Decking, cladding, and everything in-between: why bamboo is the material of choice for Kiwi backyards

Outdoor living has always been a core part of New Zealand culture. From the humble backyard cricket set and summer evening BBQs to flourishing veggie gardens and Dad’s sawdust-covered shed, Kiwis know how to make the most of any outdoor space. When it comes to selecting materials for outdoor living areas, timber, tile, and concrete are often the top contenders — but there is another option that is steadily gaining popularity with landscapers, designers, and homeowners alike: bamboo.     

“Bamboo is an incredibly versatile material because of the way various bamboo products are manufactured,” says Steve Roughan of Plantation Bamboo. “Its strength and durability are achieved by either compressing or laminating the bamboo fibres into high-density boards and panels, allowing it to be used for a wide variety of applications, including decking, cladding, flooring, and bespoke joinery. For sustainability-focused projects, bamboo is a rapidly-growing renewable resource that regenerates from the same plant — an efficient alternative to slow-growing hardwoods.”

With New Zealand’s diverse climate, it can be challenging to find durable, low-maintenance cladding and outdoor materials that can withstand everything from the hot, dry Otago summers to the cold, damp Auckland winters. Building on the material’s engineered stability, bamboo X-treme cladding and decking products are thermally modified to remove the sugars and starches that lead to decay, giving them a strong resistance to rot and mould.

“Bamboo cladding is particularly low-maintenance. Depending on the look you want to achieve, it can be left to weather naturally for a soft, silver tone, or oiled to achieve a preferred colour. Regardless of which maintenance option you choose, your bamboo will continue to uphold its dimensional stability and consistent finish, as it is naturally less prone to movement like cupping and warping compared to traditional timbers.”

Of course, it’s not just the functional benefits of bamboo that have captured the nation’s attention.

The gorgeous natural tones and sleek finish lend well to creative landscaping and architectural features, especially when paired with practical applications like cladding and decking. No strangers to out-of-the-box design ideas, Kiwis are already using bamboo to elevate their outdoor spaces.

“We’re seeing clients create built-in outdoor furniture, kitchens, planter boxes, and screens made from bamboo,” Steve says. “People often use their bamboo decking or cladding in innovative ways like this.”

As with any natural material, the appearance of your bamboo decking, cladding, and outdoor furniture will change over time. Weathering, light surface checking, and texture changes are all part of the process. These characteristics can be embraced as design features, with the natural aging and lived-in look that emerges as the bamboo weathers, contributing to the personality of your space.

Extending the same bamboo look indoors is a great way to create a seamless transition between the two spaces. Plantation Bamboo panels are designed for use across a wide variety of internal joinery applications.  

“There are two distinct aesthetic variations you can choose from when specifying internal bamboo joinery. Laminated bamboo is made from layers of vertical strips, resulting in clean lines and a contemporary feel, while compressed bamboo has a rich, natural grain that is similar to hardwood. Both variations are available in natural or coffee colours, but can also be coloured to suit most architectural styles. Designers are also specifying bamboo for a variety of elements in their commercial fit-outs, including wall linings, ceilings, shelves, joinery, and countertops,” Steve explains.

“Bamboo is a material that really benefits from being seen and touched firsthand. The density, warmth, and finish are difficult to fully appreciate from images alone, which is why we recommend people start by ordering a free sample or visiting a display location to see how it looks in real life. With simple, periodic maintenance, your bamboo will continue to look great and perform well for many years.”

Learn more about Plantation Bamboo.