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Bamboo for decking?
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As teak is becomming quite a rare luxury these days I was looking at the possibility of composite bamboo as an alternative.
It is often used for garden decking already, it is environmantal, it is cheap and very durable. What would forum tthink the the pros and cons be of using bamboo as an alternative decking material?
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Mukes
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(regular)
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18/06/2008 13:25
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Watch out for this fellow if you try it:
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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I remember from my short and undistinguished career as a mountaineer that in the mid 1970s one well known maker produced ice axes with a shaft of laminated bamboo. This was much stronger than the ash or hickory traditionally used, and lighter than the metal shafts that were just coming into use at the time. I would think there is a lot of potential for bamboo in marine applications as a durable and very fast-growing timber.
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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I remember reading a book by Tim Severin in which they built a raft in the style of the Chinese ocean going ones. They built it using high quality bamboo except for the deck house which was a last minute job. The raft itself wasn't troubled by termites and the like, but within a short time the deck houses had completely disintegrated. Bamboo isn't long lasting for prolonged marine use. As far as I remember the life expectancy of a bamboo boat is very short, about a year or two. This is once again based on the book. I don't remember if the voyage was successful in the end though. Bamboo has been used in marine applications longer then most woods, but perhaps it wouldn't be as well suited to a Northern European climate.
Look at http://www.timseverin.net/china.htm
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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My last boat had a bamboo boom and gaff that was probably over 50 years old although dry stored most of the time.
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Not really sure you can call grass cuttings timber!?
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Looks like timber to me:
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Are you talking about buying the man made bamboo decking and milling it down for your own needs ?
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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No, I was thinking of a possible bamboo teak replacement business that could be sold to plastic boat owners who want a "wooden feel".
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Phew ! For a moment i thought you where going to deck out Roach with B&Q decking 
I read somewhere on this forum ( lounge i think ) that bambo was getting harder to get or something along those lines . I would be very carefull in trying to start a business on one timber as the timber prices change according to what is availible (stock market  )
I think you really need to know someone in the timber trade that will advice you on price changes . If i call my timber yard for an order i tell them what the timber is for and give them my cutting list . For example , my man would then ask if i really need Oak as Iroko is cheaper right now . If it changes and Oak is cheaper he will tell me .
Of course you may know something i dont .
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anteak
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(regular)
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19/06/2008 23:44
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Quote:
Phew ! For a moment i thought you where going to deck out Roach with B&Q decking
Me too! I thought OMG, Roach has finally lost it!! 
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Sorry for the fright....
Roach still has her very slippy varnished Honduras Mahogany decks and that way it will stay. Atleast when you go overboard your last vision is one of beauty!
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cliff
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(regular)
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20/06/2008 09:02
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Quote:
Looks like timber to me:
It may look like timber to you but bamboo is a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae hence it is a grass not a tree.
---------------------
 Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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First thoughts were: Very slippery and if not: Very splintery. Either not to great for proper bare foot matelots
Andrew
Havn´t seen that B&Q stuff, must look in Castorama.
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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Hi. Bamboo decking is now coming into UK. Builder Depot in London (www.builderdepot.co.uk) have started stocking it from this week. Its a rare product to get hold off and they are the only people in the UK who stock it at moment. I only know this because I supply them from China. http://www.stonetimber.co.uk/bamboo.htm
Hope this helps.
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Re: Bamboo for decking?
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And how about a guardrail to go with the decking.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhzheka/620835214
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