Garapa

Common Names: Garapa Gold or Brazilian Ash

 

Appearance:
  • Color: Light to medium yellowish-brown.
  • Texture: Fine to medium.
  • Variations: Boards may show darker streaks or patterns. Untreated, it weathers to a silver-grey patina over time.

 

Durability:
  • Rating: Class 1, ideal for outdoor use like decking.

 

Hardness:
  • Known for its strength, with a Janka hardness rating of approximately 1,630 lbf, surpassing many other decking hardwoods.

 

Stability:
  • Highly stable with minimal shrinkage or cracking.

 

Maintenance:
  • Regular upkeep is necessary to maintain its look and longevity. Applying a UV-resistant finish or sealer every 1-2 years helps combat sun damage and weathering.

 

Usage in Western Cape:
  • Garapa is the timber of choice for decking in the Western Cape, known for its ease of use and durability. It’s available for both decking and structural applications.

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Balau

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Common Names: Also known as Bankirai.

 

Appearance:
  • Color: Freshly cut Balau varies from rich reddish-brown to yellow-brown.
  • Weathering: Without treatment, it will age to a silver-grey patina.

 

Durability:
  • Rating: Classified as Class 2 Hardwood, providing strong resistance to decay, insects, and rot, making it suitable for outdoor use.

 

Hardness:
  • Notable for its toughness, with a Janka hardness rating between 1,400 to 1,600 lbf, which supports its use in decking.

 

Stability:
  • Generally stable with low shrinkage, although splintering and splitting can be common.

 

Maintenance:
  • To keep its appearance and extend its life, Balau decking needs regular care. A UV-resistant finish or sealer should be applied every 1-2 years to protect against sun damage and weathering.

    Massaranduba (Bulletwood)

    Common Names: Also referred to as Brazilian Redwood.
    Appearance:
    • Color: When freshly cut, it boasts a reddish-brown to dark red hue.
    • Weathering: If left untreated, it will naturally weather to a silver-grey patina.
    Durability:
    • Rating: Class 1, indicating excellent resistance to decay, insects, and rot, making it ideal for outdoor use.
    Hardness:
    • Among the hardest woods for decking with a Janka hardness rating of approximately 3,100 lbf, surpassing even Ipe.
    Stability:
    • Offers moderate stability.
    Maintenance:
    • Requires relatively low maintenance; a UV-resistant finish or sealer applied every 2-3 years helps maintain its appearance and extend its life against sun and weathering effects.

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      Ipe (Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho)

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      Pronunciation: Pronounced “EE-pay”.

       

      Appearance:
      • Color: Freshly cut Ipe ranges from dark brown to olive-brown, often with streaks of lighter or darker tones for an exotic look.
      • Weathering: If not treated, it will naturally age to a silver-grey patina.

       

      Durability:
      • Rating: Class 1, signifying unmatched resistance to decay, insects, and rot, positioning it as one of the most enduring decking materials.

       

      Hardness:
      • Known for its extreme hardness, with a Janka rating well over 3,000 lbf, making it more durable than most hardwoods against wear.

       

      Stability:
      • Excellent stability.

       

      Maintenance:
      • Ipe needs little upkeep to maintain its natural qualities. Although it can be left untreated, applying a UV-resistant finish or sealer will help preserve the original color and shield it from sun damage.

          Iroko

          Scientific Name: Chlorophora excelsa

           

          Origin: Native to tropical Africa, notably in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.

           

          Appearance:
          • Color: Freshly cut Iroko is golden to medium brown, which darkens to a uniform medium to dark brown over time.

           

          Durability:
          • Known for its solid durability, with resistance to decay, insects, and rot, generally falling into Durability Class 2 – 3.

           

          Hardness:
          • With a Janka hardness rating of 1,260 to 1,370 lbf, Iroko is moderately hard, suitable for decking though not as hard as some other tropical woods.

           

          Stability:
          • Offers excellent stability.

           

          Maintenance:
          • To maintain its appearance and protect against environmental wear, Iroko needs regular care. A UV-resistant finish or sealer should be applied every 1-2 years to retard weathering and safeguard the wood.

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              Rhinowood

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              Description:
              Rhino Wood is a type of wood that has undergone thermal modification, where it’s heated to high temperatures in a controlled atmosphere and then treated with wax. This treatment changes the wood’s internal structure, significantly improving its durability and resistance to various environmental threats.
              Appearance:
              • Color: The process darkens the wood, giving it a richer, deeper brown tone.
              Durability:
              • The thermal treatment boosts the wood’s resistance to decay, pests, and fungi, achieving a Class 1 durability rating. Rhino Wood also boasts better dimensional stability, with less tendency to warp, twist, or crack.
              Hardness:
              • After the thermal and wax treatment, Rhino Wood is classified as a hardwood.
              Stability:
              • Exhibits excellent stability.

                SA Pine (Pine, Treated Pine)

                Description: CCA treated pine is pine wood preserved with a mixture of copper, chromium, and arsenic compounds. This treatment is intended to shield the wood from rot, insects, and fungi.

                 

                Appearance:
                • Color: It starts with a greenish hue due to copper content, which fades over time, allowing the wood to look more natural with exposure to weather.

                 

                Durability:
                • The CCA treatment greatly increases the wood’s longevity, offering enhanced resistance to decay compared to untreated pine.

                 

                Hardness:
                • As a softwood, pine is less durable against physical damage like dents or scratches compared to hardwoods.

                 

                Stability:
                • It’s relatively stable but can experience some shrinkage and surface cracking.

                 

                Maintenance:
                • It requires consistent upkeep to maintain its condition and appearance. This includes regular applications of stain, sealant, or paint to protect against environmental wear.

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                  Afromosia (African Teak)

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                  Common Names: African Teak (though not botanically related to true teak, Tectona grandis)

                  Origin: Native to West and Central Africa.

                  Appearance:
                  • Color: When freshly cut, Afromosia displays a golden to light brown hue, which darkens to a richer brown with time and sun exposure.

                  Durability:
                  • It boasts excellent resistance to decay, insects, and rot, making it ideal for outdoor applications due to its natural resilience.

                  Hardness:
                  • With a Janka hardness rating over 1,600 lbf, Afromosia is highly durable, resisting dents and general wear.

                  Stability:
                  • Offers excellent stability.

                  Maintenance:
                  • Afromosia requires little maintenance to keep its aesthetic appeal. Although it can be left untreated, using a UV-resistant finish or sealer will help maintain its color and protect it from weathering.

                    Jarrah

                    Scientific Name: Eucalyptus marginata

                    Origin: Native to southwestern Western Australia.

                    Appearance:
                    • Color: Jarrah boasts a vibrant range from salmon pink to deep red-brown. With sun exposure, it can darken to a rich mahogany color.

                    Durability:
                    • Known for its outstanding durability, Jarrah resists decay, termites, and other pests effectively, earning a Class 1 hardwood rating.

                    Hardness:
                    • It has a high Janka hardness rating, typically over 1,600 lbf, providing excellent resistance to dents and wear.

                    Stability:
                    • Offers excellent stability.

                    Maintenance:
                    • Jarrah decking needs little maintenance to maintain its beauty. Although it can be left untreated, applying a UV-resistant finish or sealer will help protect it from sunlight and weathering effects.

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                      MOSO® Bamboo

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                      Material Composition: Made from compressed, thermally treated bamboo strips.

                      Appearance:
                      • Color: The thermal treatment results in a deep, rich brown color.

                      Durability:
                      • Classified as Class 1 hardwood, showcasing high durability. It’s recognized for its strength and longevity.

                      Hardness:
                      • Moso Bamboo is notably dense, enhancing its durability and stability. Among bamboo varieties, Moso is particularly hard.

                      Stability:
                      • Excellent stability.

                      Maintenance:
                      • It requires minimal upkeep; regular cleaning with occasional sealing or staining helps preserve its look and resilience against weather conditions.

                        Purpleheart (Amaranth, Roxinho, Violeta)

                        Scientific Name: Peltogyne spp.

                        Origin: Native to Central and South America.

                        Appearance:
                        • Color: Known for its vivid purple to purplish-brown heartwood, which darkens upon exposure to sunlight, moving towards a rich, purplish-brown.

                        Durability:
                        • Offers high natural durability with resistance to decay, insects, and environmental wear, achieving a Class 1 rating.

                        Hardness:
                        • Purple Heart is among the hardest woods, with a Janka hardness rating often surpassing 1,800 lbf, making it highly resistant to physical damage.

                        Stability:
                        • Exhibits excellent stability.

                        Maintenance:
                        • It requires low maintenance to maintain its appearance. While some prefer the natural aging of the color, others might apply a UV-resistant finish to keep the initial vibrant purple hue.

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                          Red River Gum (Blue Gum, Red Gum, Murray River Gum)

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                          Common Names: Also known as Blue Gum, Red Gum, or Murray River Gum.

                           

                          Species: Primarily Eucalyptus camaldulensis, found in Australia along riverbanks.

                           

                          Appearance:
                          • Color: The heartwood shows a distinctive reddish-brown to pink color, with lighter sapwood. The grain is typically straight, with a moderately coarse texture.

                           

                          Durability:
                          • It offers moderate to high natural durability, resisting decay, termites, and pests, with a Class 2 rating for good resistance to deterioration.

                           

                          Hardness:
                          • A hardwood with a moderate to high Janka hardness rating, making it fairly resistant to physical wear.

                           

                          Stability:
                          • Has moderate stability.

                           

                          Maintenance:
                          • Requires minimal maintenance to keep its appearance. Regular cleaning and the occasional application of sealant or stain will help protect it from environmental wear.