Bamboo grows so fast why don't we use it more often for building?

Question

Bamboo grows so fast why don't we use it more often for building?

Answer 1

they could use bamboo synthetic fireproof plastic the list can go on if we thought about. The sad thing is the lumber company and the construction company makes the vast majority of houses. If you want a house built out of bamboo go for it but i doubt new technology in house building will become commercial any time soon.

Answer 2

i dont think it grows big a nuff

Answer 3

Probably because of tradition here in the U.S.  Plus I don't know how well that stuff would grow over here.  Think of cost of shipping.

Answer 4

Actually in some places where there is poverty and ambundance of bamboo it is used. But there isnt any "modern" house built with bamboo. If you can show the world how to build one it will sell in the "developed" countries too.

Till then the poor in third world countries will live in bamboo houses.

Answer 5

They do for hardwood flooring and that's about all it can be used for. try building anything structural out of a bunch of big tubes. wont work which is why there are building codes.

Answer 6

Probably because you can't make dimensional lumber out of it, so good luck getting a building permit.

Answer 7

The source should be interesting  

Why dont we use it in US for construction?, it just wont fit in with our current stick built home method of construction and its not readily available in quantity it tends to rot really fast if not treated. Most areas that do used it have an abundant supply close at hand.

Answer 8

It has been thought of.

Couple of problems still.

Bamboo's tubular form presents certain structural conundrums. Joints, for example. One can't very well nail two hollow tubes together, and putting rods through them weakens them. This is a serious problem. For no matter what a house is built with, it's only as strong as its joints.

Bamboo is extremely flammable.  It also attracts more insects then most woods.

It only grows in limited areas. (Well as in the type of bamboo you want to build with.)

Plus, it is still seen as a poor man's wood.