While very popular overseas, predominately in tropical countries, Bamboo roofing is starting to gain interest in the less traditional markets of Europe and the US.

Even though many may be suspicious of the value of Bamboo roofing, there are now a variety of processes available to produce a tightly woven material which is impervious, retains heat well and above all, is very friendly to the environment.

Rigorous tests have also highlighted the impressive load bearing capacity of bamboo roofing which compares very well against more traditional roofing materials.

In the UK and Europe, bamboo roofing is proving ever more popular in the stylish gazebo market in particular, where the bamboo offers a fashionable alternative to the traditional metal and wooden structures.

They blend in very well with the natural feel of a garden, and are fairly simple to erect. Research has shown that bamboo can be used to produce a variety of housing materials including boards, panels, composites, laminates and corrugated roofing sheets.

The materials are so tightly inter woven that they have a very long life span, and prove very effective against the natural elements such as wind and rain. They also offer a unique mix of a rigid structure, as well as a degree of flexibility to retain their shape.

While the roofing element of any housing structure is the most important, sheltering the inhabitants from the elements, bamboo can also be used to produce all aspects of the structure, including the floor, walls, doors, etc - as well as a variety of furniture. The raw bamboo material is very common throughout tropical regions of the world, and will never be in short supply.

Over the last few years we have seen a number of high profile natural disasters on our TV screens, and bamboo based housing structures are ever more vital to assist in rehousing survivors on a short term basis. Easy to erect, easy to transport and offering much needed protection from the elements, they have saved countless lives.

As we enter an age where environmentally friendly material and processes are coming to the fore, bamboo based roofing and building products are becoming more and more popular.

As well as the direct environmentally friendly aspects of the material, the production process also uses only a fraction of energy compared to the processing of traditional materials. Cost is also an issue for many, and bamboo also compares favourably in this area.