For too long, there's been a hole in the market for DIY-friendly, green countertops. That's why we're excited about this bamboo butcherblock countertop. You can install it with regular woodworking tools and finish it with your choice of food-grade oil.
We're also thrilled that it comes from Teragren. They were one of the first companies marketing bamboo in the US, and they really know what they're doing. Other companies just buy whatever they can get their hands on and stamp a name on it... but Teragren controls the entire chain, so they can assure quality.
Panels come in two standard sizes:
• 30" x 96" x 1 1/2" (for countertops)
• 36” x 72” x 1-1/2” (for table tops)
Spec sheets and finish recommendations are available from Teragren.
Teragren will also make panels to order up to 8' x 3' x 3" thick. For pricing information, you'll need to ask a Teragren retailer near you; if you're in the Bay Area like us, that means Ecohome Improvement, which supplies a great "create your own plan" worksheet you can use to get a ballpark estimate. Like anything else that's big and heavy, shipping distance can greatly affect cost.
A side note about countertops: we've been noticing that many green countertop materials come in 30" widths, whereas the standard is 25 1/2" or 26". If you're designing a kitchen, do yourself a favor: specify deeper cabinets, or space standard cabinets out from the wall to take advantage of this extra depth; it really comes in handy if you're a serious cook. Plus, less trimming of countertop blanks will save you money on countertop fabrication and reduce the amount of waste you generate.
How durable is this?
Because I know bamboo floors are very sensitive and show every little ding. And my counters take a lot more wear and tear than my floors, without being butcher block, which is designed to withstand even more.
Somehow, I don't see countertops that get beaten to a pulp within a few years as being "green". My current kitchen is formica, which I'm sure is not great for the earth, but those counters have been there for at least 20 years, and they're not going anywhere anytime soon.
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It seems bamboo has a reputation for being susceptible to dings and maybe it is, but that hasn't been my experience. We've had Teragren bamboo floors for a couple months now and are very happy with them. The day after my husband (and me and my Dad) installed them he dropped a hammer on the floor, ouch! and we can't even see it. We drag stuff across them and our three cats (all with claws) run and slide across them all day (and night!) long. I also took a scrap piece and beat the crap out of it wondering what would happen. It can be scraped and dinged, but really holds up pretty well. Besides I don't mind a couple dings--you know, character and all that.
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