Jun 16 2009
Exotic Hardwood
Consumer demand for more diversity has pushed the availability of exotic hardwood farther than ever before. Today, it is not uncommon to find floors made from hardwood harvested in Africa, South America, Asia and all around the world.
Exotic Hardwood’s Strength
Consumers should note that exotic hardwood doesn’t mean that the wood is flimsy or unreliable. In fact, some of the hardest, most durable hardwoods on Earth are found outside of the United States. For example, Ipe, a Brazilian hardwood, has a Janka Hardness rating of 3,860 pounds. Compare this to the hardness of Red Oak with a Janka rating of 1,290, a U.S. hardwood considered strong.
Exotic hardwoods will last for many, many years in whatever form they are crafted. Exotic hardwood flooring, particularly beautiful and durable, will last longer through many generations of use.
Exotic Hardwood Beauty
Hardness and durability would be useless characteristics for flooring if the wood was unattractive. Exotic hardwoods offer hardness, durability and beauty. Each species brings with it its own range of colorings and markings to complement the room where it will be used.
The coloring of many exotic hardwoods change over time and so the consumer should keep this in mind when making decisions on exotic wood type. When rugs are used on exotic wood floors, they should be rotated to allow sunlight to reach all areas of the floor.
Coloring in exotic hardwood can be as amazing as the yellow, red and black stripes of the Tarara Amarillo to the crisp, clean ebony of the African Wenge. Some exotic woods are dramatic and deep in color while others are light and clean. These broad differences in color are what make exotic hardwoods versatile and suited to any room in the house.
Environmental Concerns
Trees take a tremendous amount of time to grow; however, exotic hardwoods grow in lush, tropical locations that tend to facilitate a shorter growing time. In addition, most reputable exotic wood dealers only work with growers and harvesters who practice sustainable techniques, such as harvesting older, weaker trees first.
Consumers can help the sustainability effort by purchasing only exotic woods that are clearly marked as a ‘green’ product or have a LEED certification indicated. These identifiers help consumers and companies know that they are dealing with products that are contributing to the sustainability effort.
Cleaning and Care of Exotic Hardwoods
Consumers often think that exotic hardwoods are difficult to maintain. The truth is that they are no different from other hardwoods in care and cleaning. The manufacturer of the exotic hardwood floor will have specific advice on cleaning the exact wood being used; however, exotic hardwoods are generally cleaned in the same way other hardwoods are cleaned and maintained.
Exotic hardwood has become the trendy choice in hardwood flooring for new home builders and homeowners who are renovating their existing floors. Strong, beautiful and available in many different colors and styles, exotic hardwood flooring offers something for everyone.
-Sharon V. Chapman
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