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Common
species of exotic wood include:
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Br. Cherry
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Br. Walnut
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Tigerwood
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Br. Teak
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Mahogany
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Brazilian Cherry
Also known as jatoba, Brazilian cherry is a very
hard wood featuring a tan/salmon color with black
accent stripes that over time turn to a deep rich red
color. Jatoba is an extremely dense and very strong
wood. With a Janka rating of 2350, it is roughly
eighty-one percent harder than red oak. Due to its
hardness, nailing may require pre-drilling and
adjustment of the angle of penetration.
Brazilian Walnut (Ipe)
Also known as
ipe or iron wood, Brazilian walnut is one of hardest woods
known to man. It tops the chart on the Janka Hardness Scale
at 3684, which is 271% harder than white oak. The wood is
used for furniture, flooring, decking and other outdoor
uses. It has a fire rating of A1 (the highest possible, the
same as concrete). It is insect resistant and extremely
durable. Brazilian walnut creates an extremely beautiful
floor with color variations ranging from dark brown to
reddish-brown to greenish-brown.
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Tigerwood
Tigerwood is a boldly striped species with an
orange/reddish brown background and, as the name suggests,
dark striping that varies from fine lines to wide bands.
The background color ranges from light tan to dark orange
brown and generally becomes darker over time, rendering the
striping less contrasting and pronounced. The species has a
wavy or interlocked, irregular grain pattern. Tigerwood is
difficult to saw properly and requires carbide-tipped
blades. Pre-boring is suggested, but the wood holds nails
well once applied. This species sands fairly easily but
care should be taken as it can be prone to scratch in the
process. Tigerwood takes polishing very easily.
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Brazilian Teak (Cumaru)
Also known
as cumaru, the sapwood is very similar to the heartwood,
ranging from tan to deep brown in color. Over time the
color of Brazilian teak will "flatten out" slightly. The
species has an irregular, slightly interlocked grain and is
coarse and wavy in texture. Cumaru is only 2 1/2% softer
than ipe (Brazilian walnut) and is over 160% harder than
white oak. This very dense and durable wood is resistant to
insect attack and decay. Because it is such an impressively
dense wood, cumaru can show a level of resistance to
cutting blades. Pre-drilling is suggested as splitting can
occur with the dried form of this species. Cumaru sands
well, but can take some effort to finish as it resists
treatment. The dust arising from sanding the wood has been
known to cause a slight allergic reaction on contact with
skin.
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Santos Mahogany
The very fine
and even texture of this well-known and popular hardwood,
along with its striped figuring, complements the attractive
dark reddish-brown color of mahogany. The white sapwood is
sharply differentiated from the heartwood. Mahogany is
known for its strength and beauty, and its outstanding
durability. Given its hardness and color-fastness, Santos
mahogany is a superior choice to genuine Honduran mahogany.
In fact, although genuine mahogany is traditionally chosen
for fine furniture and millwork, it is seldom used in wood
flooring because it lacks sufficient hardness to withstand
constant foot traffic. Santos mahogany is a very hard and
durable wood. Because of its hardness, we recommend using
carbide-tipped drills and blades.
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Exotic species of wood are
available in a Clear, Select & Better, and a
#1 Common.
A Clear grade is the highest grade for flooring. It
will be free of all imperfections and will offer the most
uniform color.
Select & Better provides a very uniform
floor that will have more color variations and an
occasional bird peck or wormhole.
Please call for any other species
of wood you may be interested in.
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