LUMBOO… The World’s First Bamboo 2x4s and 4x4s

Cali Bamboo is proud to announce the newest addition to its line of high performance, eco-friendly bamboo building materials. Lumboo is the world’s first engineered bamboo dimensional lumber created as a stronger, more durable replacement for traditional lumber. This month’s GreenShoots takes a closer look at the remarkable new green material, its capacities as a superior alternative to traditional lumber, and what it means for home and commercial construction.

Growing to New Strengths
Perfected over a five-year-long development process and made from 100% compressed bamboo, Lumboo is the definitive top quality, sustainable alternative to traditional dimensional lumber. Large bamboo poles are shredded into strips and configured into a matrix designed for optimum structural integrity. A low VOC (more eco-friendly) resin is added before the bamboo matrix is compressed under several 100,000 pounds of force in a hydraulic press. The process results in an extremely dense bamboo block that is nearly indestructible. The block is then milled and sanded into the extraordinary new product — Lumboo.

So just how strong is Lumboo? Well, you can forget about hammering any nails into it. Lumboo is so dense you must pre-drill holes and use screws for construction. Lumboo is dimensionally smaller than traditional lumber cuts, but much heavier and stronger. For example, an 8 foot 1×3 plank of Lumboo is stronger than a traditional 2×4, and weighs a full 9 pounds. The high silica content of Lumboo’s bamboo fibers also means the material cannot be digested by termites.

Like all other Cali Bamboo products, Lumboo is about as Earth-friendly as you can get. Made from 100% compressed bamboo, the fastest growing, most sustainable plant on the planet, Lumboo helps to curb deforestation of other less plentiful timber by providing a safe, green alternative. Deforestation is a huge contributor to climate change because it destroys trees that would otherwise be helping to rid CO2 from the atmosphere — trees which in most cases took decades or even centuries to mature. Bamboo, on the other hand, can be safely harvested for Lumboo and other products after 7 years or less, and this constant harvesting actually improves overall grove health.

Lumboo Completes the Bamboo Fence
So what does Lumboo mean for Cali Bamboo construction? When it comes to fencing, Lumboo posts and rails make the bamboo fencing system complete! You no longer need to bolster your bamboo fence designs with other wood alternatives, making your fences 100% bamboo, eco-friendly and sturdier than ever. Complete fencing packages can now be purchased to include everything you need for start-to-finish fencing construction — Lumboo posts and rails, bamboo paneling, newly developed WeatherGuard bamboo sealer and color finishes.

Lumboo dimensional lumber can be incorporated into any other project you would normally turn to traditional lumber for and can be combined with other Cali Bamboo products such as BamDeck bamboo decking for full-on Cali Bamboo project quality.

New Bamboo Decking, Just in Time for Spring
March not only marks the debut of Lumboo; Cali Bamboo is also introducing never-before-seen 8-foot Fossilized Strand bamboo deck boards to add to the current BamDeck family. “Previously, the largest deck boards were limited to six feet in length, and it’s been our goal to develop one solid piece that allows for simple installation,” says Jeff Goldberg, Cali Bamboo’s CEO. “We’ve invested in proprietary technology in order to manufacture this product, and are proud of not only its environmentally-friendly attributes, but also its ability to meet stringent building standards.” These lengthened bamboo decking boards arrive just in time for outdoor spring construction plans, and promise to deliver the strength and durability your project deserves.

Project of the Month

Congratulations to March’s Project of the Month Winners!

1st Place Obere Wilbanks – Carlsbad, CA

2nd Place Viggo Torbenson – Laguna Beach, CA

3rd Place Jayson Orkins – St. Petersburg, FL

Your Friends,