Bamboo has gotten a lot of accolades in the green building and construction. They are renewable, has natural antibiotic properties, and are biodegradable. The biggest perk is that renewable factor; it only takes three years for bamboo to reach their maturity whereas a tree can take up to 150 years. Another reason to celebrate Bamboo is their strength and durability.
Although the actuality of this claim has been disputed in TreeHugger article, Bamboo Flooring, Is it Really TreeHugger Green? “Before we look at the environmental issues, let’s look at its utility- is it all it is cracked up to be? One of the major benefits touted by vendors is how hard and tough it is. It’s Not. The popular carbonized darker bamboos are comparable to Black Walnut, considered a soft hardwood, and the lighter natural colours test comparable to maple.” However, there is no denying that Bamboo is the star material and “it child” in the green world.
Cali Bamboo is serving the demanding need for Bamboo by introducing Lumboo, the first engineered dimensional lumber made from Bamboo. Lumboo is manufactured by gluing strips of bamboo together into a block. According to Cali Bamboo, a low VOC resin is used to compress the bamboo strips together. According to Building Green, The blocks are milled into 1×4, 2×4, 2×6, and 4×4 products, although due to the strength of the product, the actual sizes are much smaller than their nominal sizes. Lumboo is made in China and distributed from several points in the U.S. directly by Cali Bamboo.
Four years in the making, it is only currently available as fencing product. Cali Bamboo is hoping to expand their lumber line to framing and decking lumber in the near future, especially if they can bring the price down. Although it is also touted as termite resistant; Cali Bamboo does not have testing data to support that claim (or any testing on overall decay resistance), noting that it is a well-known attribute of bamboo {via Building Green}.\
Sources: Re-Nest, TreeHugger, Building Green
Image Source: Cali Bamboo
About Susie Kim-Carberry
There has been many companies within the past 10-15 years that have held and sold dimensional bamboo lumber. To say this is the first is a far fetched story. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Good point. Why is Cali bamboo trying to say that they are the first? Perhaps it is the first for them, since they are a flooring company, and bamboo flooring has been around 20 years. Check out Lamboo, Architectural and Structural bamboo. http://www.lamboo.us
There has been many companies within the past 10-15 years that have held and sold dimensional bamboo lumber. To say this is the first is a far fetched story. Sorry to burst your bubble.
Good point. Why is Cali bamboo trying to say that they are the first? Perhaps it is the first for them, since they are a flooring company, and bamboo flooring has been around 20 years. Check out Lamboo, Architectural and Structural bamboo. http://www.lamboo.us
Yeah, Susie. It is made in China. but in China,we call it "strand wovem bamboo"
A question to you:
Does your Cali Bamboo distritutor any bamboo floorings in China ?
We are one of the manufacturer of bamboo flooring in China. If you interest in it, can email me to ask for samples.
PS: You did a real good job here!
Yeah, Susie. It is made in China. but in China,we call it "strand wovem bamboo"
A question to you:
Does your Cali Bamboo distritutor any bamboo floorings in China ?
We are one of the manufacturer of bamboo flooring in China. If you interest in it, can email me to ask for samples.
PS: You did a real good job here!
Hello, can you name some of the companies that you claim have made and sold dimensional bamboo lumber? Looking at various sources, there seems to be a valid claim that Lumboo is the first "engineered dimensional bamboo lumber" Plus Lumboo is trademarked which I believe would seem to hold the "first" title.
http://www.lamboo.us Lamboo, Inc. This is a engineered bamboo technology company that has been around for about 7 years. This company is actively manufacturing structural components and dimensional lumber for window and door manufactures across the US as well as structural beams.
Hello, can you name some of the companies that you claim have made and sold dimensional bamboo lumber? Looking at various sources, there seems to be a valid claim that Lumboo is the first "engineered dimensional bamboo lumber" Plus Lumboo is trademarked which I believe would seem to hold the "first" title.
http://www.lamboo.us Lamboo, Inc. This is a engineered bamboo technology company that has been around for about 7 years. This company is actively manufacturing structural components and dimensional lumber for window and door manufactures across the US as well as structural beams.
I have actually done business with a company called Welson & York and they had supplied me a product that was trademarked and named Lumboo a year or two back. It was laminated bamboo dimensional lumber. So how can this other company push a product that is trademarked elsewhere? Another company that supplies bamboo dimensional lumber is a company called 4 winds bamboo.
I have actually done business with a company called Welson & York and they had supplied me a product that was trademarked and named Lumboo a year or two back. It was laminated bamboo dimensional lumber. So how can this other company push a product that is trademarked elsewhere? Another company that supplies bamboo dimensional lumber is a company called 4 winds bamboo.
Interesting comments. I will try to contact the representatives of Cali Bamboo to get the facts straight in regards to the trademark and claiming they are the first engineered bamboo lumber. But thanks for adding other sources for dimensional bamboo products.
Interesting comments. I will try to contact the representatives of Cali Bamboo to get the facts straight in regards to the trademark and claiming they are the first engineered bamboo lumber. But thanks for adding other sources for dimensional bamboo products.
After contacting Cali Bamboo in regards to their trademark claim. This is the response I received. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
The full term “engineered bamboo dimensional lumber” is specific. It does not mean to say we are the first to invent a piece of bamboo that can be used to build something. If you look at the history of all of the so called bamboo lumber claims out there you will find a few things in common.
1. Many claims of bamboo lumber are simply flooring parts with a different name (example calling stair risers, which has been selling for decades, bamboo lumber)
2. Other companies have or are trying to simply use the exact same process as bamboo flooring or bamboo plywood and simply change the dimensions or glue them together into different or larger dimension and repackage the name as bamboo lumber.
We define “engineered bamboo dimensional lumber” as the most common dimensional lumber components sold in the United States which are 8ft long 2x4s, 4x4s, 2x6s, and 1x4s. We are unaware of any companies that have previously and are currently selling a suite of products that match these descriptions and have made these products available to purchase in north America for a cost that is in line to other outdoor grade dimensional lumber products.
CaliBamboo’s engineered bamboo dimensional lumber is the first of its kind. It is unique in the way it is manufactured. Because of its unique manufacturing process that was developed 5years ago at CaliBamboo, engineered bamboo dimensional lumber is now available in the most popular sizes such as 2x4s and 4x4s at a price point that is competitive to like products and most importantly can be purchased by end users today.
GBE Editor
After contacting Cali Bamboo in regards to their trademark claim. This is the response I received. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
The full term “engineered bamboo dimensional lumber” is specific. It does not mean to say we are the first to invent a piece of bamboo that can be used to build something. If you look at the history of all of the so called bamboo lumber claims out there you will find a few things in common.
1. Many claims of bamboo lumber are simply flooring parts with a different name (example calling stair risers, which has been selling for decades, bamboo lumber)
2. Other companies have or are trying to simply use the exact same process as bamboo flooring or bamboo plywood and simply change the dimensions or glue them together into different or larger dimension and repackage the name as bamboo lumber.
We define “engineered bamboo dimensional lumber” as the most common dimensional lumber components sold in the United States which are 8ft long 2x4s, 4x4s, 2x6s, and 1x4s. We are unaware of any companies that have previously and are currently selling a suite of products that match these descriptions and have made these products available to purchase in north America for a cost that is in line to other outdoor grade dimensional lumber products.
CaliBamboo’s engineered bamboo dimensional lumber is the first of its kind. It is unique in the way it is manufactured. Because of its unique manufacturing process that was developed 5years ago at CaliBamboo, engineered bamboo dimensional lumber is now available in the most popular sizes such as 2x4s and 4x4s at a price point that is competitive to like products and most importantly can be purchased by end users today.
GBE Editor
"The blocks are milled into 1×4, 2×4, 2×6, and 4×4 products, although due to the strength of the product, the actual sizes are much smaller than their nominal sizes."
Since so much building today uses shear plate connectors and hangers, I'd be surprised if any got let inside the structure unless it could conform to 1.5"x3.5" size for 2×4.
I wonder what the actual sizes of the boards are?
"The blocks are milled into 1×4, 2×4, 2×6, and 4×4 products, although due to the strength of the product, the actual sizes are much smaller than their nominal sizes."
Since so much building today uses shear plate connectors and hangers, I'd be surprised if any got let inside the structure unless it could conform to 1.5"x3.5" size for 2×4.
I wonder what the actual sizes of the boards are?
Cali’s claims are nothing but BS! They did NOT start on this 5 years ago! They are NOT the first! I actually introduced the concept to the owner 3 years ago under the direction of partnering up, his responce was that he was not interested then started this product without me. Funny how he would not take my calls after that time. Glubam has built homes from the same product they produce several years ago which is supperior to cali product. The cali product is a joke, I have been in this business over 30 years! You want to buy from a liar-thief go ahead.