Haha, bamboo stakes for concrete forms...that's brave. I've experimented with bamboo for garden trellises and even then it surprised me how much flex it had. Curious though—did you notice any cracking afterward from the bowing, or did it hold up fine?
I tried bamboo once for a small indoor partition project, thinking it'd be a cool, eco-friendly alternative. It looked great initially, but after a few weeks, I noticed some subtle splits forming along the length—nothing catastrophic, but enough to make me reconsider using it structurally again. Maybe it depends on the bamboo type or drying process? Did you treat yours in any special way before using it?
I had a similar experience when I tried bamboo for shelving supports in my garage. Thought I'd save some cash and be eco-friendly at the same time. Looked awesome at first, but after a month or two, I noticed those same splits you're talking about. I didn't treat mine specially either—just assumed it'd hold up fine indoors. Makes me wonder if humidity or temperature fluctuations play a bigger role than we realize... Did you notice any environmental factors that might've contributed to yours splitting?
I've noticed similar issues with bamboo in some of my projects too. Bamboo's great aesthetically and eco-wise, but it's pretty sensitive to humidity swings—more than most people realize. Even indoors, garages can fluctuate quite a bit in moisture levels, especially if they're not climate-controlled. Did you happen to notice if your splits were worse near doors or windows? I've found that airflow and proximity to exterior walls can really amplify those environmental effects...
I've had similar headaches with bamboo flooring in my sunroom. Looked amazing at first, but after a year or so, I started noticing splits and warping near the sliding door. Definitely seemed worse where sunlight and humidity fluctuated most. Ended up adding some weather stripping and a small dehumidifier—helped a bit, but honestly, bamboo just seems picky about its environment. Still love the look though...just gotta baby it more than I'd planned.
