4 Differences Between Domestic and Exotic Hardwood
Gary Cripps 
When choosing a floor for your home, you should carefully consider the four main differences between domestic and exotic hardwood.
For example, domestic hardwoods are typically lighter in color and do not exhibit a deep hue. Therefore, the most common choice for domestic hardwood flooring is Oak or Maple, and exotic hardwoods are darker in color and show a deeper shade. Brazilian Cherrywood is an excellent example of exotic hardwood, with its rich, deep red hue and refined grains.
Brazilian Cherry is The Most Popular Choice for Exotic Hardwood Flooring
Brazilian Cherry may be the best choice if you are looking for a luxurious floor. This hardwood is highly desirable because of its rich color and rich grain. It pairs perfectly with other wood furnishings and provides a warm and sophisticated atmosphere. It is also a durable choice, as it can withstand many refinishing.
But it would be best if you remembered that this exotic hardwood flooring is not for everyone. Tropical Forest Lumber Distributor is a wholesale distributor of top-quality lumber as well as plywood, oriented strand board, and engineered wood products.
Brazilian Cherry, also known as Jatoba, is the most common choice for exotic hardwood flooring in the United States. Its rich color and strength make it a popular choice for commercial and residential applications. In addition to its attractive color and grain, Brazilian Cherry is highly durable and has a substantial Janka hardness rating. This makes it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas such as hallways, living rooms, and kitchens.
Brazilian Walnut
While you may be thinking of buying a new floor, you may be wondering how the differences between domestic and exotic hardwoods compare. Both types of wood can last for many years, and they both have their distinct characteristics.
Here are four critical differences between them. A: Exotic hardwoods are generally more challenging and expensive than domestic hardwoods. If you’re buying a new floor for your home, you’ll want to look for FSC-certified supplies.
The significant difference between domestic and exotic hardwoods lies in the type of finish you wish to use. Exotic woods are more resistant to complicated finishes, while domestic woods are generally more durable.
Most people who purchase exotic wood do so for its natural coloring and to add some extra protection against the elements. Before you choose a finish, please do your research to make sure it’ll look great and last a long time.
Sapele
Sapele is a highly prized wood from the tropical regions of Africa. It is durable and has a dramatic texture. It can be finished to a high luster. It can be used for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor applications. Sapele is priced competitively compared to its premium counterparts, and the availability of this wood all year round is a huge advantage. Sapele lumber is widely used for flooring and other interior design projects.
Sapele is a similar wood to mahogany, which is why it is often referred to as sapele mahogany. While it is identical in appearance to mahogany, Sapele is much cheaper.
Sapele lumber has a mottled or textured grain pattern. Its moderate hardness makes it an excellent choice for various interior and exterior projects, including furniture and boatbuilding. Sapele can also be used for veneer in fine furniture and countertops.
Kempas is a Hardwood From Tropical Africa
If you’re interested in a block of exotic wood, consider Kempas. This wood is a tight, wavy-grained hardwood native to Indonesia and Malaysia that takes finishes and stains well. It has a high Janka hardness rating of 1710, making it less dense than Brazilian cherry or pecan. However, it is more challenging to work than those species. Considering this species for flooring, consider the wood’s price and how it will age.
Kempas wood tends to be a light pink to reddish color with medium graining. Its texture varies from smooth to coarse and can be light or dark.
The wood’s color varies widely from pale pink-tan to medium-dark reddish. Its graining pattern is also irregular, resulting in a varied appearance. However, Kempas is considered a durable wood, though its weakness can be attributed to termite attacks
.Jatoba is a Hardwood From Tropical Africa
Jatoba is a species of tree that grows in tropical Africa, Central America, and the West Indies. Although it is native to tropical Africa, most of the jatoba used in the United States is imported from Brazil. It is red to orange-brown with a golden sheen and medium to coarse granules. Other names for jatoba include Brazilian cherry, west Indian locust, copal, capital, and patio.
Jatoba is an excellent choice for flooring due to its extreme hardness and beautiful red hue. Like Ipe, it is resistant to insects and rot. It is also highly durable, making it a good choice for outdoor projects and decks.
In addition, the beautiful red hue allows this wood to blend well with many styles of interior and exterior living spaces. However, some companies are now selling inferior species of jatoba as real jatoba.
Jatoba is More Expensive Than Other Exotic Hardwoods
Brazilian cherry, jatoba, and other names for jatoba are all used to describe the hardwood, but the actual name of the tree is Jatoba. These trees are called Courbaril, Locust, and Brazilian cherry, but most hardwood flooring providers refer to them as Jatoba or Brazilian cherry. Those names are just marketing terms, and there is no scientific evidence to support either.
Jatoba was imported from Brazil about twenty years ago. It was initially used for interior flooring but has now been found helpful for exterior decking as well. While Jatoba isn’t as hard as other exotic hardwoods like Ipe or Cumaru, it is still strong enough for high-traffic areas. Jatoba can also be easily installed, unlike Ipe or Cumaru, which are both highly durable.
