What Is Carbonized Bamboo?

Carbonized bamboo is a common building material, often used in flooring, that's darker in color and softer than natural bamboo. This article describes the carbonization process and the use of carbonized bamboo in interior design.

Description

Carbonized bamboo is darker in color than its natural counterpart. A result of the carbonization process is a softening of the wood---about 20 to 30 percent on average. It is sold in either horizontal or vertical patterns, although the direction in which it is installed ultimately determines its orientation.

Process

The carbonization process involves pressure heating, which heats the sugar in the wood and results in a dark, amber color. Carbonized bamboo is not usually stained--its color comes from its processing--although varying degrees of shading are available.

Benefits

Bamboo is technically a grass, and grows as such, making it one of the fastest-growing building materials on Earth. Because of its relative abundance, it's theoretically less expensive than many other materials, but import fees and the carbonization process increase the cost.

Use

While generally quite durable, the relative softness of carbonized bamboo renders it more ornamental than its natural counterpart. As such, it's not often used as flooring for heavily traveled areas. It's dark, rich tone makes a nice addition to similarly colored home decors. It adds a sense of exoticism, but is subtle enough not to distract from furniture or room arrangement.

Geography

The use of bamboo is most popular in the places where it grows: warm, tropical areas of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Because of its popularity, it can be found nearly everywhere in the world, although it's still less common in Europe. Most of the bamboo imported into the U.S. is grown and manufactured in China.

Resources

• Bamboo Flooring FAQ