Monthly Archives: October 2009

The bamboo timber pole is called a culm.  Maybe the most noticeable characteristic of bamboo is the segmentation of the culm into distinct nodes or joints with intermediate smooth sectors called internodes. The external surface is polished and extremely hard being coated with a protective screen of wax and silica. Peripheral culm tissue is a dense matrix of elongated cellulose plant fibers cemented together by a substance called lignin (adds strength and flexibility). Poles have multitudes of uses but must be left in the grove or stand for at least 3 years before they are harvested for the timber. When harvested it is preferable to store them vertically in the shade to dry.

Thank you Environmental Bamboo Foundation for some of the facts used in this article.

We’d like to thank the Environmental Bamboo Foundation for these facts:

BAMBOO IS:

The fastest growing woody plant on this planet. It grows one third faster than the fastest growing tree. Some species can grow up to 1 meter per day. One can almost "watch it grow". This growth pattern makes it easily accessible in a minimal amount of time. Size ranges from miniatures to towering culms of 60 meters.

A critical element in the balance of oxygen / carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Bamboo is s the fastest growing canopy for the re-greening of degraded areas and generates more oxygen than equivalent stand of trees. It lowers light intensity and protects against ultraviolet rays and is an atmospheric and soil purifier.

A viable replacement for wood. Bamboo is one of the strongest building materials. Bamboo's tensile strength is 28,000 per square inch versus 23,000 for steel. In the tropics is it possible to plant and grow your own bamboo home. In a plot 20m x 20m2, in the course of 5 years, two 8m x 8m homes can be constructed from the harvest; every year after that, the yield is one additional house per plot.

An enduring natural resource. Bamboo can be selectively harvested annually. Bamboo provided the first re-greening in Hiroshima after the atomic blast in 1945. Thomas Edison successfully used a carbonized bamboo filament in his first experiment with the light bulb.

Versatile with a short growth cycle. There are over 1000 species of bamboo on the earth. The diversity makes bamboo adaptable to many environments. For example; it can be harvested in 3-5 years, versus 10-20 years for most softwood. Bamboo tolerates extremes of precipitation, from 30-250 inches of annual rainfall.

A renewable resource for agro-forestry products. Bamboo is a high-yield renewable natural resource: ply bamboo is now being used for wall paneling, floor tiles; bamboo pulp, for paper making, briquettes for fuel, raw material for housing construction, and rebar for reinforced concrete beams.

A soil conservation tool. Bamboo is exquisite component of landscape design. Its anti-erosion properties create an effective watershed, stitching the soil together along fragile river banks, deforested areas, and in places prone to earthquakes and mud slides. The sum of stem flow rate and canopy intercept of bamboo is 25% which means that bamboo greatly reduces rain run-off, preventing massive soil erosion.

A landscape design element. Bamboo is an exquisite component of landscape design. For the human environment, bamboo provides shade, wind break, acoustical barriers and aesthetic beauty.

Bamboo has been incorporated into many building and decorating options. There are a wide variety of colors, species, and options depending on your needs. Whether you are building a fence, accentuating your garden, or decorating for an upcoming event; the use of bamboo poles add an eco-friendly and beautiful building element.

Bamboo poles are measured at the base diameter. Colors vary from a sandy, natural beige or tan, to brown and olive tones, speckled varieties, and even black. Since bamboo is a natural product, no two poles will be exactly alike. Tonkin and Moso are two types of the more popular bamboo poles sold and used. Moso is the same species that most of our bamboo floors and plywoods are made from. Much of the bamboo imported is from China, but bamboo is cultivated all over the world. Bamboo placed directly into the ground will only last up to two years, if that. In the ground or grass, bamboo will rot. Above ground, bamboo will last for many years. If you treat bamboo with a water sealer or urethane, bamboo can retain its natural appearance for years. When cutting poles, it’s best to use a fine tooth blade.

The following directions are for one option only. Please know that you have many options and building styles to choose from; don’t hesitate to dive in and explore and ask questions.

The most important thing you can do, prior to building your palapa is to plan things carefully. Plan properly to avoid mishaps and poor construction. It can be difficult to remove and/or relocate a palapa so get any input available to you and find a proper location. The ideal spot for your palapa should have nothing overhanging and the ground must be free from obstructions. Be sure to contact your utility company if you need to do any digging. So you’ve made proper plans, discussed your options with family, friends, and your local tiki hut masters; be sure you have footings in place before you start building.

The Palapa posts and beams may be heavy and awkward so be sure to have trusty, strong helpers to assist. An "A" frame helps to stabilize the posts while leveling and plumbing. You might choose to elevate the posts off the patio using adjustable post bases. By doing this, you get the post off the floor and ensures it will not decay from water damage. This also makes the structure "portable". This can come in handy depending on your local zoning ordinance. Galvanized lag bolts help to fasten all the framing together. Once you have the framing in place you can start "stringing" the latillas or prepping so your thatch will have support or something to lay on. (A latilla is a limb or thin pole, used as a ceiling material between beams). Depending on the design you choose, you may or may not use them.

Some folks have the latillas exposed with the bamboo reed or thatch sandwiched between the roof sheathing and the latillas. Your roof can take on it’s own unique character depending on the materials you choose. Bamboo, plywood, thatching, and a variety of other options will help serve you. If you are using latillas, once the latillas are in place and fastened together, lay the reeds or thatching across the latillas prior to stapling the plywood down. Be sure that someone is watching to be sure your reeding or thatch is in place before you fasten it.

Again, do the research and enjoy yourself! Your needs may differ and lead you to a whole different palapa experience.

A palapa; sometimes referred to as a tiki hut or grass hut, can assume a variety of forms. A typical palapa is a rustic, thatched-roof, open-sided structure. A palapa can be supported by a single pole, (average pole is six inches in diameter), or more. There are even large palapa structures supported by 18 poles or more. It all depends on your needs. The thatch used to cover the roof of a palapa typically consists of dried and woven palm-tree leaves or reeds that are glued together. Palapas provide shade from the hot sun and are typically designed to withstand a variety of climates.

There are a lot of surf culture and retro aficionados out th ere~A Palapa is right up your alley. Time to put yer feet up and relax in the shade of a Palapa.