# structural bamboo **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176 "2006-08-18T01:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176/1 "2006-08-18T01:59:47Z")
anyone have any experience in ordering bamboo and building something with it? I want to build a sunroom off my house, and I was thinking about trying bamboo. I would think I could just order bamboo and have it shipped here relatively cheaply by boat or container. I looked at “kits” but nothing really struck me as something I wanted. Basically I just want to buy the bamboo, and want to find out about a possible supplier. ---
**Author:** ![Capa84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8edcca/32.png) [@Capa84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capa84)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176/2 "2006-08-19T04:52:15Z")
I was researching bamboo beds, and after seeing the cost, decided to research bamboo lumber, and found this: [http://www.calibamboo.com/lumber.html](http://www.calibamboo.com/lumber.html) ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176/3 "2006-08-19T09:54:47Z")
I’ve built decks, walls, and even an above ground pool with bamboo. Trust me here, it’s not a good material. All of those needed wood for reinforcement. If you want the bamboo look, look into bamboo facing. Do not, no matter what any dealer tells you, think that you can build any decent load bearing structure out of it. Sure, you might hear that bamboo has “amazing structural properties” or some such, but the cardboard tube from a paper towel roll also has some cool structural properties. But, like a paper towel roll, bamboo doesn’t take torsion worth a damn. Build the sunroom out of wood, and then face it with bamboo. ---
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176/4 "2006-08-20T14:25:26Z")
Agreed, I did some experimenting with the twisting action and found it was wanting. Plus at $22 for the equivalent of a spruce stud, which I can still get around here for $8 or less, its quite a bit more expensive to ship in. I’ve decided to stick with native materials. Thanks for the help folks! ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176/5 "2006-08-20T14:45:28Z")
Hopefully this is only a slight hijack: anyone have honest information on Bamboo flooring? I’d follow the google ad at the bottom but, well, it’s an add. It seems like such a neat idea. Is it worth doing, or should I just go for the new wood laminates on the market? ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structural-bamboo/369176/6 "2006-08-20T18:21:33Z")
From my experience - bamboo is actually a nicer alternative to the laminate style flooring. Also, for resale value, I loved watching people’s eyes light up when I tell them the floors are made from bamboo planks. The laminate always sounds “hollow” compared to real wood. Bamboo sounds almost like hardwood, but just a little more muffled.