| For several decades now, we as San Francisco home | | | | actually we can tell after several years of wear and |
| owners, contractors, architects, designers and realtors | | | | tear - but who would want to waste thousands of |
| have been told that bamboo is a wonderful material | | | | dollars (or risk thousands of dollars waiting) if the |
| for remodeling projects in that it is very low in cost | | | | bamboo begins to decompose several years after |
| (relative to hard woods) and ecologically sustainable. | | | | installation? |
| How many of us have attended trade shows in the | | | | Perhaps in several years there will be a bamboo rating |
| San Francisco Bay area where bamboo stole the | | | | system so that those of us who choose to use |
| show? These trade shows tout the wonders of using | | | | bamboo for its potential strength and beauty, not to |
| bamboo for everything from flooring to ceilings, waste | | | | mention its functionality. May I suggest that the rating |
| baskets to coffee table furniture, and even drinking | | | | system be simple to include only three categories: A |
| cups more. The cost of many projects could be cut in | | | | "harvested at 5 years or older from a verifiable source |
| one third or even one half as bamboo is far less costly | | | | documented"; B "harvested under 5 years and |
| (or so we have been told) than comparable | | | | therefore not of durable strength for most projects"; |
| hardwoods that were not as versatile nor as | | | | and C "source or harvest age unkown". In this way the |
| eco-friendly. Before the year 2000, much of these | | | | buyer can have some sort of confidence up front at |
| facts were true, and no one had any reason to doubt | | | | the start of a project that they are truly using an eco |
| this after several decades of using bamboo for mass | | | | friendly material or not. |
| industrial uses in buildings. | | | | Until that time, I will continue to admire bamboo, but I will |
| But around the year 2000, many growers in Asia | | | | not encourage my own clients to use it in any projects |
| began harvesting the bamboo stalks at earlier ages | | | | expecting long term durability, nor as a substitute for |
| than the minimum of five years growth. These | | | | hardwood flooring. Maybe it is best used only as an |
| younger stalks do not yet have enough strength and | | | | attractive live landscaping plant until further notice! |
| durability and are best used in craft projects like | | | | If you would like further information about bamboo and |
| basket weaving or clothing. Many homeowners. | | | | ways to begin a simple easy to classify system that |
| contractors and designers continued recommending | | | | can easily be internationally accepted, write me. My |
| and using bamboo in the early 21st century totally | | | | contact information is below. The first step is for a |
| unaware of the results to follow. | | | | large bamboo harvesting plantation in China to start a |
| Today, in 2010, there still are large quantities of | | | | documentation process. Documented bamboo, fetching |
| bamboo imported into the United States each year. | | | | far more in revenues (as if it were "organic produce") |
| How many of us can tell bamboo (or bamboo derived | | | | will be the impetus for change. Even if change comes |
| materials) that are more than five years in age? How | | | | slowly, many home owners, builders, and designers will |
| many of us can tell bamboo that is younger than five | | | | happily step to the front of the line for a truly certified |
| years of age? Probably no one can. Therein lies the | | | | quality building material. Bamboo deserves a place in |
| problem all of us face in choosing bamboo for our | | | | every home. But first, let's at least know the age of |
| next "eco friendly" project! No one can tell. Well, | | | | the material when harvested. |