Rainscreen Systems Utilizing Laminated Engineered Bamboo
Care and Maintenance
Proper care and maintenance are vital to ensuring a long life for your laminated engineered bamboo panels. For exterior applications, be sure to clean off any chemicals, such as lawn-care chemicals, insect repellent, or other chemicals that may come into contact with the wall cladding materials immediately to avoid any chemical reactions or discoloration with the stain or finish. When selecting cleaning materials, you can use typical cleaners found in the market for composite materials. Wall cladding materials can be easily cleaned with the use of a power washer set to the lowest setting (less than 1,200 psi), and the user must start at least 18 to 24 inches away from the wall. Before using any cleaner on the panels, it is recommended to test cleaners and power washing strength on scrap materials prior to using on finished products.
Conclusion
Laminated engineered bamboo rainscreens are not only made from a renewable resource that provide better air, moisture, and thermal protection, but they also provide a multitude of performance, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing features to a building facade.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
This accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is located in Hawaii and has bamboo interiors and exteriors. The nonconductive bamboo rainscreen exteriors are perfect for Hawaii’s tropical climate.
While this course focuses primarily on the commercial applications of engineered and laminated bamboo screens, bamboo can also be used in residential applications. In recent years, there has been a rise in popularity of tiny homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). An ADU is a complete home with kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping facilities built on a single-family lot separate from a primary dwelling. They are great for guesthouses, added living or office space, or as an income-generating rental property. Bamboo rainscreen exteriors are perfect for residential homes in tropical or wet climates, as they help prevent unwanted air and moisture intrusion. They also provide an aesthetically pleasing facade that blends into natural areas.
STRUCTURAL-GRADE LAMINATED BAMBOO PRODUCTS
Bamboo can be used in structural applications, such as the curved structural beams, shown here.
In addition to interior and exterior applications of laminated bamboo products, structural-grade products are also available. These include fixed windows as well as entry and interior doors. Bamboo can also be used in structural beams, and members and are available in straight and curved beams to provide aesthetically pleasing facades.
CASE STUDY: OUTDOOR SHOPPING MALL
Laminated engineered bamboo rainscreens were installed as exposed outdoor ceiling panels at this outdoor shopping mall in Miami.
Location: Brickell City Center, Miami
Installer: Structural Roof Systems
Structural Roof Systems installed laminated bamboo ceiling panels at an outdoor shopping mall in Miami in 2015. In 2017, Hurricane Irma, a Category 4 storm, hit Miami with driving rain and 130-plus-mph wind gusts. Despite the extreme weather conditions, the laminated bamboo panels withstood the driving rain and wind, resulting in minimal damage to the structure, saving the mall owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in costly repairs that could have occurred if water had been able to reach the interior of the building.
CASE STUDY: SOLAR DECATHLON HOUSE #1
Both the exterior and interior of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Solar Decathlon home include the use of laminated engineered bamboo.
Location: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Designer/Installer: University of North Carolina Architecture and Design
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition that allows students to showcase their design skills while utilizing the latest advancements in solar technologies. In 2013, the University of North Carolina entered a home utilizing engineered laminated bamboo panels both inside and out. The students highlighted the positive qualities of using bamboo, including the fact that it is a sustainably harvested, easily renewable resource that is 20–40 percent more stable in climate-induced temperature changes than wood.
CASE STUDY: SOLAR DECATHLON HOUSE #2
The University of Maryland (UMD) Solar Decathlon home included the use of laminated engineered bamboo.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Installer: University of Maryland
In 2017, the University of Maryland entered a home utilizing bamboo rainscreen system as the outside wall feature to its design. The team earned second place in the Innovation Contest and fourth place in the Appliances and Water Contests.
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Lamboo® Technologies is the world's leading bio-based materials company specializing in performance grade, engineered bamboo for structural, architectural, and OEM applications. Lamboo's product solutions for high-performance building applications achieve unmatched performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. |
