DIY Ideas for a Bamboo Kitchen Countertop

Bamboo Form

• Deciding to make your counters out of bamboo is not the last decision you'll make for this project -- bamboo comes in a few different forms, each with pros and cons. Bamboo slabs are the preferred countertop material for the most professional-looking job, but these can be pricey and difficult to seam neatly. You also have the option of using bamboo floor planks -- these are generally best for straight counters with no curves because vertical cuts interfere with the tongue-and-groove locking mechanism. Floor planks have unfinished ends, so an edging would be necessary. Slabs have the advantage of attractive edges that take a router well for a custom look, but bamboo plywood can mimic the look of a slab -- the layered nature of the plywood also offers an interesting grain pattern that is decorative in its own right.

Grain

• Whether you opt for planks, slabs or plywood, bamboo comes in different grains. Horizontal grain looks like wide, flat slices of bamboo, and the knuckles are very obvious. This grain is non-uniform, and tone can vary greatly even within a single plank. If you were to take those same wide slices, stack them, then stand them on edge, you would have vertical grain. Vertical grain is more durable because the ends of the bamboo fibers face the work surface, and it looks more like regular hardwood than bamboo. Strand-woven bamboo is made from pressed bamboo fibers, and looks most like regular hardwood. Both vertical and strand-woven bamboo can have two different colors combined for a marbleized look.

Milling

• Plywood and slabs have flat edges that are joined with two-part epoxy. This process is difficult for a non-pro because the tops of the pieces to be joined must be perfectly sanded to avoid an uneven surface. Planks don't have this problem as long as the installation surface is level, but watch out for beveled edges that could trap food and dirt. Look for planks with square edges for a tight, nearly invisible seam. Of course, beveled edges are what creates the rustic plank look of the bamboo, so if you really can't do without them, be sure to keep food away from the surface and clean the grooves with a toothbrush.

Finish

• Flooring planks come finished, so you can just install and go. Plywood and slabs come unfinished, but may be carbonized to various shades of brown or left blonde. If you want to stain your bamboo, it's important to apply a coat or two of wood conditioner first or the stain will absorb unevenly, creating a sloppy mess. To keep the raw unfinished look, rub several coats of Tung oil into both sides of the slab -- oiling only one side causes warping. Tung oil provides moisture resistance. To make the countertop food-safe, apply eight to 10 coats of mineral oil after the Tung oil, rubbing and applying oil until the surface no longer darkens when the oil is applied. The mineral oil seals the Tung oil inside the grain so it doesn't contaminate the food. Oiled bamboo countertops must be sanded and re-oiled about once per year or whenever the bamboo appears dry.