Sunny days are coming and you want to settle onto your new deck to enjoy the sunshine during summer evenings? If your only limit is your imagination, you'll still need to choose among the many materials available for installing your decking boards.
The advantages of a bamboo terrace
Two species mainly compete when it comes to choosing: exotic wood boards and bamboo boards. The latter is an ecological material that has been gaining popularity in recent years, which raises an essential question: is it a good or a bad idea to install a bamboo terrace?
At ootouch, we are convinced of the benefits of our alternative to the timber industry. Bamboo, after all, has all the characteristics of wood, but better!
Bamboo is a material that can be called durable thanks to its longevity, which can easily reach 30 years! This hardness is due to bamboo's resistance, which gives great and long-lasting robustness to the terraces on which it is installed. In terms of quality, bamboo terraces can be compared to those made of high-quality exotic wood, requiring simple but effective maintenance. Bamboo boards benefit from great stability and adapt to all climates. As with other wood species, good protection will guarantee the longevity of your terrace.
Using bamboo is also a way of acting beneficially for your environment. Indeed, bamboo is a material very often described as ecological, a detail that should not be overlooked at a time when every effort is welcome. Its rapid growth -- it can reach 20 metres in height in record time -- makes it a major player for the well-being of the planet. Did you know that it takes a tree 70 years to reach maturity, while a bamboo plant only needs 5 years?
Imagine yourself for a moment in front of a beautiful forest: on one side, it is made up of trees, on the other, of bamboo. One day, you decide to build your terrace from this forest. By opting for a wooden terrace, you decide to make an entire side of your forest disappear for several decades, the time it takes for it to regrow. On the other hand, by choosing a bamboo terrace, the bamboo grove will be renewed in just a few years!
Discover our ranges of bamboo terraces!
If bamboo and wood were to be compared on their appearance, it is the natural side of both species that would be highlighted. Bamboo gives a genuine feeling of freshness and serenity to the terraces on which it is installed. Want to discover what your terrace would look like with our Solid or Composite boards? Try our RoomVisualizer and picture your new outdoor space!
The drawbacks of a bamboo terrace
While bamboo is considered an ecological material that is good for the environment, its origin is often criticised. While Europe has for some years now been home to bamboo forests, especially in the east of the continent, the vast majority of bamboo plants grow on the other side of the world, in China.
If the origin of bamboo can worry some users, it is nevertheless important to clarify a few points: yes, our bamboo comes from far away, but the energy footprint of bamboo on the planet remains much lower than that of wood. Wood forests are considered the lungs of the Earth, yet bamboo absorbs far more CO2 than trees and produces 30% more oxygen. Its rapid growth and maturity make it a genuine ally of ecology, rest assured!
Finally, while bamboo is a material that is quick to maintain, maintenance remains essential nonetheless. A bamboo terrace whose cleaning is neglected will see its appearance change over time and will eventually turn grey naturally. From then on, you will have the choice of keeping the greyed tone by applying a neutral Woca outdoor oil, or you can restore its original colour with a tinted oil. To keep your terrace's original colour, you will need to apply a protective oil that will allow it to be better preserved, but also to withstand outdoor stresses well over time (sun, rain, hail, etc.). Contact ootouch to receive our maintenance advice for bamboo terraces.
As for the price factor, there is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage to choosing a bamboo terrace. Financially, choosing a bamboo terrace costs roughly the same as a terrace in most other outdoor wood species. You can also opt for a product with quick and easy installation, thanks to an innovative system, i-DecKing, which allows you to lay your terrace without screws or clips, but with a single click. A considerable time saving, but also a significant money saving!
However, it is worth pointing out one thing: you will not need to replace your terrace again for a very long time, as ootouch terraces have a service life of more than 25 years! In other words, the price of your new terrace will be paid off in no time, and the pleasure of a beautiful outdoor space, in which bamboo takes pride of place, will only increase your satisfaction.
At ootouch, find an ecological alternative to traditional materials
Natural and bio-based, bamboo is gaining popularity every year among individuals and businesses looking for an alternative to the highly polluting timber industry. For nearly 20 years, ootouch has offered products for the indoor and outdoor spaces of your homes or offices, with the idea of proving that bamboo does the job just as well as wood. And above all while preserving forests!
Discover our bamboo flooring!
Terraces, flooring and cladding in bamboo give a natural and warm look to the spaces in which they are installed. Choose a product with quick and easy installation, thanks to an innovative system, i-DecKing, which allows you to lay your terrace without screws or clips, but with a single click. Dare to make the switch to bamboo and become a driver of the ecological change in our society by betting on a durable material that is easy to maintain and resistant to the passage of time.
