Bamboo Countertops

If you are shopping around for some fantastic eco-friendly countertops, you should consider going green with Bamboo Countertops. There are many notable aspects associated with bamboo and we will review them here.

Bamboo is Tough:

Another attribute of bamboo is that it is an exceedingly durable building material. It is equal to the durability of many hardwoods and is even harder than a number of other hardwoods.

Because of the strength of bamboo, you can expect that your bamboo countertops will be very tough. Because of the bamboo durability, it is even more eco-friendly than other countertop materials that need replacing every few years.

Bamboo is Recyclable:

As good as bamboo is, it gets even better, as it is very recyclable. Products that can be recycled are greener than those that must be thrown into a landfill at the end of their useful life.

How Bamboo Countertops Are Made:

Bamboo countertops are essentially created in a few distinctive ways. It is a subject of personal preference as to what type you select.

The first type of bamboo countertops are actually a form of laminate. All Totally Bamboo is one of the most common manufacturers of this type of countertop. Cross-brand laminates which are called multilam, are used to begin their production process.

Small strips of bamboo are then glued together to create the planks. Once the planks are complete, they are put together with an adhesive that is non-toxic and formaldehyde-free.

Most often these counters are delivered to the jobsite in an unfinished state and will need a finish sealer applied as the final step To keep a project green, it's important to employ an eco-friendly, low-VOC sealer.

End Grain Bamboo Countertops:

Countertops manufactured from end-grain bamboo is another type you may be interested in. As with the plank method above, they are glued together. The manufacturers of end-grain bamboo create their countertops by means of making up the tops of rectangular pieces of the end-grain. After these pieces of bamboo are glued together, there is a sealer applied to finish the countertop.

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 counters start at about $35 per square foot, exculding installation, and the end-grain types of counters cost right around $22 per square foot, again uninstalled.

This is a job for the professional countertop installer and you should only attempt this job if you are exceedingly handy. Countertop installation often requires many specialized cuts and that is a job that is best left for the professionals.

Care of Bamboo Countertops:

Caring for these eco-friendly bamboo countertops is very straight-forward. Use warm water and a little mild soap to keep these green countertops clean. Be sure to use protection trivets when locating hot items on bamboo countertops, to protect the finish on the counters.

Because bamboo is basically a wood product, you should avoid cutting directly on the counter surface. Both the counter and the finish can be damaged with a knife.

With it's green properties, and reasonable cost, it's difficult not to love the beauty of a bamboo countertop. If you like the look of wood, be sure to check out bamboo as one of your choices for new countertops.

LEED Certification - Bamboo Countertops:

Bamboo Countertops 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. Also you may get credits under LEED EQ Credit 4.4.