Woo Hoo, Bamboo{6}
I’ve always had a fascination for bamboo. That’s good for me, as Samal Island has plenty of it. It’s funny because it’s so commonplace in the Philippines that it’s taken for granted for the most part there.
Bamboo is making having a bit of a resurgence in the States, especially in regards to flooring. I’ve looked into having my original fir kitchen floor replaced, and the two products that appealed to me most were bamboo and cork flooring. Both are considered natural, but in truth it depends a lot on how each is manufactured.
I hope to have bamboo incorporated into the construction of our house, at least in some manner. Maybe it will end up being just the floors or interior walls, I don’t know yet. There is the concern about it’s life expectancy for anything external, though that is offset somewhat with the low replacement cost.
The uses for bamboo go way beyond housing materials, though. Do a search and you will find amazing ways that it has been used. Some of the more creative are: bicycles, computers, clothing, and food. Even the more common uses have some very creative examples.
The first structure we put up will likely be a bahay kubo. This may be temporary, or we might keep it depending upon our needs at the time we have our home built. Maybe once I move there, and I’m surrounded by bamboo in all things great and small, I’ll tire of it. But for now I see it playing a big part in our balay.
Aug 18, 2008 @ 18:05:00
Hi Randy, I see you are using Bisayan more now
. I have read up on bamboo flooring a while back because like you, I thought it is naturally grown here. However, as I read up more on this, I found that it may not be wise, especially on the ground floor. Why? It is painted with a polyurethane and over time, it breaks down from sunlight, wear and tear. Here, it is sandy all around and no matter how much I sweep the floors everyday, I find a lot of sand, gravel and dust coming in. The flooring can get scuffed up fairly fast. I like openness inside the house and I can see how the sun’s UV does its damages fairly quickly. So I conclude that I will use tiles (stone or ceramic) downstairs and maybe use the bamboo flooring on my ceiling. I am not sure of the walls, as I like to hang pictures and don’t know if it’s a good idea to punch holes on them (don’t think they are solid through). What do you think?
Aug 18, 2008 @ 18:26:00
Hi Ellen – yeah, I had my first lesson and I’m trying to incorporate the Bisayan occasionally.
You make some good points about the sand and gravel, but the polyurethane finish would be similar to what they would put on any wood finish here. It would eventually need to be be refinished anyway. Maybe just sooner there. Cork might not be good either, as it is porous and would collect sand in the cavities. I like tile, too
For the walls, the bamboo would be just a covering for us. It is pretty thin and probably would crack, unless drilled. I see people hanging things in their bamboo farm houses, so it must be able to be done.
Aug 18, 2008 @ 19:00:00
For the record
, I am not thinking of bamboos in a bahay kubo like in your picture (is that your wife?). I am thinking more of the fabricated flooring with tongue and groove.
Well off to Davao to work in my mother’s carinderia. She is going to Canada with my father today.
Aug 18, 2008 @ 19:45:00
Hi Ellen – yeah, I assumed you meant the tongue and groove type flooring. As to the walls, I was referring more to the bahay kubo type covering, but more for look than anything. I don’t know if they make wall panels, but I would guess so.
That’s my wife in the photo. She’s not real fond of me posting her picture on my blog, so I try to refrain for the most part. That photo had the best shot of walls and flooring, though.
Have fun at the restaurant! I spent many years working at a pizza place, so I know the drill.
Aug 20, 2008 @ 05:19:00
bamboo flooring, solar power (even the hey joe/hendrix reference) … i swear you must have planted a bug here in my house. those are the type of things i plan to have if i ever move back to davao.
i'm glad to see that you are looking at other means at saving energy & conservation (as you might already know, bamboo is less wasteful than large tree wood).
now get out of my head
Aug 20, 2008 @ 08:07:00
Hi Macky – that’s funny. Maybe you left your webcam on , and I got the feed
I like bamboo both because of the look and the fact that it’s natural (and considered more green). My wife likes it, too, so we will definitely be incorporating one way or another into our home. I may just go with cork for my floor here, so that it will be a change for me if we use bamboo there.
Thanks for stopping in and continuing to post!