HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Chopping blocks made of slender rectangles of end-grain bamboo glued into panels (usually 1.5 inches thick). Available in natural or brown.
Tips for Selection: Offered in many different grain patterns...check out Totally Bamboo for more information.
Advantages:
- same as natural wood
Disadvantages:
- same as natural wood
Average Material Cost: Starting around $22 per square foot.
OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops: The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen counter tops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through its integration with your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.
DETAILS on Kitchen End-Grain Bamboo Countertops: High-grade bamboo is a wood that has proved popular in recent years for cutting boards, kitchen utensils and even flooring, but now it is making its way to the top - the countertop that is.
GREEN Considerations: Bamboo is a great substitute for wood because its fast growth makes it more renewable. Low-off-gassing glues don’t harm indoor air quality. Can be cut with standard woodworking tools. Most often formaldehyde-free in terms of bonding resins used.
