A bamboo house is a common sight in the Philippines and other countries where bamboo plant is abundant. It’s cheaper to construct than a concrete house. And, yet it can withstand an earthquake.
The Bamboo House Advantage
The buoyant bamboo is one of the oldest and most environmentally-friendly construction materials. It’s commonly used in regions where bamboo plant grows in abundance, like the Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America. Many tests proved that certain bamboo species are sturdier than concrete. They are as strong as steel, and a lot cheaper compared with other construction materials.
And because of bamboo’s high elasticity, houses made of this material are ductile. They just sway back and forth during an earthquake without damaging its poles.
The Characteristics of Bamboo
Bamboo actually belongs to the classifications of grass or plant, not a tree. It’s one of the very fast-growing plants on the planet. A bamboo’s growth rate is one hundred centimeters in 24 hours. Some species reach full maturity in just 90 days, while others take two years. There is also one species that grows at 35 inches per day - that is, 1.5 inches per hour.
In addition, the hollow-stemmed bamboo is easy to grow. It requires less maintenance, too. Here’s how:
- Bamboos thrive even on degraded land.
- They survive on less water.
- These plants do not need any fertilizer and pesticides.
- A grove of bamboo releases around 35 percent more oxygen into the atmosphere than a similar stand of trees.
- Bamboos mature faster than trees. Trees mature in 30 to 50 years.
- They can be replanted within seven years.
- Bamboos grow new shoots each time an older plant is cut down.
Furthermore, bamboos have a complex root system. They effectively slow down deforestation, reduce soil erosion, and desertification. These plants are a renewable and sustainable resource because of its ability to self-replenish.
Bamboo vs Hardwood
For a matter of comparison, let’s see how bamboos fare against hardwood.
First and foremost, cutting of hardwood is no longer as free as it was in the past. Environmental reasons compel most governments worldwide to impose stricter rules on logging and cutting of trees. Thus, resulting to the scarcity of its supply in the market. While bamboo is not covered in the laws governing logging. In fact, it’s readily available in commercial quantities.
Moreover, a tree takes decades to mature before it can be a profitable source of building material. And, once felled, it’s outgwoth is no longer useful.
Is a Bamboo House Strong?
Houses made of bamboo perform better than concrete during earthquakes. Many studies proved it. You may refer to these reports regarding the tests conducted on bamboo houses.
If you are interested to know the details regarding the construction of bamboo houses, refer to the Village Volunteers. The group created a Manual.
Acknowledgement:
Featured photo credit to airbnb.com. Hut hosted by Dayumas in Sukasada, Bali, Indonesia.
We fitted some Bamboo fence panels recently, and not only are they really robust, but they also look great as well, something different.