5 Greatest Tropical Hardwoods To Create Amazing Spaces

Posted on September 9, 2022 at 1:48 pm

IPE

If you are looking for a way to create impressive places, using tropical hardwoods makes perfect sense. These extraordinary hardwoods are responsible for building one-of-a-kind spaces that always leave everybody speechless.

Tropical hardwoods such as Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Jatoba, and Tigerwood are much more than gorgeous species. Each provides genuine patterns that enhance any space due to the wood’s stunning variety of colors and aesthetic characteristics. But that’s just one factor that makes them extraordinary.

These exotic species are the most fabulous tropical hardwoods in the world. They all contain natural oils that make them resistant to water, rot, insect damage, different weather conditions, and, most of them, even fire.

Therefore, when you choose tropical hardwoods to remodel your backyard or any space in your home or work, you are choosing a durable material that will remain in the best condition for decades.

Sometimes, the worst thing about high-quality products is complicated and costly maintenance. With these hardwoods, that is not a problem.

CUMARU

One of the best things about these tropical hardwoods is that they do not require a time-absorbing cleaning routine with expensive products to be in top condition. Regular cleaning and applying a proper oil (if you want to preserve their color) will be enough.

Here are our 3 tips for proper maintenance:

Sweep them daily to remove dirt, pollen, and leaves
Wash them and let them dry well for at least 24 hours
Oil them with proper products like the ones we sell here at Brazilian Lumber

Table of Contents

What Makes These Tropical Hardwoods Strong?

GARAPA

They all come from the rainforest of the Americas, where they deal with a lot of rain, moisture, heat, insects, and harsh sun. This means they can withstand bad weather or other threats by being used to the severe natural environment in which they grow.

Their origin makes them the most challenging and durable woods on the planet. Their density and their natural oils make them impenetrable to almost everything. They also do not splinter or scratch easily and have a high coefficient of friction for safe use.

At Brazilian Lumber, we are the direct importer of tropical hardwoods and a prime supplier of superior quality and high-performance decking materials. We are known for providing our customers with the best products, technical knowledge, customer care, competitive prices, and fast & efficient shipping services.

But how did we get started in the business? After years of looking for the South American country with the best tropical hardwoods, we discovered that Brazilian tropical wood has extraordinary natural oils and excellent properties such as durability, resistance to external factors, long lifespan, and high quality, among many others. In addition, it is the best place because it has the infrastructure for getting longboards out.

We have created an elite collection called Platinum Woods to take advantage of these remarkable properties. This selection offers an extra level in the grading process of Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Jatoba, and Tigerwood. Just visit our website and get in touch with our specialists. We will be happy to help you.

JATOBA

Back to the subject, we have said that Ipe, Cumaru, Jatoba, Garapa, and Tigerwood share many of the same characteristics. Still, some are more alike, as with Ipe and Cumaru.

Ipe and Cumaru share many qualities such as those mentioned above, as well as their natural properties and beauty, making them premium woods. Due to their density, they are the preferred choice for high-traffic areas such as sidewalks, boardwalks, and backyard decks.

These amazing hardwoods are considered the most effective wood decking options due to their toughness, which is frequently compared to iron. Both species have an A1 fire class rating, do not heat up in the sun, and have a high coefficient of friction, which is perfect for outdoor and coastal construction.

IPE

All these outstanding hardwoods are the best five on the market. And although they all share the same characteristics, there are some features in which a specific species can stand out just a little more than the others.

We have already said that the best of these five are Ipe and Cumaru, for their exceptionally high quality, durability, and properties. The other three are not far behind, are more affordable, and have some differentiating factors that stand out.

Each species has a particular color and texture that make them even more unique; we will refer to this later. But in the case of some hardwoods, there are some peculiarities about their color that are worth highlighting.

For example, Jatoba’s distinguishing factor is its color, which is compared to the native cherry. This tropical hardwood color varies from a light orangish brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with contrasting darker grayish brown streaks. Its unique appearance calls the attention of homeowners, architects, and designers worldwide.

The same happens with Tigerwood. This tropical hardwood has a medium reddish brown color with irregularly spaced dark brown to black streaks. Its appearance resembles the skin of a tiger.

TIGERWOOD

But don’t get us wrong. All these tropical hardwoods provide unique tones with warm and beautiful colors that will create stunning projects. In the case of Jatoba and Tigerwood, we highlight their particularities in color because they make them look out of the ordinary.

In addition, Tigerwood is very dense and heavy. Therefore, the cut of this wood gives it a metallic and oily appearance, which is considered one of its most attractive characteristics.

Now, with Garapa, its fiber bending factor is an important feature to mention. Garapa decking has a bending strength of 12,900 psi. This means that this wood spans greater distances with minimal deflection. With less deflection, the deck boards gain more stability.

What Truly Sets These Unique Tropical Hardwoods Apart?

Tropical Hardwood	Color	Janka Hardness
Ipe	From reddish brown to a more yellowish olive brown or darker blackish brown; sometimes with contrasting darker brown/black stripes.	3,510 lbf
Cumaru	Medium to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish or purple tinge. Some pieces may have streaks of yellowish or greenish brown.	3,330 lbf
Jatoba	Varies from a light orangish brown to a darker reddish brown, sometimes with contrasting darker grayish brown streaks.	2,690 lbf
Garapa	Golden to yellowish brown color.	1,650 lbf
Tigerwood	Medium reddish brown with irregularly spaced streaks of dark brown to black.	2,170 lbf

JATOBA

The Janka hardness scale, used to determine whether a wood species is suitable for decking, is the primary test measuring wood’s resistance to wear and deniability. The Janka test measures the force required to embed a. 444-inch steel ball into the wood by half its diameter.

In conclusion, Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Jatoba, and Tigerwood are the best tropical hardwoods in the world. They all share the same characteristics and have natural oils that make them impenetrable to almost everything. When choosing any of these tropical hardwoods, be sure that any project you have in mind will turn out as a spectacular piece of art.