Tips For Choosing The Right Bamboo Deck
Installing a new deck or replacing an existing structure can be a large project. Before kicking off the big project, you may always face a challenge as how to select a right deck material. Given how the decking is subjected to rough activities and footfall, there’s a requirement of choosing a durable material to withstand all these and more effects of nature. That means the decking material has to be strong, has to be durable, has to be attractive and if it can be sustainable, that’s even better.
There’s no doubt that hardwood pops will enter into your mind when considering decking, and everyone can appreciate the beautiful finish it produces. But what if we told you that there’s a plant that is stronger than steel, stronger than concrete, harder than nearly all wood and sustainable to be produced? What could it be? Bamboo!
Bamboo is the perfect renewable resource for building your deck. In recent times, as bamboo is becoming increasingly recognized as a natural and renewable resource, it is becoming the go-to building material around the world.
While how to choose a good bamboo deck? It may be easy for a product specialist to explain the advantages of bamboo terrace decking, but what makes the homeowner choose bamboo among all of the decking options available? Here below are some tips for you.
1. Product Appearance
When choosing a product, the first and most intuitive step is to look at the appearance. Check if there is any crack, black dot, jump wire or rough texture on the floor surface, whether the surface coating is good. You can also check to see if the color is well-balanced, no obvious color difference exist. For strand woven bamboo decking, it is made of natural bamboo fibers, under carbonization procedure to achieve the natural color, without color staining afterwards, which normally with two colors available, medium carbonized (light brown) and deep carbonized (dark coffee). Here is a knack for you, to cut the deck board to check the cross section, if the section color is compliant with surface color, it will be ok. As some manufacturers will sometimes use the medium carbonized board to dying as deep carbonized to gain profit. But always keep in mind that bamboo is a natural material, like every plant species, a slight color difference is acceptable.
2. Product Density
Strand woven bamboo is made of 100% solid moso bamboo. It selects high quality moso bamboo that over 5 years old as the raw material, splitting the bamboo strip into bamboo fibers, then carbonized and compressed under intense heat pressing (up to 2700tons), the density is as high as 1200kgs/m3. So when you check the side face of a floor board, it should be dense density, without visible air holes. The most easy way is to measure the weight, heavier at the same size means higher density. And in the market, there are normally two manufacturing methods of strand woven bamboo, that is cold pressing and hot pressing. Generally, hot pressing technology will make the board enjoys more uniformed density, thus achieves a better sustainability and durability, and more suitable for outdoor usage.
3. Product Performance
The first two points can be easily judged by naked eyes. And if condition permitted, you can get a physical board to test the performance to further validate. Some crucial features like formaldehyde emission, fire rating, slip resistance, durability and use class, etc. A solid quality guaranteed, with a rear secure.
Fujian Golden Bamboo Industry Co., Ltd (REBO brand) is one of the factories that involved in producing and developing innovative strand woven bamboo material, with mature production technology, complete product certification and excellent service. REBO bamboo enjoys high reputation across the overseas market, and should be an ideal choice for you on no matter outdoor decking, wall cladding, fencing or even indoor flooring.
