Bamboo Countertops Add A
Subtle Warmth To Your Kitchen

The bamboo fiber is 25% harder than red oak and 16% harder than maple, and is bacteria resistant. These qualities alone make bamboo a very smart choice to use in place of many other kitchen countertop materials that are available.

Bamboo has been a strong trend in flooring for a number of years and chosen for its simple beauty and warm color. It is now noticed as a strong contender for kitchen counter tops.

The natural mellow brown color adds warmth to a room, while the soft grain provides an unexpected texture. Its striking appearance goes with a wide variety of tiles, stones, and other wood and will work well with the best kitchen design ideas.

Easy Care

You will love the ease of care that comes with these tops. Simply use warm water and a mild soap. It is important to use mild cleaning products as otherwise the finish can be harmed by harsh chemical cleaners.

Bamboo is a porous material, but is finished with food grade polyurethane to prevent it from soaking up spills. Avoid using a bamboo countertop to cut on as this will leave scratches. Also avoid setting hot pots or pans right onto the surface. Because it is a wood surface, scorching or burning can easily occur.

Scratches will also appear in the surface but one of the nice things about bamboo countertops is that they can be re-sanded and resealed to look like new.


Types of Bamboo Countertops

Solid bamboo countertops are produced in planks, ranging from 1 ½” to 2” in thickness. Bamboo is a grass that grows in what is referred to as poles. The type of cuts that are taken from the poles reveals varying types of grains which affects the way the end product looks. The common grain patterns for bamboo are:

• Horizontal Grain: This cut is 5/8” wide and comes from the face of the pole. The face of the pole is turned upward like you're looking at the face of the bamboo shaft. This is one of the most popular cuts that show the “knobby” joints of the reed.

• Vertical Grain: Being 1/4” wide, this cut is taken from the side of a split pole and the edges are faced upward and fused together. This provides a more uniform look.

• End Grain: These are taken from a cross section of the pole, resulting in smaller pieces that are glued together and have more of a butcher-block appearance.

These unique tops can be made of either the lighter color or darker color or a combination of the two. For those that don’t want a striped look, your choice would be from one of the two colors for your kitchen counter tops.

In order to comply with green standards, it is important that a low volatile organic compound (VOC) finish is used.

Mineral oil is the most eco-friendly and water resistant products to use for the maintenance of your bamboo countertops. It is wise to reapply the oil every year to keep the finish strong. Because of its hardness, bamboo countertops will not require the application of oil as often as other wood counter tops do.

A bamboo countertop will provide years of lasting beauty and has a very durable surface. Whether you like a "toned down" modern style or want a rustic kitchen design, using a bamboo surface will give you a unique countertop. They will make your kitchen stand out from the ordinary and add warmth to your new kitchen design.

Best Companies

Finding the right kitchen countertop maker in your area that you can count on may be difficult unless you get a referral that you can trust. This however, is not always the best way to find reliable contractors or companies.

It's best to have a broad resource of companies and read reviews by many homeowners like yourself that have used the companies that you're looking for.

If you'd like to find reputable contractors in you area that can help you with many of the jobs you want to get done, consider joining Angie's List.

You'll find a service that will help you locate quality providers in your area. Take advantage of a special promotion and get 20% off low membership rates. Just enter the code "premier." Angie's List has a money back guarantee which makes it risk free to try out!

If you are looking for where to go next, click here!

Other Useful Pages in This Section: