Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | Mar 17, 2007 06:30pm | #1

   Have to wonder why.  But really no reason it won't work.  Biggest issue is getting the joints watertight.  And are you going to sand after assembly, or live with chamfered edges at every joint?  It's really not much different than a butcher block top.

   edit: grammer and spelling so spelchecker-babe won't feel the need.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

   
   

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   Edited 3/17/2007 11:31 am ET by FastEddie

2. 
   Mongo | Mar 17, 2007 06:45pm | #2

   They do make bamboo sheetgoods.

   Are you planning on using that, or using glued up strips of flooring?

   If using flooring, go unfinished. Unfinished has non-champhered edges. Glue up, sand smooth, then top coat yourself.

   I've used leftover bamboo flooring pieces and remilled them for trim details, they turn our great. It is tough on cutting edges due to the high resin in the flooring.

   You can drop-miter the front edge for a thicker looking countertop.

   Realize some bamboo products are solid bamboo, and some just have a bamboo veneer over an underply of softwood. The former are more stable, the latter will be more prone to cupping.

   For this I'd go solid.

   Mongo

3. 
   reinvent | Mar 17, 2007 06:58pm | #3

   The stuff is expensive but nice. Have not priced out countertops but a sheet of 3/4" bamboo is about $220. Here some other info

   http://www.plyboo.com/endgrain.html

   And another option

   http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/Product_detail.aspx?id=158

4. 
   alesnloggers | Mar 17, 2007 09:16pm | #4

   There are these ones:

   http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/Public/WoodFurniture/Eco-Countertops/index.cfm

   Not cheap though and the shipping would probably hurt as well.

   I have been thinking about doing something like this:

   View ImageView Image

   I figure a single layer doubled up at the edge will give the same effect.

   My local sheet goods supplyer stocks 3/4" 4x8 sheets of Teragren ply at $280 Canadian. At $6 sq. ft. I figure it's worth the experiment. Worst case is I have an expensive substrate for some laminate!

1. 
   CloudHidden | Mar 17, 2007 09:59pm | #5

   That's beautiful! I've used the plyboo for stair treads on a spiral. Liked working with it and liked the toughness. Love the look. That's an awesome counter!

2. 
   slobuds | Mar 18, 2007 06:29pm | #9

   What kind of finish will it need?  And how much/what type of maintenance is required?

1. 
   alesnloggers | Mar 18, 2007 08:06pm | #10

   I won't be doing anything on the kitchen for another month or so. It's still about 3 projects down the list. My wife actually wants be to focus my energy on getting my shop built! I guess I picked the right woman.

   I havn't decided on a finish yet. My counter doesn't have a sink so I'm more concerned with looks than water repellency. I'll also be getting the carmalized ply so I'm hoping to just use the same oil I use on my cutting boards.

   If I was using it near a sink I'd make sure I had no seams nearby and use some form of polyurethane. It would probably take a few test pieces to get it right.

   Bamboo is supposed to be something like 18% harder than maple.

    

5. 
   Nailbag | Mar 17, 2007 11:11pm | #6

   I feel I should chime in on the negative side or at least cautious side. My wife turn on the wrong eye on our stove with a pyrex dish on it. The pan proceeded to shatter into a gazillion scorching hot peices. While she gathered up the kiddies, the hot shards carmelized the floor in several places....melted through the finished and charred the grass beneath. Obviously, this was a freak accident but it is a kitchen after all and hot things get slung about. I'm a fan of more heat resistant surfaces in a kitchen but I couldn't convince her of tile floors.

   There. That's my 2 cents worth.

   Also, since birch , oak and other nice plywood is 45 bucks a sheet or more, you might check out fir underlayment...it's pretty darn flat, cheap and it isn't termite barf.

1. 
   slobuds | Mar 18, 2007 04:02am | #7

   http://www.totallybamboo.com/

   These folks sell slabs for countertops.

   In answer to why I might want to go this route, a) I like the way it looks, b) it's cheaper than granite, and c) I am not certain, but isn't it more durable than most other hardwoods?

   Relative to it being greener than anything else, I have my doubts.  But that's another story.

   Thanks for the feedback.

   Martin

1. 
   CloudHidden | Mar 18, 2007 04:27am | #8

   I was given this as a present. If it's an indication of their quality, then I'd expect great things of their counters. A beautiful piece...too nice to use!

   View Image