Summer is here and what better way to relax and keep cool than by splashing into your pool backward. Now for those of you who don’t have a pool then it is high time you got one. And what good is a pool if you don’t have a nice wooden deck to recline or jump into the pool from. Whenever any homeowner thinks of a deck, they go for hardwood. Hardwoods are the most popular materials when it comes to building deck. Having said so, over the past couple of decades a grass has been taking over the construction industry from hardwoods and has become the new darling in the eyes of architects and construction engineers. This grass is none other than the bamboo.

The bamboo is a very tall grass which grows predominantly throughout Asia and some parts of Africa and South America. The tall perennial grass has hollow shoots and are said to be stronger than oak or maple. It takes a bamboo roughly 5-8 years to fully mature. The generation cycle of bamboo is much less compared to hardwoods. Most hardwoods take more than 30 years to grow, while some may even take a century. Thus, cutting down of old hardwood trees for building purposes have proven fatal for the environment and the ecology. These trees take so much time to grow back that the damage caused by cutting down even one tree is irreversible. This is where the bamboo come in. with its short generation period and its incredible strength, the bamboo is a much better choice for building material compared to hardwoods, primarily because of its sustainability.

Bamboo decks also look as good as hardwood decks, if not better. The natural grains and lines of the bamboo give it an edgy texture which looks great on your deck. The artistic lines if used cleverly can make your deck look a lot more appealing than any hardwood deck. Bamboo decking also provides a diverse range of color schemes along with a variety of styles. The fact that bamboo looks exactly like hardwood will stump your neighbors and friends. What’s more, bamboo decking costs way less than hardwood decking. Using bamboo on your deck and floors will ensure less pressure on your bank accounts.

Bamboo has a reputation of being very low maintenance which further lowers your expenditure. Maintenance of hardwood decks are costly and is required to be done periodically. On the other hand bamboo is very easily maintained. Just a wipe with a clean wet cloth does the trick. Installing a bamboo deck is also easy as pie. You can do it yourself. Perfect fit between joists ensures there is almost no wastage of extra bamboo. The longevity of bamboo is much more than any hardwood. In fact some manufacturers even claim that a bamboo deck can last you a lifetime with refurnishing. Bamboo decking can be refurnished 2-3 times. Once refurnished, the deck will look as good as new.

Another valuable quality of bamboo is its natural ability to resist dust, pest infestation, germs and scratches. During the manufacturing process, bamboo is treated in a hot solution of boric acid. This treatment removes any insect living in the bamboo and also the stored sugar in the bamboo. By removing the sugar, the process make sure there is no future pest or insect infestation. The tough, sturdy body of the bamboo is also resilient to dents and scratches. It can also withstand the heaviest of footfalls with the minimum of fuss. Generally your bamboo decking should last a good 20 years or so but any dents or scratches can be taken care of by refurnishing the deck. After refurnishing, bamboo decking can ideally last a lifetime.

Bamboo decks are also relatively safer for your kids as bamboo tends to resist moisture and are less slippery than hardwood. However, water should not be left to accumulate at a particular spot on your deck for over 24 hours. Apart from flooding, your bamboo deck is tough enough to handle a few spills and stains. The sustainability of bamboo is what makes it a better choice amongst architects and builders. With more strength than most commonly available hardwoods like maple, oak, cherry and mahogany and greater benefits to the environment it is a perfect replacement to hardwood. Its eco-friendly values also make it attractive among homeowners who now want their homes to reflect a greener side of them.