Handling & Storage:
Carry light weight panels on edge or support horizontally to prevent cracking along the grain. The following basic steps in handling and storage are recommended to help avoid or minimize some of the problems associated with wood movement. Recommendations for Storage and Handling:
Panels should be stored flat on raised runners of equal thickness.
Humidity and temperature controls that are capable of maintaining a constant 40 to 60% relative humidity and 65 to 75°F should be installed.
Extremes of heat and cold should be avoided.
Panels stored in an uncontrolled environment should be brought into the fabrication area 24 to 48 hours prior to being processed. Again, they should be stacked flat on raised runners of equal thickness. Evenly distributed weighting of the stack will help the panels acclimatize uniformly.
Sanding by the fabricator prior to finishing is always recommended.
All exposed panel surfaces should be sealed.
Allowance for linear expansion should be incorporated into the design of the product.
Panel products should not be taken to a job site until the site is completely ready for the product to be installed. They should be allowed to acclimatize to the job site before installation.
Wall panels should not be installed over wet or unfinished drywall.
Recommended Cutting Instructions:
Sharp carbide tip blades are recommended. Bamboo machines easily in the long direction with the grain. It can splinter when crosscutting, coping and tenoning across the end grain. If a crack develops, due to the linear-fiber grain structure, it can run the entire length of the board. Although not a common occurrence, one to be aware of. Bamboo sands well with a wide belt sander or a profile sander.
