The Facts on Brazilian Tigerwood

 

Tigerwood looks just as it sounds: wood that looks as if it has tiger stripes. It has a deep red-orange background with even darker vein stripes. Therefore it is a rather dramatic looking hardwood, and it is certainly durable to boot. There are many facts to explore about this type of wood and why it gives people just an exotic feel.

 

Intoxicating Beauty

This wood goes by a lot of names: Brazilian Koa, Congowood, African walnut, courbaril, bototo, zoorwood, or muiracatiara. It also has a few, different species, and different ones have different backgrounds. For example, the Lovoa trichiloides has African roots.

These trees have a height of 80 feet or more, so it is usually seen in the canopy tops of forests. Therefore, they can provide great shade to any house living under one of these trees. Another great fact is that the height of these trees provides enough wood to avoid overcutting or excessive logging. Some countries have needed to place restrictions on their logging experiences with Tigerwood for some time.

 

Specific Properties

This wood is considered rather dense and heavy, especially since it has a Janka hardness score of up to 2160, depending on the growing region. Therefore, it is rated as 67 percent harder than Red Oak at 1210. The specific gravity of Tigerwood is 0.45.

Because of how dense it is, it grows as naturally resistant to rot, making it a great wood for hardwood floors or wall supports or beams. This trait also makes it great for outdoor use as it can stand up to many weather conditions without giving away over time of exposure. It is therefore seen in a lot of outdoor furniture because it will not decay or attract mold. Fungus growth is also not a concern with this wood, either. It usually does not crack or warp when it is being air-dried. This situation only happens in extreme conditions.

This wood is so hard that it resists shrinkage and movement after drying. It is dimensionally stable because it does resist this warping and twisting over time. Hence, the final product will stand up to a lot of wear and tear.

 

Typical Usage

Even though it can be used in outdoor furniture for many reasons, Tigerwood is most commonly used as hardwood flooring. It is very durable, and it wears well under pressure without denting. Its dramatic color makes it so desirable, especially since it would pair well with so many other color palettes than just reds, oranges, and browns. Greens would look nature-like with these hardwood floors.

 

Color Options

Usually, the foreground is a dark reddish color and lighter bands run in between it. Some pieces have more or thicker striping than others. There is also the degree of difference in the dark red colors and the lighter brown or tan stripes.

 

Difficulty of Work

This wood is very durable, but that is because of how hard it is. It can be rather difficult to work with, especially with hand tools. Cutting tools might just wear down rather quickly if they are used on this wood for a longer period. Carbide bits are therefore the best way to deal with Tigerwood. Pre-drilling can also be done when having to put screws or nails into Tigerwood. These methods will complement this wood's properties instead of work against it.

Sanding is more challenging with this wood because of how hard and dense it is. For larger applications like floors and siding, it would be best to have a professional install this wood as a floor instead of doing it yourself. This statement is especially true considering how tightly it needs to be sealed. Sealing Tigerwood correctly only serves to prolong its durability. Therefore, it weathers wear and tears so well, so long as it is installed and sealed correctly.

 

Not Particularly Moist

Tigerwood does not contain a great deal of moisture, but any moisture can ruin a good piece of wood rather fast. Therefore, a slow drying process that avoids excessive temperatures or changes will make sure it does not warp, twist, or crack in any way. Getting rid of that moisture is essential to avoid rot, mold, and other problems like sagging or warping anyway. Using a moisture meter would be a great way to accurately measure and assess content and to monitor the process of drying out that moisture.

 

Conclusion

There are many applications for Tigerwood as hardwood floors of a house. They are a staple for a high-end feel to a room. Also, Tigerwood is naturally durable, so it can be used to weather plenty of wear and tear. Therefore, it also makes great furniture. It can be difficult to work with this wood, though, so there are some limitations to what it can be applied to in furniture.

 

Please click here to view all Brazilian Tigerwood Flooring options