials made from bamboo.
Different types of bamboo
There are two major types of bamboo: clumping and running. The former refers to the type of bamboo that grows in clumps and stays planted where it is. It won’t sprout anywhere, which means it is easier to maintain if you plan to plant one in your backyard.
Clumping bamboo can grow in warm and cold temperatures, depending on the variant. Chinese mountain and Umbrella bamboo are considered cold-hardy clumping bamboo. Chinese Goddess, Silverstripe, and Fernleaf are among warm-climate clumping bamboo varieties.
On the other hand, the latter grows everywhere and even uncontrollably, especially if you do not maintain it regularly. It may not be recommended to be planted at home unless you want to fill your entire backyard with bamboo. However, running bamboo can still be manageable by installing root barriers or metal sheeting.
Golden Grove and black bamboo are examples of cold-hardy running bamboo variants, while warm climate ones include Giant Japanese timber and Red margin.
Bamboo as a sustainable building material
As mentioned, bamboo is a type of grass and is actually the tallest type of grass in the world. It grows in many parts of the world, including Asia, some parts of Africa, and the Americas. It is heavily used in construction as well as in different industries such as health care and home improvement among a few.
Back then, bamboo is only used as a building material for rural areas. Nowadays, more and more builders and contractors see bamboo’s worth as a durable construction material for modern homes and industries. It also has an eco-friendly and sustainable design that makes you feel closer to nature.
Surprisingly, bamboo is sturdier and more durable than other building materials. In fact, it was reported that during an earthquake in Colombia back in 1999, structures made from bamboo remained unscathed while the other buildings made from concrete were ruined. This is thanks to bamboo’s fiber material that is actually superior to wood in terms of durability and stability.
Bamboo is also easy to transport due to its lightweight material. On the contrary, building concrete and wooden structures requires heavy equipment and machinery to transport. Renting transport equipment can also mean additional expenses on your part.
That is why bamboo is one of the best building materials there is. It is sustainable, eco-friendly, and multi-functional. No wonder it can become a staple construction material in the near future.