What Makes Platinum Garapa So Great? 7 Best Features

Are you thinking of starting a new wood project? You may be at a crossroads when choosing the best wood for your needs, being so many options in the market.

If you’re debating the merits of the different hardwoods, consider Platinum Garapa. It’s an excellent and versatile material, ideal to use for different types of projects, and it’s also a budget-friendly alternative to IPE. 

Platinum Garapa lumber is one of the best woods for decking, and it has a high level of workability. Besides, thanks to its robustness and resistance to extreme weather conditions, it can be used for any type of outdoor construction.

In addition, this hardwood is resistant to water, rot, and mildew. It is widely used in decking, siding, and floors with heavy foot traffic. Its beautiful golden tones enrich the project with a warm atmosphere and a natural look.

However, there are indeed some good tropical hardwood alternatives to building a deck, such as Ipe, Cumaru, or Jatoba.

Nevertheless, Platinum Garapa has rapidly gained popularity with homeowners in the last few years. Why? Here at Brazilian Lumber, we share with you what we believe are the 7 reasons that make Platinum Garapa so amazing.

Platinum Garapa Hardwood Facts

Garapa, also known as Brazilian Ash, is a tree that grows in Brazil, Venezuela, and other South American countries. The Garapa tree can grow up to 100 feet tall and has a diameter of five feet.

Platinum Garapa wood has a beautiful color ranging from light yellow to deep golden brown. Homeowners love the look of this popular wood, which can be used for siding, decking, fences, furniture, and many other projects.

Platinum Garapa is easy to work with, with its fine-to-medium texture and straight grain. This fantastic wood is also durable and resistant to pests and fungi.

At Brazilian Lumber, we highly recommend that if you work on a luxury project, you use Platinum Garapa. Why? Its incredible hardwood is, among other things, pretty lightweight compared to other woods, resistant, and easier to work with.

If you want to know more, check out this video we made!

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s go into detail, one by one, of the 7 reasons why you should consider Garapa Platinum for your projects.

What Makes Platinum Garapa So Great? Its 7 Best Features

1. Garapa Lumber’s Fiber Bending Strength 

Platinum Garapa has a flexural strength of 12,900 psi, meaning that this wood spans greater distances with minimal deflection. With less deflection, deck boards are prone to be more stable. 

The quality of Platinum Garapa is sometimes compared to more popular ones such as cedar, redwood, or pine.

2. Garapa Lumber’s Density

Garapa is a durable hardwood with a 30+ year lifespan suitable for many applications, especially if you want to build a permanent, beautiful, and long-lasting outdoor deck or structure.

It has a Janka Hardness rating of 1,650 pounds. That is softer than other tropical hardwoods, like Ipe and Cumaru, but significantly harder than cedar. 

This is also another aspect that proves its high quality. 

Garapa Lumber’s Density makes it resistant to damage, from splinters, slips, and falls to water, dirt, and insects. And because it’s rot-resistant, it tends to be more durable.

3. Garapa Lumber Is A Low-Maintenance Material

Another benefit of using Garapa hardwood –and probably the favorite of many– is that you don’t have to spend much time caring for it. Hardwoods are usually very easy to maintain. Most of the time, they only need soap and water to keep them in perfect condition.

Bonus tip: Garapa decking should be swept up as needed to remove dirt for optimal appearance. As for maintenance, this wood can be left alone to weather naturally or be oiled.

Untreated Garapa will turn an attractive silver-gray color as it ages. Some people even prefer the weathered look! In this article, you can see how Ipe takes on a beautiful silver hue when left natural.

No coating or sealers need to be used if you appreciate this aging process. But you can always apply a UV inhibitor once a year to maintain its honey tone.

4. Garapa Lumber Is Naturally Resistant To Rot, Decay, And Insects

When selecting a material for an outdoor project, you must choose something that can resist the elements. For example, if you are building near a pool or hot tub, you’ll also want to consider frequent water exposure.

Garapa lumber’s waterproof grain keeps out moisture, prevents rot and decay, and creates a pool-friendly surface. Its density also keeps hungry insects like termites out, which prolongs your deck’s life.

5. Garapa Comes in A Variety Of Beautiful Colors

If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s exterior, Platinum Garapa is a marvelous way to do it. While Ipe is beautiful in its way with its reddish-brown hues, Garapa’s golden color has nothing to envy. This fantastic gold shade has gained popularity and is increasingly chosen in modern architecture.

Blonde, yellow, and honey are other words commonly used to describe its shades. But whatever the name, there’s no doubt that Garapa’s rich, bright color is breathtaking.

As we said before, if left in the open air, Garapa naturally acquires a soft silvery-platinum tone, similar to the appearance of weathered Ipe wood.

6. Garapa Lumber Has A Lower Price Than Ipe

While any hardwood would make a great deck, homeowners love that Garapa is one of the most budget-friendly hardwoods available.

Although Ipe is number 1 in dense and durable woods, Garapa is just a little behind. For starters, it’s still much harder than softwoods like cedar and pine. And like Ipe, Garapa offers rot resistance, insect resistance, and a high-end look. 

Wrapping Up: How Does Garapa Compare To Ipe?

While Ipe is still the most chosen option for those seeking the ultimate in durability, Platinum Garapa has many benefits:

• Garapa is lighter than Ipe, so it’s easier to manage the wood before construction.
• Garapa is easier to work with than Ipe since it’s easier.
• Garapa is less expensive than Ipe.

So, when you buy Platinum Garapa, you are guaranteed the best product on the market. And you can always find it at the best price here, in Brazilian Lumber!

7. Garapa Lumber Has The Same Fire-Safety Rating As Ipe

While some think of wood as a flammable material, Garapa has a standing for being fire-resistant. With a Class A fire rating equal to Ipe, Garapa is in the same category as inorganic materials like steel, brick, and cement. 

This does not mean that Garapa is entirely fireproof. Still, it does mean that fire spreads slowly across the materials’ surface. This should give you some safety when grilling on your deck.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, Platinum Garapa decking offers a high-quality, beautiful, resistant, budget-friendly, and long-lasting material.

If you are interested in buying Garapa, come to Brazilian Lumber! Contact us by calling or email, or visit us in our warehouse in Miami or Los Angeles. We will be happy to help you.