The Process of Building a Bamboo Home
Building a home can be intimidating but understanding the process will help make your project flow much easier. As the architect and manufacturer of your bamboo home, we handle your design, building permits, site visits, prefab home construction, and shipping. We also help you in selecting the right contractor to assemble your new home. Read on below, where we outline the full process of building a Bamboo Living home from start to finish.
1.
CALL US & VISIT A BAMBOO LIVING HOME
Seeing is believing and you’ll know from the first time you experience one of our beautiful homes, that a Bamboo Living home is the way to go. Our representative will explain home options, features, sustainability, and the entire process of becoming a satisfied Bamboo Living home owner.
This is a chance to get to know each other and answer all initial questions. If you’re not located near one of our homes, we can share our knowledge over the phone and send pictures or video to help you visualize the unique and well-designed qualities of our homes.
2.
SECURE PROPERTY & ESTABLISH YOUR BUDGET
Finding the right piece of land to build on, is an essential part of creating your new dream home. We design our homes to blend and respond to their environment whether it’s on oceanfront property, a sunny hillside, a tropical valley, or high in the mountains.
We can look at a total budget for the project and help review general costs of construction to help you select the right design for your Bamboo home.
3.
CHOOSE A MODEL
Now that you have your land and have established a budget, choose the bamboo home model that best fits your needs. We can help you select the right design for you based on budget, square footage, use, bedrooms, aesthetic, and efficiency.
We have single wall and double wall options. To learn more, see our Signature and Hybrid home package descriptions.
4.
ARRANGE A SITE VISIT WITH ONE OF OUR ARCHITECTS
You have an idea of what you want to create, and scheduling a site visit with one of our architects will help you unlock the full potential of your home and property.
We’ll work with you regarding your land and local requirements so you’ll be in good hands when we secure your building permits.
5.
SIGN YOUR BAMBOO LIVING CONTRACTS AND PLACE DEPOSIT
With your deposit in place, we schedule the production of your bamboo home package at our factory in Vietnam and begin design and construction drawings. During the design process, you have the ability to collaborate with our architects and designers to create a home that fits your lifestyle and personal design taste. Once we have your approval on the preliminary design drawings, the final plans are drawn up and submitted for building permit if required. If your land is in the State of Hawaii we’ll file your permits with the county office.
For those outside of Hawaii, we will work with a local architect or project manager to secure building permits.
Our team of expert bamboo artisans build your design as specified by our agreed upon design drawings and send progress photos so you can watch the handcrafting of your own bamboo home!
6.
HIRE YOUR PROJECT MANAGER OR GENERAL CONTRACTOR
We have a list of recommended project managers and general contractors to be your builder in this process. For those located outside of Hawaii, experienced assembly technicians will act as a consultant to guide an efficient assembly process with your local builder. The typical assembly time on-site is between 1-7 days for our standard models.
Since Bamboo Living homes have been designed to integrate with traditional construction, an experienced builder will be able to complete the rest of your home after the prefabricated kit is assembled.
7.
CHOOSE YOUR FINISHES AND MATERIALS WITH YOUR BUILDER
In addition to what’s included with your bamboo home package, you’ll need to select flooring, roofing, windows, doors, counters, cabinets, fixtures, and appliances. This is the time to work with your builder to decide what finishes and materials you’ll need to complete your home. As designers, we can offer guidance during this selection process.
8.
START YOUR SITE WORK
Now is the time for the builder to prepare your site and build the foundation for your new home. Our single wall models require the foundation to be completed for bamboo assembly to begin. Our double wall models require the foundation and perimeter load-bearing walls to be completed for bamboo assembly to begin.
It’s important for you to determine the accessibility of either a 20’ or 40’ container to your site. In the case where access is an issue, smaller trucks can haul panels to the site.
9.
YOUR HOME SHIPS!
We’ve been busy building your home at our factory, and it’s now on the way to you! Our experienced and skilled bamboo artisans, have handpicked poles, carved complex joints, integrated custom steel hardware, and assembled your entire home package in a matter of months.
After sending you the final photos of your expertly crafted bamboo structure, our team packs all of the parts and panels into shipping containers for departure.
Shipping to Hawaii typically takes about 5 weeks. If shipping elsewhere we will provide you an estimated arrival from the shipping company.
10.
ASSEMBLE YOUR BAMBOO LIVING HOME KIT
Each component of your home has been labeled and fits together like a large, well-crafted, piece of furniture. Because your home has been pre-built and disassembled, you can be sure that all the pieces join up just right.
When the assembly is complete, one of our architects will come and check to see that your bamboo kit has been assembled correctly.
Assembly is very quick, between 1-7 days for most building types.
11.
FINISH THE HOUSE
You’ve just assembled your Bamboo Living Home Package and now it’s time to finish it. This is the time to install your roofing, and complete the interior of your home.
As your architect, we are always available to support your builder during the construction process by providing clarifications and information.
12.
MOVE IN & ENJOY!
It’s been an incredible journey and you are now the proud owner of a beautiful Bamboo Living home! As we’ve learned from our customers, owning a bamboo home is a rewarding experience and it’s likely you’ll receive some well-deserved attention from friends and neighbors.
Your new home is a unique work of art, and people will notice! Now it’s time to relax and share the beauty of your home with those you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
COSTS
What comes with the Bamboo Living Home Packages?
Hybrid Bamboo Living Home Package
Bamboo Living provides the roof and roof support structure, interior ceiling and exposed bamboo rafters, exterior natural split bamboo siding, roof eaves, and, if applicable, porch roof, porch railings, dormer, and loft railings.Signature Bamboo Living Home Package
Bamboo Living provides the structural bamboo exterior walls, roof and roof support structure, roof eaves, and, if applicable, porch roof, porch railings, and loft stairway railing panels.
Do the costs per sq ft that you mention on your website include finish costs?
We provide the cost for the Bamboo Living Home Packages by themselves and in some cases, an estimated range for the finish cost based on historical data from previous builds. You can find a complete list of what is included in our Bamboo Living Home Packages here. We competitively price our Bamboo Living Home Packages to allow them to be finished out at comparable cost to conventional construction. The end product, however, isn’t comparable—our quality and workmanship is unmatched, along with the added environmental benefits.
Do you have actual costs for everything for the owner/builder?
We can provide a build cost estimate for your Bamboo Living Home Package as soon as you decide which model you want. Finish costs vary depending on your site circumstances and individual preferences. Once you have your final building plans, we can provide you with a list of project managers and general contractors who are familiar with our bamboo homes to provide a finishing cost.
CERTIFICATIONS & PERMITTING
Are Bamboo Living Homes produced in compliance with building codes in the USA and other countries?
Yes. ICC Evaluation Service Report ESR-1636 states that Structural Bamboo Poles produced by Bamboo Living comply with the current International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC).
Can these homes 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 can also be designed to meet Dade County, Florida’s hurricane standards, some of the strictest in the world. Over 350 Bamboo Living Homes have been approved for dwelling structure permits and built throughout the state of Hawaii and the world. Time required to get permits vary, so it’s never too early to get started.
How do I get drawings for permitting approval?
Bamboo Living can provide complete architecture services for your project. 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 homeowner or a permit expediter. We charge a set fee for standard permit sets, plus additional fees for customization, site visits, and building department special requirements.
Are there any additional building requirements that I need to know about?
We can do a full review of applicable local building and zoning code requirements for your jurisdiction as part of an architectural consultation agreement.
Can I get a home mortgage and homeowners insurance on the Bamboo Living Home Package?
Just like any other house, our customers are also eligible for homeowners and fire insurance. Banks are available to finance your construction project with a construction loan. Once the project is complete, it automatically converts to a mortgage.
Are the Bamboo Living Home Packages Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) eligible?
Yes. The materials in our Bamboo Living Homes Package meet the qualifications for LEED certification. In fact, you earn extra points for choosing Bamboo Living, making it easier to earn gold or platinum certification. Each project needs to apply for a LEED certification, so we recommend coordinating the design and production of your home from the earliest project stages to ensure that your home is constructed with the highest quality LEED-approved materials.
SHIPPING
Where can you ship your Bamboo Living Home Packages?
Bamboo Living Home Packages are panelized and packaged into standard-sized shipping containers which ship to any container port around the world.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping costs are variable but usually run around 10-15% of the Bamboo Living Home Package. This cost can vary depending upon location, time of year, and volume.
How long is it from the time you order the Bamboo Living Home Package to when you receive it?
Typically, your Bamboo Living Home Package will ship within 3 to 6 months after you place the order. Once Bamboo Living receives the deposit, we begin building the house at our production facility. After the Bamboo Living Home Package is built, it is disassembled, put in a container, and shipped. Shipping generally takes about one month.
ASSEMBLY & STRUCTURE
Does your company provide a builder to assemble and finish the Bamboo Living Home Package?
Bamboo Living can provide you with a list of project managers and general contractors who are familiar with building our bamboo homes.
What is the sequence of home construction?
The sequence is: site work, foundation, BLHP assembly, roofing, window and door installation, plumbing, electric, cabinets, finished floors. All aspects of the project are designed by Bamboo Living. All onsite construction is completed by the builder of your choice. The Bamboo Living Home Package assembly for a 1000 sq ft package normally takes 1-7 days. The full construction sequence generally takes 3-6 months.
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 Signature models (common in tropical regions) or Hybrid models, which are 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 Hybrid models are designed to allow the walls to have an R-Value that meets the code requirements for your region.
Are your wall systems SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels)?
We currently produce two types of models, Signature single-wall models, for milder warm climates, and Hybrid models that are designed for site-built insulated walls 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 materials and labor must be purchased and installed locally.
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 and maintained. In Japan, bamboo structures have a history of lasting 200 years.
Is there any kind of warranty on the Bamboo Living Home Package?
Yes, all Bamboo Living Home Packages are backed by our 10-year structural warranty if it is assembled by a certified assembler recommended by Bamboo Living.
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 local building code requirements for each specific building site. Our designs use the inherent strength of the bamboo and its connections to fulfill building code requirements even in earthquake and hurricane zones. In fact, our homes in the Cook Islands withstood 173 mph winds. They also can be designed to meet Dade County, Florida’s hurricane standards, some of the strictest in the world.
What kind of maintenance is required for the homes?
The maintenance will be comparable to a conventional structure. On the home models that use split bamboo exterior siding, the same maintenance as any natural wood siding is required. The siding can also be painted or an alternate siding such as stucco or lap siding can be site installed. 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 environmentally 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 homes susceptible to insects or mold?
Bamboo Living Homes are designed to be completely sealed from insect and moisture infiltration. After buildings are erected, bituminous flashing is installed between panels and this flashing is covered with trim and caulked. Bamboo Living Homes Packages are backed by our warranty.
Do termites eat your bamboo buildings?
No. The species of bamboo we use in our Bamboo Living Homes is naturally resistant to termites. Additionally, as part of our building code standard, all our bamboo is pressure treated with borate just the same as wood used for construction. Tests have shown that even if our bamboo is the only food source available, 100% of termites perish.
MISCELLANEOUS
What else do you offer?
Bamboo Living also offers a range of bamboo furniture, custom cabinets, gazebos, garages, carports, sheds, and gates.
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 and producing pre-fabricated bamboo home packages. Bamboo Living’s production facilities are located in south and central Vietnam.
What is the carbon footprint for the Bamboo Living Home Package including shipping?
We have done some preliminary carbon footprint calculations and have found that the shipping is a minor factor in the equations compared to conventional construction. A study done at Eindhoven University in the Netherlands showed that bamboo even with shipping between hemispheres was by far the most environmental choice, compared to sustainably grown wood, steel, or concrete.
Still have questions?
If you still have questions, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help you out. We’re open M-F 9-5 PM HST.
