Looking for resources on building with bamboo and thatch
Dan Wallace
Joined: May 27, 2010
Posts: 40
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I'm currently living on a farm on Maui and am interested in using some of the local material to build a small cabin. Can anyone recommend a good resource that would help teach how to build with bamboo? I'm also interested in learning about thatch roof using lauhala or grasses
Thanks in advance!
Sam White
Joined: Mar 08, 2011
Posts: 166
Location: Caerphilly, Wales, UK
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A friend of mine is currently designing a floating yoga centre which is to be built from bamboo... She's struggling to find any books or architectural resources on the subject though.
"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
A few resources for your bamboo adventures. I hope these assist you.
Blessings,
Max
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bamboo.org
is the website for the American Bamboo Society, which has numerous chapters in MANY places. they are a WEALTH of information and support
Do a search for bamboo architect or such on Youtube. (Simon Velez? is amazing)
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The book, BAMBOO, GIFT OF THE GODS, by Oscar Hidalgo is a 550+ page resource for anyone. It may appear "pricey", yet would be cost effective investment.
doing a search for Images of: Bamboo gift of the gods showed this review:
""""amazon reviewer says:
4.0 out of 5 stars a fantastic book on bamboo engineering, July 28, 2007
This review is from: Bamboo: The Gift of the Gods (Hardcover)
This book is a vital reference for those of you who want to know more about building with bamboo. It covers bridges, airplane frames, aqueducts, energy storing flywheels, buildings, how to join and anchor bamboo, and much more.
The descriptions are good overall, sometimes excellent and very detailed, other times a little vague. This is not the be all and end all of bamboo books, but it is extremely good, and full of useful information. """"
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search: bamboo gift of the gods
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search: bamboo gift of the gods pdf
Joined: May 24, 2011
Posts: 35
Location: eastern part of West Tennessee
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Ask any local owners of thatched roofs who their builders were. If you don't hire the builder, ask about an intern/apprentiship with the builder for hands on learning and tips not found in any book. As a kid I thatched one of our clubhouses with grass and kite string, but nothing much more than a 100 sq ft. Any local grower of building type bamboo will know who works with it, you could get work experence with them.
There are too many new and different mistakes out there waiting to be made to be wasteing your time repeating the same old mistakes.
Zim Lion
Joined: Oct 14, 2011
Posts: 11
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The book "The bare foot architect" has some information on using bamboo and every kind of natural material, really amazing book!!
Burra Maluca
steward
Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 2031
Location: Portugal Zone 9 Mediterranean Climate
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This video had some good clips of thatching a cow-shed roof.
8.54 rodding the roof ready for thatching
10.45 hazel rod, and the dangers of working on the roof
12.46 cutting bracken for use as a base-coat
13.44 Keith Paynes starts to thatch
3.08 John Letts helps with the bracken base coat.
7.14 sewing bracken on the base layer using flax string and a giant needle
The next episode shows them putting on the top layer
2.50 Keith Paynes returns to put weathering coat of straw on top of bracken base layer; unprocessed stubble is messy and un-threshed
3.36 comb made from split hazel rod and forged nails; clean thatch and align straws to improve water flow
4.49 thatching takes two weeks for a professional team, six weeks for our team
6.19 ready to fix thatch onto roof using hazel spars or pegs; split and twisted (not bent) into hairpin shape; 3000 to make and Alex can't get the technique
7.44 Alex is still failing to twist hazel spars
8.47 wheat stubble compacted onto roof; 18" thick layer of thatch altogether
9.59 finishing touches to the thatch; rods fixed externally run along every 8"; should be six or seven years before major maintenance; close as possible to a Tudor cow shed
I know the materials won't be the same as those available to you in Maui, but some of the techniques and ideas should be applicable.
subject: Looking for resources on building with bamboo and thatch
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