Cali Bamboo composite decking grows greener

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 7/18/2012 1:03:26 PM

SAN DIEGO — Cali Bamboo, a leading manufacturer of green building materials made primarily from bamboo, introduced a new, environmentally-sound composite decking material. BamDeck Composite Bamboo Decking has always been made of 100% recycled materials. Now, the deck boards are made of 60% recycled bamboo fiber and 40% recycled high density polyethylene plastics.
HDPE products are labeled with the number "2" and include bottles, laundry detergent containers, plastic bags and water pipes, among other items.
Tests performed by a licensed third party, in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) regulations and specifications, determined BamDeck Composite to be more than twice as hard and four times stronger than other decking products. Tests show the product absorbs one-tenth as much water and scores lower on the flame and smoke tests. Cali Bamboo's decking is also slip resistant and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Many timber decks continue to be made out of redwood, cedar or Ipé, woods chosen for their strength and relative resistance to insects and rot. However, these trees take decades to reach maturity and do not grow back after being chopped down. Bamboo can be harvested about every five years without any damage to the plant or surrounding environment. The recycled bamboo fiber used to create BamDeck Composite is derived from the processing of other Cali Bamboo building products.
While other composite decks also incorporate recycled plastics, BamDeck uses bamboo fiber instead of wood. The composite bears all the unique benefits of bamboo, a material much more dense than wood and naturally termite resistant. BamDeck is more slip resistant when wet, LEED qualified and priced competitively. Two different surface textures (ridged or smooth) allow for a variety of installation styles.
BamDeck is available for purchase nationwide and comes with a 10-year commercial and 25-year residential warranty. The decking is offered in four colors: Caramel, Coffee, Slate and the newest color, Natural.