Brazilian Oak hardwood is more commonly known as Tauari in the Amazon Basin area of South America. This is not to be confused with Amendoim, which is sometimes referred to as Brazilian Oak. Tauari is a species of tropical hardwood that is resistant to insects and damage from moisture. It can grow to an impressive 120 feet and have a diameter of 4 feet. 

It is strikingly similar in color range to North American Red Oak. It has tones of wheat and a little red. At a better price point than its domestic counterpart, many are using it in place of American Red Oak as a hardwood flooring option.

Availability & Dimensions

Compared to other exotic Brazilian hardwoods, Tauari is less available in North America than it is in South America. Brazilian Cherry seems to be more available for export. While it is not considered an endangered or protected species, limited production in South America makes it less available.

When you can find it, it is just like most other hardwood flooring products. It is available either prefinished or unfinished. It comes in pre-milled 7 foot tongue and groove planks for nail-down applications over plywood subflooring. It is also available as engineered flooring for glue-down applications over concrete slabs. Widths are typically 2-1/4″ to 5″ and 3/4” in thickness.

Hardness & Durability

Brazilian Oak flooring is rated at approximately 1,650 on the Janka rating chart. However, not all charts are created equal, so there is some discrepancy. Basically, Tauari falls right in the middle of hardness as far as flooring goes. It is similar to that of Golden Teak, but 13% harder than North American Oak. It has an overall shrinkage rate of 1.6%.

Tauari flooring is quite stable and considered a durable surface that is resistant to denting. It wears well with normal traffic, performing best in residential applications. It weighs approximately 3 pounds/SF, making it relatively heavy. The density of Tauari is similar to that of Maple.

Appearance 

Brazilian Oak does take stain rather well. The raw wood has a moderate luster. If a clear sealer is applied, it has a medium tan or golden color with hints of red. It has a fine to medium texture with a straight, even grain, as can be seen in these images. It doesn’t generally have knots in the hardwood floor planks. It has been said that Brazilian Oak has a similar appearance to Beech. This hardwood is considered a better or select grade of flooring. 

Workability, Installation, and Maintenance

Brazilian Oak is easy to work with using either hand or power tools, similar to many medium hardness rated hardwoods. Tauari flooring can be installed either manually or with a pneumatic nailer. It can also be glued in place, especially the veneered, engineered planks. A professional mechanical sander is recommended to bring the floor to a smooth finish texture. It will hold stain well and can be sealed with acrylic or urethane sealers. 

This flooring is maintained just like any other hardwood flooring. It needs to be swept and wiped clean periodically. Every 5 or so years it may need to be resealed. Every decade it will likely need to be sanded and resealed, depending on the amount of daily traffic it is subjected to.

Applications

You can use Brazilian Oak flooring in both commercial and residential applications. It is hard, stiff, and durable. It is slightly better suited to residential installations because it is not on the highest end of the hardness scale. This tropical flooring is elegant, sophisticated, and warm in color.

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