What is the Durability of a Bamboo House?

I am facing a situation as I need to look for material to build some house(s) in Belize. My spouse asked a critical question: what is the durability of a bamboo house and how many years can you expect a bamboo home to last?

Also, what is a way to make a bamboo home to be hurricane 'resistant'? Proper joints and reinforcements or more bamboo elements put together in a technically mosaic?

Also, if you have a building team using a prefabricated house from bamboo it will take 2-3 days to assemble it again and another 1-2 months to finish. What is the time frame and level of effort needed to build a bamboo home using a same nice design but not a prefab kit and all the pieces cut on site?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

A professionally build bamboo house with preserved bamboo poles will last a lifetime. Many bamboo homes can be found in South America and Asia that are older than 200 years!

Proper treatment of the bamboo is crucial along with specific building techniques and maintenance. It is for example most important to avoid direct contact with soil, sun or rain to ensure the durability of bamboo.

Highly trained and skilled workers can build a standard bamboo house from scratch in 2 months, all depends on the design of course.

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Stephen Saugnier

I also had a query in regard to the cost of building a bamboo house. I know it depends on a number of factors but can you give me some examples to make better estimates.

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Saanvi

Bamboo flooring is one of the fastest growing use of bamboo. This segment has been around for more than a decade or two, but it has managed to reach great popularity and success all over the world. Proper treatment of the bamboo is crucial along with specific building techniques and maintenance.

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Affordable Bamboo Housing

In his book, Oscar Hidalgo referred to bamboo as "The Gift of the Gods". Simon Velez titled his book "Grow Your Own House". Both titles invite dreams of affordable bamboo housing. Yet the reality is a disappointment. Why?

Green Gold Miracle

Bamboo has been called “Green Gold.” For a few that may be a reality. Modern day bamboo growers have discovered the “secret” the Alchemists of old never found. Through the process of immunisation, growers have discovered how to turn “green gold” into “yellow gold.”

Bamboo is The Solution

Bamboo is not the problem. Bamboo is the solution. A growing number of bamboo enthusiasts are frustrated at the high prices of materials and construction. Our frustrations are justified. After all, we see beautiful bamboo constructions at famous resorts. We appreciate the beauty and desire the same for our homes. We remember the promise held out by Hidalgo and Velez.

Why are “the Promise” and “the Reality” Opposites?

One possible reason could be that today there is a temporary lack of qualified bamboo specialists in the Western world. The demand for high quality bamboo construction out paces the supply of experienced construction personnel. We need more young bamboo structural engineers, bamboo architects and skilled workers.

This Will Change

We are on the verge of an exciting frontier. As more young professionals take up the challenge, the affordability issue will resolve itself as it has in Asia. Belgium, Germany, Italy and Colombia are doing serious research on quality construction techniques for the growing bamboo industry. Courses are being taught at schools dealing with environmental and sustainability issues surrounding bamboo. Construction skills are growing among young people with vision. We are on the frontier of an exciting beginning.