Solid Bamboo Boards - Fit and Finish ready timber

Solid bamboo boards are a great combination of engineered flat boards and solid timber.

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If you are a joiner, kitchen or BIC manufacturer, furniture manufacturer, cabinetmaker, a mill worker or woodworking professional, we encourage you to take a good look at architectural bamboo boards.

Available as fit and finish ready bamboo timber in standard boards sizes.

Bamboo’s superior technical characteristics, competitive pricing compared to fit and finish ready timbers and it’s excellent green credentials offer compelling reasons to use bamboo boards in your next project.

We’re confident that once you have used Eco-Logic Bamboo boards;

saving manufacturing time,
reducing factory space requirements,
optimizing labour utilization,
minimizing machine time and requirements,
and reducing consumable costs,

you’ll never look back.

What exactly is a “Solid Bamboo Board” and how do they fit in with other products?

Firstly, what are the other timber options?

Pressed boards

Engineered flat or pressed boards, is a general term for wood-based panels made from wood chips, shavings, particles, or fibers that are bonded together with a resin. They are also defined as Composite wood products

They are more commonly referred to as Chipboard, MDF, SupaWood, Melamine, etc. You will see composite wood in many products; furniture, wrap doors, kitchen carcasses, cabinets, shelving, countertops, built in cupboards, flooring and moldings.

There are a number of reasons one would use these composite wood products, including;

Cheaper than solid timber.
Available in standard sizes and thicknesses. This makes costing & manufacturing much easier.
No preparation time required for planing, gluing & clamping as in solid timber.
Lower wastage factor than solid timber.

There are also some drawbacks to using composite wood products;

Easily damaged (beyond repair) by water exposure.
Use high levels of cancer causing urea-formaldehyde based resins that off gas into the surrounding air.
Lack structural strength.

Solid timber

Generally great to work with, can be used in a wide array of projects, structurally strong and can last life times. There are however some considerations with solid timber;

Timber is expensive compared to pressed boards.
Is not always readily available.
Requires costly preparation work to ready the timber into boards or panels before the finished article can be assembled.
High wastage factor compared to standard sized boards.

Bamboo Boards are a combination of the best of both these products.

Bamboo boards are supplied in ready to use standard board sizes. No more preparation work (planing/gluing/clamping/cleaning, etc) before you can even start assembly of your product.
Standard size boards have a lower wastage factor than solid timber.
Structurally stable and with a higher tensile strength than cold pressed steel.
Bamboo boards are the most moisture tolerant of woods.
Formaldehyde emissions are lower than European standards requirements.
Bamboo board derived finished products are costed cheaper than most solid timber finished products, especially once you’ve properly costed in all the preparation work and wastage.

So by switching to bamboo boards whenever you’d prefer to use solid timber (and usually end up compromising by using engineered flat boards). You will experience all these benefits plus be using a genuine eco-friendly product that is sourced from sustainable sources.

Climate tolerance of bamboo timber

Eco-Logic Bamboo boards are engineered for the wide variances in the sub-Saharan African climate. Anyone who has manufactured furniture in one climatic zone and shipped it to a client in another climatic zone knows the importance of well seasoned quality timber. Returns and repairs from across the country can really eat into profit margins.

One of our clients installed a vanity in Langstrand, Namibia – surrounded by the Namib Desert on three sides and the cold Atlantic waters on the fourth. This is a climatically harsh stretch of coast line between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. The area came into recent fame because the Burning Shore Hotel, where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt stayed during the end of her pregnancy with Shiloh, is located in Langstrand.

This is what Joe Coetzee, the owner West Coast Joinery had to say about his Eco-Logic bamboo bathroom vanity, two years after it was installed:

I am very happy with my Eco-Logic Bamboo vanity, it is stable and perfect!

Bamboo Colours

All Eco-Logic Bamboo boards are available in the standard colours; lighter Natural or the darker Coffee (Carbonised) colours, as well as in the vertical grain, horizontal (distinctly bamboo) grain and the strand woven grain (wood like and exceptionally hard wearing).

In addition, bamboo boards stain wonderfully, so whatever colour or finish (stain, paint, wax, oil, polyurethane, etc) you desire can be applied to bamboo boards.

We have samples of painted and stained bamboo boards on the left, just to give you an idea of what’s possible.

We also have a number of clients using Eco-Logic Bamboo furniture boards – where the end product is painted, stained or veneered. Often one cannot tell that the product is manufactured from bamboo boards.

Why would they do this? Simple, our Eco-Logic Bamboo plywood boards are technically superior to other options. Also, in many cases more cost effective (especially when compared to the total cost of manufacturing the same item using solid woods). Add the fact that the product is made from a sustainable eco-friendly material and it’s a winner.

Machining and Cutting Bamboo

Bamboo’s consistent and predictable grain is another reason wood workers love working with the material. Any carpenter knows the frustration of machining an unpredictable timber and having to remove knots and fill in cracks and splits. All these extra steps have a cost associated with them. A cost of time and in material waste.

Here’s what Bill Pickering, a seasoned cabinet maker in Karkloof, KZN had to say:

Working with Eco-Logic Bamboo boards is such a pleasure! It machines so well and predictably. No worrying about knots, splits and cracks.

Vertically cross laminated bamboo boards respond very well to machining; routers, CNC , laser cutting and water jet cutting. They can also be sanded to a very fine grit, creating a very luxurious finish.

Bamboo boards can be cut and sanded using conventional woodworking equipment, no special tooling is required. Gluing or mechanically fastening (screws) can be achieved using the same techniques, materials, hardware and fasteners commonly used with solid wood.

Bamboo job costing

Costing the preparation phase variables of a timber job is where all the financial risk sits – get it wrong and you could end up paying in on the job or loosing the job because the price is too high. Common challenges faced include;

compensating for split, bowed, twisted, tapering and warped planks in a bundle,
varying dimensions of the planks,
compensating for planks that don’t machine well and have to be thrown away, necessitating starting from scratch if they were already glued up,
timing of the labour and manufacturing costs of the individual components,
buying extra material just to get the colour matching right.

In contrast, bamboo boards are available in standard dimensions – ready for cutting, finishing and assembly. Simply calculate the optimal cut list for your job. Wastage is predictable and most manufacturers find other uses for the off-cuts, e.g. floated shelves, chopping boards, recipe books stands, you name it.

If you are working on timber projects that require 3 or more cubes, let us know, we have great pricing options for you.

Bamboo wood stability and flatness

A special feature of Eco-Logic laminated bamboo boards, is their structural composition. All Eco-Logic Bamboo boards (besides the 5 mm boards) are specified with vertically cross laminated bamboo strips in the core layers to provide that additional rigidity and structural strength. This is often not the case with competing bamboo timber products.

The result of this extra stability?

A structurally stable board that remains stable in the extremes of our Southern African climate.
The boards can be used in a wider range of applications as they remain stable at greater dimensions. Always a challenge with solid timber and non-specified boards. Often stability issues are only solved by using more material to brace or using thicker planks or boards, raising the cost of the job.

Economic benefits of bamboo timber boards

With all the superior technical characteristics of bamboo, the competitive “total cost” benefits, Eco-logic Bamboo boards are an obvious and eco-friendly choice. They simply make economic sense in small and large scale manufacturing projects. Read what one of our customers had to say after switching from a bamboo board competitor to Eco-Logic Bamboo boards mid project …

On our recent project, M&B House in Cape Town, we were able to complete the cupboards and furniture for 3 to 4 rooms per day using Eco-Logic Bamboo boards compared to 1 room per day using another bamboo board suppliers product. We are very happy with the quality and time saved using Eco-Logic boards. Brian Spurdens. Owner of Mr. Bs Carpenters

What are the common applications of bamboo boards?

Eco-Logic Bamboo Solid-244012203.2mm – Solid 3.2 mm cross laminated bamboo panel

The 3.2 mm multi-ply cross laminated bamboo plywood panel (bamboo plywood) is ideal for cladding, panel inserts, door inserts, cupboard backing or splash backs. Due to its longitudinal strength, it is also ideal for bending applications; e.g. skate board decks, surf boards & curved wall cladding.
Specifications | FAQ

Eco-Logic Bamboo Solid-2440122016mm – Solid 16 mm cross laminated bamboo board

A popular and cost effective product for the Southern African market is the 16 mm bamboo board, especially the Strand Woven Boards. These bamboo boards are most often used for shelving, kitchen carcasses, risers, cupboard carcasses and doors, wall cladding and drawer fronts.
Specifications | FAQ

Eco-Logic Bamboo Solid-2440122020mm – Solid 20 mm cross laminated bamboo board

The 20 mm bamboo boards are the most versatile thickness. With the 12 mm vertical cross laminated core, this bamboo board is suitable for a very wide range of applications; from shelving to cupboards, table tops to furniture frameworks, long length cupboard doors to door insets.
Specifications | FAQ

Eco-Logic Bamboo Solid-2440122030mm – Solid 30 mm cross laminated bamboo board

The 30 mm bamboo boards are best suited in mixed media applications where other materials are 30 mm thick to compensate for their lack of tensile strength, e.g. granite, marble & pressed counter tops . They are thus very popular for kitchen counter tops, stair treads, breakfast nooks and solid internal doors.
Specifications | FAQ

Eco-Logic Bamboo Solid-2440122040mm – Solid 40 mm cross laminated bamboo board

The 40 mm bamboo boards are often used for chunky furniture, doors (fire doors, external doors), butchers blocks, kitchen islands,shelving and staircases due to their exceptional rigidity and structural strength.
Specifications | FAQ

Bamboo Products

Solid Bamboo Boards & Plywood Panels Dimensions

Dimensions	Construction	Surface Grain
2,440 x 1,220 x 3.2 mm	7 cross laminated layers	NH, NV, CH, CV
2,440 x 1,220 x 5 mm	Single layer	NH, NV, CH, CV
2,440 x 1,220 x 12.7 mm	3 Vertically cross laminated layers 4-4.7-4 mm	NH, NV, CH, CV
2,440 x 1,220 x 16 mm	3 Vertically cross laminated layers 3.5-9-3.5 mm	NH, NV, CH, CV
2,440 x 1,220 x 20 mm	3 Vertically cross laminated layers 4-12-4 mm	NH, NV, CH, CV
2,440 x 1,220 x 30 mm	3 Vertically cross laminated layers 5-20-5 mm	NH, NV, CH, CV
2,440 x 1,220 x 40 mm	2 Vertical cross laminated layers and 3 plain pressed layers 4-6-20-6-4 mm	NH, NV, CH, CV

Strand Woven Bamboo Boards Dimensions & Options

Dimensions (millimeters)	Construction	Surface Grain	Comments & Common Applications
2440 x 1220 x 5 mm	Single layer 5 mm	Natural (Oak like), Carbonized, Zebrano, Ebony	Great for cladding. ***Special handling requirements.
2440 x 1220 x 12.7 mm	Vertically cross laminated solid bamboo core layer 4-4.7-4 mm	Natural (Oak like), Carbonized, Zebrano, Ebony	Cladding, drawer fronts and backing.
2440 x 1220 x 16 mm	Vertically cross laminated core layer 3.5-9-3.5 mm	Natural (Oak like), Carbonized, Zebrano, Ebony	Most popular, cost effective and versatile.
2440 x 1220 x 20 mm	Vertically cross laminated solid bamboo core layer 4-12-4 mm	Natural (Oak like), Carbonized, Zebrano, Ebony	Counter tops + applications with longer unsupported sections than the 16 mm board.
2440 x 1220 x 30 mm	Vertically cross laminated solid bamboo core layer 5-20-5 mm	Natural (Oak like), Carbonized, Zebrano, Ebony	Counter tops, shelving, stair treads
2440 x 1220 x 40 mm	Vertically cross laminated solid bamboo core layers 5-12.5-5-12.5-5 mm	Natural (Oak like), Carbonized	Stair treads, counter tops, butcher blocks, chunky furniture.
2440 x 1220 x 40 mm	Vertically cross laminated solid bamboo core layers 5-12.5-5-12.5-5 mm	Zebrano, Ebony	Special construction using strand woven layer in the middle for stunning profile effect. Special order product.

NH = Natural (Colour), Horizontal (Surface Construction)

NV = Natural (Colour), Vertical (Surface Construction)

CH = Carbonised (Colour), Horizontal (Surface Construction)

CV = Carbonised (Colour), Vertical (Surface Construction)

What about bamboo board quality?

As the saying goes; “talk is cheap”. Anybody can shout from the roof tops that their products are “the very best bamboo available” and that they are “leaders in quality”.

How does one know if their bold claims are true? Ask them to prove it!

How?

Glad you asked … here are three quick tests:

Do their boards have a vertically cross laminated core structure? If not, the boards will not be as stable. Expect to spend extra time and money on material to get your job right.
Are the glues they use to manufacture their boards non-toxic? Low and non-toxic glues are also typically higher quality glues that cost more. Skimping on glue costs equals higher profits for the manufacturer. If the supplier claims low toxicity (Formaldehyde), ask them to prove it with an independent international certification – in their own brand name (not simply claiming the credentials of their supplier).
The bonding strength of the glue is critical. How does one test for cheaper glues? Pop a sample in a dishwasher hot wash cycle. If the sample falls apart, cheaper glues were used.

Want us to prove our quality? Sure, let us know and we will.

We are all familiar with the cliche; “Jack of all trades, master of none”.

Manufacturing top quality bamboo boards takes significant skill, tested knowledge, well defined and controlled processes. Each bamboo product is subject to different specifications and processes to achieve the best result. Manufacturing a thick board is very different to manufacturing a thin board, etc. But when you have one factory churning out a full range of products, compromises have to be made to suit the production line efficiencies. This often means “one size fits all”.

Unfortunately (for us), we learnt this lesson the hard way. We also fell for the “we are the world’s leading bamboo manufacturer” promises, the big tours and fancy meal tactics and paid the price. We have worked with multiple factories and visited a LOT more over the years (ask the different suppliers how long they have been dealing exclusively in bamboo boards and how many times they have personally visited their factory!). We realised that some factories are really good at specific products and mediocre (or just plain bad) with others. A symptom of the one size fits all approach.

One day we visited a factory with the sales lady giving us the big tour of “their” factory. Two days later, another company was showing us “their” factory – the same one we had visited 2 days prior. Many factories tell you “they” manufacture product x, but in reality, they simply buy it in locally from another factory. Many factories don’t manufacture their own raw materials, they simply buy in the raw materials. This is where quality control often falls flat when sourcing from a single factory (that the importer believes has full control of the quality from the source).

Another challenge, we discovered, is that many factories grew up on American and European clients. The environments that the bamboo end products are usually installed in are VERY different to our local Southern African conditions. Think “double glazed” windows, air conditioners 24/7, etc. Those conditions are what defined the specifications most factories use in their manufacturing.

We started importing products from China in the mid 1980′s, before the Internet based manufacturer directories. Over time, we have formed long standing and proven relationships. We visit all our factories regularly, know the owners personally. We don’t source from factories we have not visited personally.

We have worked together with them, jointly developing specific products, at times being a test bed for products (and eventually usually get copied by our competitors). Rolled up our sleeves, spent much time in the Chinese hinterland, shared meals in the homes of the people we work with. We discovered the stories behind the bamboo flooring and board industry, met and worked with the pioneers. Debated the pro’s and con’s of different glues and techniques, gained understanding in the little things that make BIG differences in the end products. A far cry from a rudimentary tour of a factory and a meal at the local fancy hotel while deals are struck based on superficial impressions, bold marketing and pricing.

We call this “intimate knowledge”. The knowledge we use to specify exactly how we want our products manufactured for our specific Southern African environment.

Drop us a line if you will be using more than 3 cubic meters of timber and we’ll gladly help you with your project.

Why not have a look at our bambooboard gallery to see how others have used our Eco-Logic Bamboo boards, or take a look at our frequently asked questions about bamboo …

If you are simply looking for a few bamboo boards, Eco-Logic Bamboo board products are distributed through various timber merchants within the sub-Saharan Africa region.

If you are working on timber projects that require 3 or more cubes, let us know, we have great pricing options for you.

Solid Bamboo Boards – Fit and Finish ready timber

Solid bamboo boards are a great combination of engineered flat boards and solid timber.