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I was interested to how long a steu I wondered how long a structure like this would last. A boutique bamboo construction company [1] claims 25+ years with trea
by teruakohatu 5y ago
I was interested to how long a steu
I wondered how long a structure like this would last. A boutique bamboo construction company [1] claims 25+ years with treated bamboo. They say there are structures exist that are over 100 years (although I wonder if the exposed bamboo has been replaced over time).
Untreated bamboo apparently doesn't last that long (2-5 years).
[1] https://ibuku.com https://ibuku.com
- kijin 5y agoThe most important thing is to keep the structure dry. The parts that sit deep inside the building could resist decay for hundreds of years as long as they're properly tied together and the roof doesn't leak. The parts that are exposed to wind and rain, not so much. The beautiful thing about wooden structures is that it's relatively easy to replace any part that has rotten away. It's even easier with bamboo, which is an inherently modular material. You could disassemble and reassemble the whole thing if you wanted. Over time the building becomes a kind of Ship of Theseus. It might not be economical to maintain such a complex structure for a long time, though, so unless it's a very important building they'll just tear it down and build something new. Permanence is not really a concept that Asian cultures usually associate with wooden structures, anyway. The fact that they age, change, adapt, and eventually give way just like ourselves is one of the factors that make them feel so "natural".