About Island Tiki Huts

Here is a close look at the different types of materials available from framing construction to thatching (grass roofing) and finally décor. We also list the positives and negatives of each material to give you an idea of look, integrity and cost efficiency.


ADVANTAGES: Hardness Compression Strength Visual Appeal LIMITATIONS: Cost Professional Engineering Necessary	Bamboo is the strongest plant material in the world. Greatly surpassing timber in tension and compression, it has also proven to have twice the tensile strength of steel. It takes five months for bamboo to grow to a mature size most trees would take decades to reach. Having been the only plant left standing and still alive after the atomic blast on Hiroshima, it has been considered by many Asian cultures as a gift from the Gods. However, bamboo does have its weaknesses. With its segments being hollow, bamboo can lose its compression strength when pressure is applied perpendicular to the center of a segment. Careful engineering is necessary when framing any kind of bamboo structure. Bamboo is also typically imported adding to its cost. Do not be lured by websites that advertise low priced bamboo. Properly treated bamboo is put in pressure treated and pesticide ponds for months. It is then kiln roasted for straightness and dryness.

ADVANTAGES: Reasonable Cost More Resistant to Weathering than Untreated, Ubiquitous LIMITATIONS: Generally needs backup stain if exposed to weather, Green Tint	¨Pressure Treated¨ (PT) is a chemical treatment applied to Pine for durability and water resistance. Regulations have forced wood companies to use less toxic chemicals in the past year making it much safer than in the past. PT comes in 2 grades that are easily classified as #1 and #2 in order of their quality. Unfortunately PT lumber often requires a backup water sealer and or a colored stain for hiding the generally unpleasant green tint it comes in.

ADVANTAGES: Native wood Beautiful finished color texture, and visual appeal. LIMITATIONS: Smaller second-generation harvests are not very resistant to weather	Cypress is a native lumber that has been used for hundreds of years by the Seminole Indians in constructing what they call Chiki Huts. It has very few knots, so when the bark is peeled and the wood is cleaned free of debris it can have a beautiful light blond color and smooth texture. It is a favorite among Tiki hut builders and buyers for its authentic visual appeal and cost. Cypress is a hard wood and has been widely known for its durability, although much of the second-generation smaller cypress lacks what is called the heartwood. This is where the decay-resistant wood that has made cypress famous is found. The smaller lumber often needs to be stained or treated. It is hard to find in larger diameters but well worth the sturdier and more resistant construction.

ADVANTAGES: Extremely durable High oil content makes it resistant to insects Prevents rust when in contact with metal Beautiful finish Highly resistant to rot Flexible for ease in woodworking LIMITATIONS: Limited resources makes it high in value and expense Exposure to sun causes finish to fade its color every few months which can mean high maintenance	Teak has a long history through ancient civilizations for its durability and resistance to rot. Found mostly in Southeast Asian countries, teak is more notably famous among shipbuilders for its resistance to rust when in contact with metal, and its natural resistance to insect attacks because of its high oil content. Teak is such a dense wood that it does not float, making standard float harvesting methods in rivers impossible. Instead elephants are widely used to haul the lumber through the forests to mills. Its resistance to rot makes it a perfect wood for outdoor exposure and high moisture environments such as steam saunas and tropical climates. Today teak is common in ship decking, outdoor furniture, and steam saunas.
	Thatch is the material used to roof Tiki Huts. Surprising to most westerners, it is the most common roof system in the world. There are hundreds of varieties of palm leaves, grass, reed, and bamboo used in thatching.

	Fresh Sable palm leaves are the most classic and authentic thatching material of Florida and the Caribbean along with Cabbage palm or Date palm close behind. It has great insulating qualities to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. Installed correctly it is also 100% waterproof with its fan shaped leaves. Dependent on climate, proper installation, and exposure, palm thatching can last 6-8 years.

	Berg Grass from Africa has become a popular material import, with its finished smooth texture, and similar waterproofing and insulating capabilities of palm. Berg grass can also last 10 - 15 years.

	Dekriet Reed is another popular system in thatching. It is mainly harvested in South Africa and is closely related to the bamboo family. It is a small durable reed with an interesting color blend of greens and earth tones. Similar North American Reed is used in colonial style construction and has proven resistant to weathering for up to 40 years.

	Bamboo technically is not classified as thatching but is one of the more elegant roofing systems available when customizing your dream hut. It is not very common in the United States as it is synonymous with Asian style homes and huts, a trend that has not yet taken hold in America. If you are looking in the Balinese or Japanese style tea house direction than we would be pleased to introduce you to our beautiful custom designs.

	It is the opinion of ITH that most artificial thatching systems have not yet matched quality with price. Overly expensive thatching shingles and materials have not yet met our specifications for visual appeal, weather resistance and overall durability.

	Choose from American and exotic hardwoods to Indonesian teak or even the new environmental composite decking. We import anything as long as the resource meets our renewable resource standards.


STAINLESS STEEL OR BRASS HARDWARE	The beauty is in the detail, but so is the strength. While most deck and outdoor structure builders use galvanized nails which tend to "pop" up after a few years, ITH uses all stainless steel hardware. Planks are tied down using extra long screws or even a screw-less decking system. We even offer our clients the use of all brass hardware for an additional cost.
ANCHORS & TIES	All framing is fastened together with extensive hurricane ties and stainless lag bolts. The saying with ITH is your house will go in a hurricane before your Tiki Hut will.
PRECISION JOINERY	ITH provides craftsmen level hand carved joinery even for those with a limited budget.
ENGINEERED FOR STRENGTH	ITH construction prefers surpassing strict Miami-Dade category 5 hurricane construction requirements. Structural pillars are concrete encased up to six feet into the ground and waterfront communities pilings are driven as much as 25 feet. All ties and anchors have redundant back-ups.
WIND-PROOF, FIRE-RESISTANT & WATER-PROOF	Our construction is second to none. In hurricane strength winds, you may lose a few leaves from your thatching but the structure will not be affected. Lumber is treated for water, fire, and bug resistance. Thatching is sprayed with a high level fire retardant and our thatching system creates a highly reputed wind resistance that has withstood numerous hurricanes.
ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING	We work directly with our own certified electrical engineer to provide power to your tiki hut. From concealed GFCI floor outlets to ceiling fans, we integrate modern conveniences in a discreet way.