Bamboo Living Homes FAQCOSTS
What comes with the prefab home kit?
Your beautiful Bamboo Living Home kit comes with all the necessary exterior walls, interior walls, roof & roof support structure, roof eaves, porch roof, porch railings, and loft floor panels (if applicable). Do you have actual costs for everything for the owner/builder?
We can give you a cost estimating worksheet to determine the finish costs with builders. Decide which home style and square footage you're most interested in, and then give us a call at 877-857-0057 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . CERTIFICATIONS & PERMITTING
Are Bamboo Living Homes produced in compliance with building codes in the USA and other countries?
Absolutely! ICC Evaluation Service Report ESR-1636 (Nov. 2004) states that Structural Bamboo Poles produced by Bamboo Living comply with the 2003 International Building Code (IBC), 2003 International Residential Code (IRC) and 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC). Can these houses be permitted as dwellings in the USA and other countries?
Yes, Bamboo Living Homes are approved for dwelling structure permits in the USA and other countries that require International Code Council – Evaluation Services (ICC-ES) certification. They also meet Dade County Florida’s hurricane standards, some of the strictest in the world. Bamboo Living Homes are approved for dwelling structure permits on Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, Big Island and Oahu. Time required to get permits may vary. Permits in Maui County take the longest, about 2-4 months. Our species of Vietnamese structural bamboo is listed in International Building Codes. How do I get drawings for permitting approval?
Bamboo Living provides a complete Permit Set of architectural drawings for your building project along with the Bamboo Living Home Package. This Permit Set is prepared for building permit submittal by the home owner or a permit expediter. Are there any additional building requirements that I need to know about?
We're happy to do a full review of applicable local building and zoning code requirements in your region as part of an architectural consultation agreement. Can I get home mortgage and homeowners insurance on these houses?
Yes! Mortgage companies are available to finance Bamboo Living Homes. Our buildings are also eligible for homeowners and fire insurance. Are Bamboo Living Homes Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified?
Yes! Bamboo Living Homes are LEED certifiable. Each project needs to apply for a LEED certification, so we recommend coordinating the design & production of your home from the earliest project stages to ensure that your home is constructed with the highest quality LEED approved materials and designed by David Sands AIA, a LEED accredited professional. SHIPPING
Where can you ship your buildings?
Bamboo Living ships to any port around the globe. How much does shipping cost?
Shipping costs are vary, but usually run around 15% of the Bamboo Living Home Package. How long is it from the time you order the building to when you receive it?
Typically, your prefab home kit will ship within 3 to 6 months after you place the order. Once Bamboo Living receives the deposit we begin building the house at the factory. After the house is built, it is disassembled, put in a container and shipped. Shipping takes about one month. ASSEMBLY & STRUCTURE
Does your company have crews to assemble your houses?
Bamboo Living can refer an independent Certified Bamboo Living Home Assembly Technician for your project. What goes up first, the structure and then the walls?
Bamboo Living Homes incorporate the bamboo structure within the panels themselves. So, the wall panels are erected first and then the roof structure and roof panels. Are your houses wired and plumbed?
Bamboo Living Homes are ready to be wired and plumbed by licensed electricians and plumbers. Are your buildings a feasible option for cold weather?
Yes they are. Bamboo Living can produce single wall panels (common in tropical regions) or cavity wall panels (insulation-ready panels) recommended for regions with more severe climates. Does the house come with insulation, what is the R-Value?
Bamboo Living Homes are insulation-ready. Our cavity wall panels are designed to allow the walls to have an R-Value that meets the minimum code requirements for your region. Are your wall systems SIPs (Structural Insulated Panel‘s)?
We currently produce two types of wall systems, single wall systems for milder climates, and cavity wall systems that are insulation-ready, for more severe climates. How is the roof constructed?
Bamboo Living Home roofs incorporate trusses and multiple roof panels; each roof panel has a bamboo frame, interior finished surface and exterior grade plywood. Which type of roofing do you offer?
Bamboo Living Homes, once assembled, are ready for a roofing crew to install any type of roofing. The roofing material & labor must be coordinated locally by the client or project manager. QUALITY
How long do your bamboo houses last?
A Bamboo Living Home has a lifespan as long as or longer than any conventional wood framed building if it is properly installed & maintained. In Japan, bamboo structures have a history of lasting 200 years. Is there any kind of warranty on the house?
Yes, all Bamboo Living bamboo poles, trim, and materials in the houses are backed by our company warranty if the Bamboo Living Home is assemble by a Certified Bamboo Living Home Assembly Technician. How durable and resistant are the houses to hurricanes and earthquakes?
Bamboo Living Homes are designed by licensed architects and engineered by licensed structural engineers to meet any local building code requirements for each specific building site. Our designs use the inherent strength of the bamboo and its connections to fulfill all building code requirements even in earthquake and hurricane zones. In fact, our homes in the Cook Islands withstood 173 mph winds. They also meet Dade County, Florida’s hurricane standards, some of the strictest in the world. What kind of maintenance is required for the houses?
The maintenance will be comparable to a conventional structure. On the house lines that use split bamboo exterior siding, the same maintenance as any natural wood siding is required. The siding can be painted, stained or oiled. The house exterior can also be covered with any siding material used in wood frame construction such as board and batten or stucco. Are bamboo finishes and treatments safe and environmentally friendly?
Bamboo Living has conducted extensive research over the past decade on the most effective and environmental friendly bamboo treatments and finishes to inhibit mold, fungi, termites, beetles, sun, rain and weathering, so Bamboo Living Homes remain healthy, strong and beautiful for years to come. Are the houses susceptible to insects or mold? Bamboo Living Homes are completely sealed from insect and wind infiltration. Special attention is given at the factory to seal all joints between panels with rubber seals. After buildings are erected, secondary seals and finish details provide extra protection. Bamboo Living bamboo poles, trim and materials are backed by our warranty. Do termites eat your bamboo buildings?
The species of bamboo in our Bamboo Living Homes is naturally resistant to termites, “termite proof”. Meaning that tests have shown that even if our bamboo was the only food source they had available, the termites would perish because it will not sustain them. MISCELLANEOUS
What else do you offer?
Bamboo Living also offers other house products including bamboo doors and bamboo flooring. Where can we get bamboo for our building project?
Bamboo Living is the first and only source for International Code Council (ICC) approved construction grade bamboo! We specialize in designing & producing pre-fabricated bamboo kits. The Bamboo Living Farms and production facility are located in Vietnam. Can you provide me with a presentation on a specific subject regarding bamboo?
Yes, please have a look at our latest brochure and if you still have any unanswered questions please let us know. If you would like a more thorough presentation we can put together a proposal for our bamboo technical staff to provide a presentation. |
