The 3 Best Woodworking Materials And Their Advantages

Choosing the best woodworking material is not going to be an easy task. There are plenty of woodworking materials on the market. Aside from being readily available, wood is an extraordinary material with great advantages and amazing properties. 

Hardwood is an especially good choice for any outdoor building project. Not only because it is a hard, stunning, long-lasting material, but also because of the natural oils, it has. The oils make it resistant to most threats such as insect damage, weathering, water, and decay.

On top of that, there is the aesthetic factor. The variety of colors and textures that wood provides makes it suitable for any style. At Brazilian Lumber, we offer all types of hardwood such as Ipe, Cumaru, Jatoba, Garapa, and others that provide a variety of color options. Plus, you get a material that enhances any place with class, warmth, and elegance. 

In addition, wood is one of the few natural and renewable building materials. As a purely natural product, it’s not treated with chemicals or pollutants and is non-toxic, so it is safe to handle and touch. It also ages naturally and does not decompose into environmentally harmful material.

At Brazilian Lumber, we pride ourselves on providing only FSC-certified wood that comes from sustainably managed forests. This guarantees the preservation not only of the forest and its natural resource but also ensures responsible and consistent production.

All the hardwoods we have in stock are non-toxic products, suitable for children, and pets. Since they don’t need any chemical product for their maintenance, they are also environmentally friendly.

Therefore, having a natural, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable building material has many advantages. Here is a list of what we consider to be the most important benefits of choosing wood for your projects. 

• It is a carbon positive element.
• Lumber absorbs sound instead of reflecting or amplifying it, and can help to significantly reduce the noise level for greater comfort.
• Studies show that using lumber is healthier for people.

This last aspect is a unique characteristic of wood. Some research has shown that when people are surrounded by wooden elements or, better yet, structures, they get the same benefits of being in nature. Want to know what benefits we are referring to?

• Improves mood and self-expression.
• Upgrade air quality by moderating humidity. This also facilitates breathing.
• Provides a warm and comfortable feeling. 
• Helps to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and stress.

As you can see, buying wood and using it for your interior and exterior constructions offers many benefits. Do you know what the best part is? There are a variety of woodworking materials you can choose from. Here is a list of the 3 best woodworking materials we most recommend for your buildings:

1. Tropical Hardwoods
2. Softwoods
3. Wood Deck Tiles 

1. Best Woodworking Materials: Hardwoods

Hardwoods are our favorites. Most of them come from forests near the equator, which is a region with particular tropical weather with lots of rainfall and intense sun. 

Since species such as Ipe, Cumaru, Jatoba, Garapa, and many others, come from trees that grow in harsh environments, they are used to dealing with complicated weather conditions. That is why they have developed natural properties which make them resistant to water, insect damage, decay, and even seawater. 

In addition, hardwoods are long-lasting, low-maintenance materials that you will enjoy for a long time. They can also withstand high foot traffic. Can you believe it? It’s as if nothing can beat the quality they have. 

These natural properties and outstanding features make them the top option for outdoor construction. In fact, they are widely used as decking, siding, and especially for luxury properties. Here are the best tropical hardwood species we suggest for your projects. 

• Ipe: It is the best tropical hardwood in the world. It can last over 70 years with minimal maintenance and has remarkable characteristics that make it resistant to any sort of external damage.  It is the preferred choice for luxury resorts, especially in the Caribbean, due to its ability to stay cool even in very hot environments. Its quality makes it the most prestigious wood for construction projects.

• Cumaru: This tropical hardwood is as extraordinary as Ipe. In many aspects, they have important similarities, especially in their features and quality. 

Both are premium hardwoods, ideal for decking, siding, cladding, or any other project you have in mind. 

Ipe and Cumaru are classified as very durable types of wood because of the natural oils that make them resistant to rot, mildew, and weathering. 

In addition, their natural properties make them insect-resistant, and less prone to scratching or splintering. 

As a premium wood that is more affordable than Ipe, it has come to be a sought-after option for customers. It is becoming ever more popular with architects and designers, especially because of its beautiful reddish color, which adds a level of warmth and depth to any project. 

• Garapa: This lumber is one of the best woods for decking. The workability of this tropical hardwood is highly praised. It tends to be more workable than the other hardwoods. It also boasts the same qualities as other hardwoods, such as robustness and resistance to extreme weather conditions.  What sets Garapa apart is its beautiful golden tone.  

In the last few years, Garapa has rapidly gained popularity with homeowners due to some of its best features. The most important of these characteristics are resistance to rot & insects, and the fact that it is a low-maintenance material.

• Jatoba: With its beautiful deep reddish tones, Jatoba is a favorite of homeowners. Its remarkable properties and attractive appearance make it one of a kind. It is resistant to rot, weathering, and insect damage. 

Yes, these kinds of properties are constantly repeated. Why? Because Jatoba is one of the top 5 best hardwoods in the world. As well as Ipe and Cumaru which are at the top of the list. Therefore, all of them share almost the same characteristics. 

• Teak: This is an exceptionally durable wood, known primarily for its resistance to water and wet climates, which is why it is used in shipbuilding. It contains natural vegetable oils that make it very resistant to pest infestation and to water, which is why it is considered the sea-resistant wood par excellence.

It’s also a great choice for small outdoor projects like furniture, patios, flooring, and other structures where the beauty of the wood should be as loud as the craftsmanship. In fact, any yacht or boat you see with a wooden deck is most likely made of teak.

• Oak: This hardwood has two varieties: the white and the red type.  No matter the color, Oak is a heavy, strong hardwood with high resistance to fungus, yeast, and mildew. 

It is known for its workability as it can be used for household and office furniture, like bookshelves and cabinets. 

Nowadays, its popularity has increased and that is why some interior decor experts are using it for flooring. As well as veneers, and decorative wooden items.

2. Best Woodworking Materials: Softwoods

What is the difference between hardwoods and softwoods? There are a lot of common misconceptions about these two types of woods.  Hardwoods are angiosperms, or blooming trees, while softwood trees are gymnosperms, which means that instead of flowers and bulbs, they have seeds or cones. 

Even though hardwoods are more popular with builders and homeowners, softwoods also have nice features. For example, they have a faster growth rate. This means that they develop faster than hardwoods, which leads to lower-cost levels as they are easier to source. 

They are also flexible, which makes them easy to work with. In addition, they can be used across a wide range of applications, such as building components for windows and doors, furniture, and even as Christmas decorations. 

Now, it is important to explain why most people prefer hardwood to softwoods. Basically, softwood species will not last as long as hardwoods. In fact, their lifespan will last no more than 10 years, while with most hardwoods their lifespan is over 50 years.

There are many species of softwoods as well, but here is a list of the ones we consider the best options for your construction projects.

• Pine: There are some pine varieties, here at Brazilian Lumber we offer Yellow Pine. Its high strength, stiffness, and appealing appearance make it one of the most important types of timber in the construction industry, among softwood species. 

Yellow pine is very dense yet lightweight and resists warping. It is used to frame houses, for roofing, and more because it is so structurally sound. 

• Cedar: This softwood has the advantage of being a very stable material. In addition, it has natural phenol that preserves it from moisture, decay, and insect damage. 

Another great trait is that it is not prone to expansion, even with temperature changes, nor to twisting, cupping, or cracking. Cedar is prized because it is an excellent base for paints and stains.  It is also termite resistant and lightweight.

These characteristics make cedar easy to work with and reliable in both outdoor and indoor applications such as paneling, furniture, lining drawers, chests, and boxes.

• California Redwood: It is considered a premium building material because it is relatively durable outdoors and yet easy to work. It is usually used outdoors, for example for decks, but can also be used in flooring or furniture for the interior. 

Redwood is also an excellent choice for garden borders and retaining walls due to its moisture resistance property. 

• Douglas Fir: This softwood is considered a unique sample due to its very large size. Also, it is a very heavy, dense, and strong material, yet easy to work with.

Douglas Fir is a highly valued wood for building exterior structures because it is almost knot-free and can be sewn to great lengths.  It can be used as pergolas, telephone poles, and railroad sleepers. In addition, it is one of the most structurally sound softwoods available. 

3. Best Woodworking Materials: Deck Tiles

Looking for a quick and easy installation system to improve some areas of your home? Using deck tiles is the right way to go. As simple as putting a puzzle together, you have a completely renovated area in no time that will remain in excellent condition with minimal maintenance.  

Contrary to what you may have heard, not all types of tiles require skill, time, or even a convenient location for laying. Deck tiles are a consumer-friendly option that comes in a convenient interlocking format that will make your life easier.

Here at Brazilian Lumber, we have pre-assembled tiles made of attractive and durable Brazilian hardwood, such as Ipe and Cumaru. Deck tiles can be easily placed over a variety of surfaces to create decks, paths, or even a dance floor. 

Deck tiles are typically made up of planks of wood but can be manufactured from other materials as well. They normally come in a large size and square shape – either 20×20 or 24×24. 

This is definitely an amazing woodworking material, and guess what? Our Ipe tiles are available with a smooth finish or with an anti-slip surface that is very suitable for applications near swimming pools or outdoor showers.

To conclude, wood is always the right material to make your dream projects a reality. Its natural properties and amazing features make it a superior choice on many levels that is hard to resist from it. 

In addition, you can choose from a variety of species not only of hardwoods but also softwoods and wood deck tiles. Each of them offers different features that will allow you to decide according to your needs.