Just why should you even read about Bamboo roofing?
Here’s why
It is no secret that the population in India over the roof. There are over 1.32 Billion of us.
That makes us the second highest in the whole world only behind china who are 1.38 Billion
China has taken measures to control population and it won’t be long before we overtake them.
The agenda is not on population control.
There are consequences that come with overpopulation.
Everyone needs a place to stay. Hence the resources required to build houses are increases both in demand and prices. The supply is decreasing as well.
Just houses? Think again.
The need for better infrastructure is rising in demand as well. Schools, Hospitals, bridges etc.
So much infrastructure demands a lot of brick and mortar which is short in supply.
An effective and eco-friendly alternative could be bamboo.
Although an entire structure can be built using bamboo, let’s look at the roofing solution today.
Bamboo is a grass that is extremely hard and durable all the right attributes required for a roof. Bamboo also grows quickly which means that there will be adequate supply.
A bamboo roof needs support. Just like a concrete roof is supported by iron rods.
A bamboo roof is supported by Bamboo Truss.
Bamboo Truss Design for roofing
A bamboo truss is a frame made of bamboo poles.
Poles connected to each other in a particular form typically it takes the shape of the roof.
The only challenge is with connecting the poles together in a way that hold them firm for a long time.
Over the years there have been many ways in which people connected these poles to make a bamboo truss.
Traditional Bamboo truss connection
In the past bamboo truss was made by putting the bamboo poles together and strapping a rope around them. If you notice today’s scaffolding at the construction sites it looks similar.
He issue with this type of bamboo truss connectors is that the load of the roof was not equally distributed. There is friction which may compromise the strength of the roof.
Modern Bamboo Truss connection
New joiners and connectors have been designed in recent times. Thanks to advancement in technology, skilled engineers and architects,
The metal joiners and connectors.
These joiners and connectors can be made in various shapes and sizes. This depends on the number of poles to be connected and the design of the roof.
With the modern joiners there is rarely any friction between the poles. The weight is equally distributed. Incorporation of little steel helps in overcoming the problems faced in traditional system.
The steel joiners do not need a lot of investment and hence the cost of the entire Bamboo structure is low.
The amount of skilled labor required is also low. This means even in the rural areas these structures can be built using modern joiners.
There is not much electricity or water required to build these eco-friendly buildings.
It’s a win-win situation.
There are plenty of ways to use bamboo to cover the roof.
The most popular being woven bamboo roofing sheets or corrugated bamboo roofing sheets.
Woven bamboo matting sheets
Thin slices of bamboo are cut. These slices are then woven together in a criss-cross pattern to make it a mat. Several of these mats will be made cover a single roof.
The result is a neat and aesthetic looking roof. The mats maintain a natural colour and hence match the truss.
Corrugated bamboo roofing sheets
Corrugated bamboo roofing sheets are made by putting together many woven bamboo mats. These mats are then treated with an adhesive risen. A hydraulic press binds the sheets together and also gives the sheets “S” shape.
The sheets are as hard as a turtle’s shell
Halved bamboo clums
Another way of covering the roof with bamboo is to cut open the bamboo exactly in half. The nodes within he bamboo clum are removed and cut into adequate sizes.
The bamboo halves are then placed in an interlocking manner. One have faced the ground and the other faces the sky. The half facing the ground is holding 2 halves facing the sky.
Now we have our Bamboo Roofing ready
Benefits of bamboo roofing
- Bamboo roofing is an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to metal or concrete.
- Bamboo roof is natural and aesthetic look wise, they are even stronger than the other sheets
- They adapt well to any season. In simple words, they are not noisy during the rainy season and neither do they heat up during the summer
- Bamboo roofing sheets are much more flexible and durable than other sheets
Conclusion
It is no secret that the resources are high in demand short in supply. In the present scenario, it is best to use natural resources. The best of which is bamboo, there are so many uses of bamboo.
Bamboo roofing is an effective and eco-friendly alternative to your house. While it looks aesthetic and neat there is no compromise on the strength of the structure.
Although flexibility, termite resistance, strength qualify bamboo as a roofing material.
Bamboo also ensures that there is sustainable development. In simple words, the resources are saved for the future generation.
It is our vision to build green buildings. We do so by utilising all the natural resources provided by nature. Feel free to contact us for any green building need
Do you think Bamboo roofing is a good roofing solution? What are your views on bamboo?
Excellent Information
Thanks 🙂
Is making the bamboo mats and the corrugated mat roofing not expensive
Considering the life cycle of bamboo, it is not.
Hello. We construct bamboo homes for the poor and i live the idea of the use of bamboo for the roof, but what happens in rainy season? Bamboo rots woth water. I wpuld love to know if these are covered with fiber glass or other products that protects it from water. Th k you
the bamboo corrugated roofmats are 6 times as expensive as zinc roofplates and that is such a pitty and cannot be used for social housing/ or any budget project at all.
Bamboo will last way longer than other material. In the long run, it will prove to be cheaper
Bamboo roofing is truly an effective and eco-friendly alternative material for your home. When handled properly, bamboo has durability and longevity. It is even resistant to most of the pests that damage wood building materials! This is why bamboo is really a good roofing material.
🙂
Thanks i copy pasted for my ppt. thus didnt put any effort.
Glad to help 🙂
How do you protect bamboo roofing against termites, bora and fungal attack?
Buy bamboo products that are pretreated with borates.
How do you protect bamboo roofing against termites, bora and fungal attack?
bamboo roof are water proof ?
interested in knowing certain details – cost of roofing – will you be able to do the work at Pune Maharashtra
How much would it cost me to cover a 10×10 gazebo deck
cost of roof per square foot?
Great post! A very useful article. Thanks for sharing this.
I live in the tropics. Do you use green bamboo or do you need to dry it first before splitting and using?
I have a hexagon metal roof over my spa, but was wondering if bamboo would be able to cover seams and be the edging? Not sure if that will look goofy. Has anyone ever done that?
Hi! how do you preserve the bamboos?
thanks 😉
When constructing a roof with interlocking half cut pieces, how are the top pieces secured so they don’t blow off in strong winds? Thanks
One of the best building materials for green building