It’s not hard to understand the growing admiration for the good looks and functionality of bamboo veneer. Actually considered a grass, bamboo grows very quickly and may be re-harvested every three or more years. From an environmental point of view, it is therefore a rapidly renewable and sustainable resource.
Bamboo products have been used for years in many Asian countries where the species is typically grown. The plants produce an attractive and highly versatile material that has been steadily gaining wider availability and popularity in other parts of the world, especially where a certain Asian allure and esthetic is appreciated.
How Does Bamboo Become Bamboo Veneer?
Bamboo veneers are made from slicing bamboo stems lengthwise. These raw materials are dried and processed, compressed, and then glued together to form an elegant, long-lasting material that’s great for any wood veneer application.
It comes in a variety of warm shades and blends beautifully into the décor of virtually any room.
Bamboo has an excellent range of warm and natural shades: blonde or ash colored and carbonized or caramel colored. Bamboo veneer also comes in 2 grain structures:
Plain pressed (PP)
Strips are placed horizontally and glued together to create a wide line pattern with the characteristic bamboo nodes clearly visible.
Side pressed (SP)
Strips are placed vertically and glued together to create a narrow line pattern with the bamboo nodes visible in a subtle way.
So, the grain pattern is vertical with either a narrow or planked effect. Vertical grain tends to be thinner and tighter, whereas planked has a significantly wider grain. Both types of grain are commonly supplied on a fleece backer in a 4×8 or 4×10 format.
Whether for residential or commercial use, bamboo veneer is a great option to consider, not least because it is also extremely cost-effective.
More Amazing Benefits of Bamboo Veneer
Bamboo is often more affordable than other conventional woods, an economical factor that adds to its desirability.
- Bamboo is an endless resource with complete sustainability. With a growing speed of up to 1 meter per day, bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. The world’s largest bamboo reserves are located in China. Here, bamboo is a species that has been used as a wood alternative for centuries. Grown in managed bamboo forests, around 30% of the forest is harvested each year without reducing the overall growing amount.
- Low Carbon Footprint: All bamboo veneers are officially assessed to be CO2 neutral or better. Indeed, almost all wood products used, as building materials, is carbon neutral or carbon negative.
If you’re planning to utilize wood veneers in your next creative project, such as – tables, cabinetry, furniture, or wall panels, consider the ease of working with top quality bamboo veneers.
Sabrina Parisette-Herzog is a 5th generation wood veneer specialist. Owner and President of Herzog Veneers, Inc., and a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, she and her husband Sam started the company in High Point, NC in 1982.
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