Frequently asked questions

1. How long will these bamboo houses last ?

A bamboo house will last as long or longer than any conventional wood framed building. In Japan, bamboo structures have a history of lasting 200 years. In Vietnam, bamboo structures built with untreated bamboo poles of the same species used in our buildings are over 50 years old. These poles are used for telephone and power lines.

2. How durable and resistant are the houses to hurricanes and earthquakes ?

Our bamboo homes are designed by licensed architects and engineered by licensed structural engineers to meet any local building code requirements for each specific building site. Our designs use the strength of the bamboo and its connections to fulfill all building code requirements in earthquake and hurricane zones.


3. What kind of maintenance is required on the houses ?

Exterior exposed bamboo requires the same maintenance as any natural wood siding. The siding can be painted, stained or oiled. The house exterior can also be covered with any siding material used in wood frame construction such as stucco.


4. Are the houses susceptible to insects or mold ?

Bamboo poles, trim and materials are backed by our warranty. In Vietnam, poles are harvested from quality controlled plantations at 3 to 6 years old for maximum strength and hardness. Poles are pressure treated in Boric Acid for insect treatment, sanded and cut, and treated with Shellguard for mold and insect resistance, including powderpost beetle and termites. Poles are coated with Aegis, an antimicrobial agent, to eliminate mold growth and 2 coats of Proguard.


5. Are bamboo finishes and treatments safe and environmentally friendly ?

BT has conducted extensive research over the past decade on the most effective and environmental friendly bamboo treatments and finishes to inhibit mold, fungi, termites, beetles, sun, rain and weathering, so Bamboo Living Homes remain healthy, strong and beautiful for years to come.


6. How are the houses sealed from insects and wind ?

Houses are completely sealed from insect and wind infiltration. Special attention is given at the factory to seal all joints between panels with rubber seals. After buildings are erected, secondary seals and finish details provide extra protection.


7. Is there any kind of warranty on the house ?

Yes, All bamboo poles, trim, and materials in the houses are backed by our company warranty. Our bamboo homes have the same life span as any wood frame structure that is properly maintained.


8. Is Structural Bamboo produced by BT in compliance with building codes ?

Yes. ICC Evaluation Service Report ESR-1636 (Nov. 2004) states that Structural Bamboo Poles produced by Bamboo Technologies comply with the 2003 International Building Code (IBC), 2003 International Residental Code (IRC) and 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC).