Bamboo vs Wood: Which is the Better Construction Material for Your Home?

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating and refurbishing your old, lovely abode, you have probably considered both bamboo and wood as the main construction material for your house.

However, before deciding which one to use, it’s important to know the major differences between these two similar yet absolutely different building materials. For one, bamboo grows up to 10 times faster than wood. It is the fastest growing plant on Earth which means you can readily use it for 1-5 years, compared to wood’s 40-60 year waiting time to fully grow.

If you’re curious to know more, here are the 3 other major differences between bamboo and wood that you should know.

Bamboo vs Wood: 3 Differences You Should Know

1. Sustainability

The reason why bamboo grows significantly faster than wood is the fact that it effectively and efficiently converts the sunlight, water, and nutrients it consumes. This just means that bamboo doesn’t waste any resources which makes it far more sustainable compared to wood.

Bamboo can also store more carbon than timber up to 5 times and exhales 35% more oxygen than other types of trees.

Furthermore, bamboo can even grow back to its full height without the need to replant it. After harvesting them, new bamboo regrows from the same root system. It doesn’t require you to harvest, remove the stumps, till the soil, and replant, and other cumbersome planting steps or procedures which are commonly present in growing timber.

Overall, bamboo is a self-generating natural resource that doesn’t cause disturbance to the environment.

2. Durability

Bamboo is actually much harder compared to many softwoods. This means that it’s perfectly suited in settings like floorboards or decking because it can last for a long time.

Since they naturally resist fungus, bacteria, and termites, bamboo can also grow strongly without the need for herbicides and pesticide that often harms and poisons people. It also doesn’t need fertiliser and can grow and survive in soils and environments that not many types of wood could do.

Bamboo is also surprisingly harder than steel! It has greater tensile strength, or the resistance of being pulled apart, compared to steel. Bamboo’s tensile strength is about 28,000 per square inch in comparison to steel’s 23,000. It also withstands compression better than concrete.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a reliable and durable building material that will last for years to come, bamboo will not fail you.

3. Flexibility

Aside from being durable, bamboo also has greater flexibility compared to most types of timbers. This is due to the fact that it is hollow inside which means it’s extremely lightweight, allowing for easy harvesting and transporting.

However, don’t be fooled by its weight because it is still extremely sturdy. This ultimately makes it useful for many purposes, regardless of place or ways, which timber just couldn’t achieve.

Furthermore, since bamboo is made from very dense fibres, it’s possible to bend it to create many different shapes and angles without the risk of it snapping or breaking. Bamboo is really an ideal building material for the betterment of your home.

Bamboo doesn’t waste any natural resources which makes it far more sustainable than wood. Furthermore, bamboo is durable yet still very flexible when compared to other kinds of wood. This ultimately allows you to use it in many different ways around your home. So, if you’re looking for such building material that will last for many years to come, you wouldn’t go wrong with bamboo.

Author Bio:

George Katsoudas is a Digital Marketing Professional. Who works as the Managing Director of Low Cost SEO, a digital marketing firm in Sydney and a Digital Media Manager for House of Bamboo, offering Australia the most varied collection of classic and new natural materials.

Company Bio:

House of Bamboo is Australia’s trusted source of eco-friendly and high-quality natural materials that can be integrated into a contemporary setting. Our range encompasses high quality bamboo fencing, timber screens, privacy screens, decorative screens, ceiling panels, rattan cane webbing, fence panels, and pool certification. #NotJustBamboo