![]() The culms of a mature plant are very broad at the base and quite tapered. The very large culms are festooned with masses of the smallest leaves in the Phyllostachys genus, making it look even larger. In comparing dassoXTR to exotic woods like Ipe – the most popular exotic hardwood used in decking – a fairly apple-to-apples comparison can be made using three standard measures of product performance (independent of the structure on which the deck is being installed).This is the largest of the hardy bamboos and one of the most beautiful. This is because oftentimes either suppliers do not test their materials, or a supplier may choose to report the results only as “passing,” where passing is the test’s minimum standard. ![]() However, ICC standards can be difficult to apply when making apples-to-apples comparisons to other bamboo decking or composite decking. So how does dassoXTR decking and siding rate when it comes to performance? The good news is that, like exotic woods, dassoXTR bamboo performs at incredible levels. The International Code Council (ICC) develops the standards for decking, including the standard minimum performance measures for decking products that are not constructed from a solid piece of wood cut from a tree. Within the building industry, building codes set minimum standards for installed product performance. ![]() In fact, dassoXTR fused bamboo is among the stiffest, strongest decking materials in the world – even more dense than popular Ipe, which is often prized for its performance. The result is a far more durable, denser, harder board than even strand-woven bamboo. Pressed under high heat, treated bamboo strands are mixed with phenolic resin which encapsulate the bamboo fibers, producing a product that is 87% bamboo and 13% resin. But with dassoXTR’s fusion process, the bamboo goes through a second heating stage, which melts the lignum (a natural glue within the bamboo), returning it to its natural rigidity. ![]() When bamboo is manufactured for outdoor use, it must be carbonized, or heat treated, which typically makes the bamboo become brittle, especially when exposed to the elements. The third category is fused bamboo – dassoXTR’s patented manufacturing process.Although composite plastic producer tries to portray composite decking as green, there is nothing green about using plastics in building your home. The composite plastic decking consist of over 50% of plastics and only very small percentage of bamboo saw dust. While this product has similar properties of other composite decking, it also has similar drawbacks, including its inherent eco-issues. The plastic can be PVC, PE, PET, or PU plastic. The second category mixes bamboo “fiber” – essentially sawdust – with some percentage of recycled and/or non-recycled plastics.The weakness of this category is that bamboo fiber tense to mold and crack over time as ACQ does not prevent bamboo fiber from spreading mold and do not enable bamboo fiber to withstand constant expansion and contraction. Included in this first category is strand-woven bamboo, which offers a better, more dense construction than “pieced together” bamboo products. ACQ-treated bamboo is the equivalent of treated lumber, except that the bamboo is not a solid piece of wood but rather a multple layer of side-joint bamboo strips glued together (with manufacturers often masking the pieces by wrapping them in a faux skin before treatment). The first category includes bamboo pieces that are glued together and then “treated” with Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ), a wood preservative.Basically, there are three categories of bamboo available for construction: So what makes dassoXTR so special? Before comparing dassoXTR to exotic hardwoods such as Ipe and Cumaru, which have long been the standard materials used in exterior decking, it is important to first understand just what sets dassoXTR exterior bamboo decking apart from other bamboo decking products on the market. How dassoXTR Exterior Bamboo Decking Compares to Other Bamboo Deckingįor outdoor building and remodeling projects, builders, architects and homeowners alike are realizing the many benefits of choosing dassoXTR exterior bamboo decking and siding.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |