How a particular component/ module/ system behaves under compression and tension loading. Bamboo species, in his book - Bamboo: gifts of gods in 2001.

Bamboo House Construction Jo Scheer has been deeply involved in working with bamboo for about two decades, having lived in Rincon, Puerto Rico, where he built a home for his family with mainly bamboo components. He has been designing, building, and marketing a wide range of beautiful bamboo creations that can be seen at his website, where you can also find rental information on various accommodations in this tropical paradise. Jo has recently authored a book,, that outlines some 30 bamboo projects that elegantly demonstrate the beauty and functionality of bamboo. One of the more inventive of his designs is what he calls a 'hooch', which is a small elevated abode made almost entirely of bamboo. The grounded footprint of this inverted pyramidal structure is roughly one square foot, since the entire weight is born on a small pedestal, while the room above is stabilized with guy wires. This hooch has been featured on TV and at conferences.

With a background in science, Jo has been a teacher, technician, inventor, builder, contractor, sailor, agriculturist and artist, and thus is eminently qualified to field your questions about building or living with bamboo. Questions and Answers Q: I'm interested in finding an introductory book, or several books on the basics of building a simple wooden cabin/hut/house in the tropics. I am interested in Bamboo as there is a lot of bamboo here in Jamaica. A: There should be a book on this subject--maybe I should write it. I do have a manual on building the hooch--a single point foundation treehouse that is appropriate for the tropics. I like the design, but there are certainly other designs out there--mostly more conventional. You can see various versions of the hooch on my website, There are several overriding design principles of building with bamboo in the tropics.

First, a large overhang keeps the structure dry and out of the direct sun--this protects the bamboo from rot, bleaching, and ultimately a shorter life. Keep the bamboo exposed to air, and easily accessible- this prevents the possibility of critters taking up residence, and easy replacement if needed. Besides, bamboo is nice to look at--structural beauty.

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The structure should be raised off the ground, with no bamboo in actual contact with the earth. This, again, prevents critters access, including marauding termites (who need access to moisture, ie, earth). The bamboo stays dry if not in contact with the earth. The hooch has a single point foundation--only one place where bugs can enter--so it is easy to monitor. Also, although some species of bamboo are naturally resistant to bugs and rot, the bamboo should be treated with an earth-friendly preservative. The best treatment is borax, but this is water soluble--another reason the bamboo should not be exposed to rain (large overhang).

The roof may need to be some other impermeable membrane, as it is a bit difficult to keep this dry. I use plywood coated with elastomeric roof coating- cheap, and simple. You could do a metal roof, just keep things light (another good general rule). If I were to pick one book on bamboo, I would choose 'Bamboo: The Gift of the Gods' by Oscar Hidalgo. I met the guy a couple years ago, as we were judging a bamboo dwelling contest.

Quite the character. He covers the whole spectrum, including houses, traditional and proposed. Also, the results of the competition I alluded to was put into a book. Lots of ideas, though not all practical.

Q: Can bamboo be treated to stay in water as some types of wood are treated to stay in water? A: I suppose bamboo will take up any treatment used for wood to withstand water--I can think of a couple epoxy types used for boats. The skin of bamboo is fairly impermeable, so a treatment should be able to access the meat of the bamboo from the inside (knock out the nodes). Q: You do not mention lashing as a method for joining bamboo.

Do you recommend against this for use in hooch construction? A: Lashing is a traditional method of joining bamboo, and is still appropriate. I use galvanized wire as lashing--though not in any traditional way. Wire lashing is used on ends to prevent splits from developing, and maintain the structural integrity of the bamboo pole. I also have used a lashing technique for securing mortise and tenon joinery--with a wood block insert. The goal of good joinery is to prevent any relative movement of the joint, and design the joinery such that the structure is totally triangulated.