Coconut Palm Wood The Next 'Bamboo'?

If you are thinking of remodeling your home give some thought to Palmwood. I recently came across a store that specializes in selling only 'green' products for the home. Zero VOC paints (Volatile Organic Compounds), natural clay wall treatments, bamboo and yes even palmwood.

Palms were planted in the tropics during the early part of the 20th Century by the millions to supply the coconut oil market. Since palm trees only bear fruit for about 70 years they must be felled to make way for new crops. So, what to do with the millions of trees felled each year?

It turns out palmwood is terrific for indoor and outdoor projects as it is resistant to termites, mold and wood rot making it a great choice in both wet and dry climates as well.

And because palms don't grow in rings like other trees you get a beautiful linear grain that is unlike any you have seen before. Imagine palmwood floors instead of laminate which is just awful for the environment. Just gorgeous! 

Comments

[Yan]

Nice looking wood. Treehugger showed some other applications recently. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/11/palmwood_goes_a.php

[Melinda]

Thanks so much! I'll check it out.