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Your Floors: Zebra, Tiger, and Teak Wood, Oh, My!
Get the Pros and Cons of Exotic Woods: Hickory, Cherry, Rosewood and More
In the first installment of my flooring series, I reviewed some of the characteristics of some common wood species used for solid plank floors that are common in North America and Europe. In this second installment, I'll review the characteristics of some less commonly used and exotic wood species that are also being used as flooring.
Some of these exotic woods are sustainably harvested and some are not. Any time you're looking at wood floors, make sure the wood you're buying bears the logo from the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. There's no need to contribute to deforestation as you beautify your home so do your homework.
Exotics are always considered in choosing a flooring design due to their distinctive grain patterns, and they're best left with natural finishes although your options are limitless.
Some of these exotic woods are sustainably harvested and some are not. Any time you're looking at wood floors, make sure the wood you're buying bears the logo from the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. There's no need to contribute to deforestation as you beautify your home so do your homework.
Exotics are always considered in choosing a flooring design due to their distinctive grain patterns, and they're best left with natural finishes although your options are limitless.
by Paul Anater
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Mahogany is an exotic wood with a checkered past and present. New World mahogany is nearly extinct in its once-extensive native range and is only now being sustainably harvested in Honduras. Check for those sustainable forest labels when you buy mahogany.
Mahogany is a highly durable, water-resistant hardwood when installed as flooring. 20 years ago it was rarely encountered, but tree farms in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands have increased the supply. Interestingly enough, Les Paul guitars are made from mahogany due to its density and acoustic properties.
Verify the source of mahogany floors. The floors shown here are not only farmed sustainably, they're turned into floors by workers who are paid a living wage and treated like human beings.
Mahogany
Pros:Timeless, classic hardwood.
Cons: Verify the source, can be unsustainable
Suggested uses: Throughout the house, indoors or out
Price range: $10 to $20 a square foot
Mahogany is a highly durable, water-resistant hardwood when installed as flooring. 20 years ago it was rarely encountered, but tree farms in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands have increased the supply. Interestingly enough, Les Paul guitars are made from mahogany due to its density and acoustic properties.
Verify the source of mahogany floors. The floors shown here are not only farmed sustainably, they're turned into floors by workers who are paid a living wage and treated like human beings.
Mahogany
Pros:Timeless, classic hardwood.
Cons: Verify the source, can be unsustainable
Suggested uses: Throughout the house, indoors or out
Price range: $10 to $20 a square foot
by Paul Anater
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North American Cherry is an increasingly common wood species used for floors. It's beautiful, close-grained and smooth. It takes a variety of stains well and shows up on the market in colors that range from cherry in its natural state, to nearly black.
However, cherry is around 25% softer than red oak and it's highly reactive to sunlight. It will darken noticeably in a bright room. Be careful using it in areas with a lot of dog and or kid traffic.
Cherry
Pros: Absolutely gorgeous, adds interest without dominating a room
Cons: Not as resilient as other hard woods, use caution in high-traffic areas
Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms
Price range: $7 to $15 a square foot
However, cherry is around 25% softer than red oak and it's highly reactive to sunlight. It will darken noticeably in a bright room. Be careful using it in areas with a lot of dog and or kid traffic.
Cherry
Pros: Absolutely gorgeous, adds interest without dominating a room
Cons: Not as resilient as other hard woods, use caution in high-traffic areas
Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms
Price range: $7 to $15 a square foot
by Paul Anater
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Hickory is starting to show up as floors too. It's significantly harder than oak and it has a grain pattern and color variation that won't quit. It has a tendency to add a rustic air in any room where it's used so it's a natural choice if you're drawn towards country or rustic styles.
Its hardness makes it a logical choice for active households.
Hickory
Pros: Extremely hard, beautiful grain pattern
Cons: Tends to lend a country air wherever it's used
Suggested uses: Living rooms, hallways, kitchens, foyers
Price range: $5 to $15 a square foot
Its hardness makes it a logical choice for active households.
Hickory
Pros: Extremely hard, beautiful grain pattern
Cons: Tends to lend a country air wherever it's used
Suggested uses: Living rooms, hallways, kitchens, foyers
Price range: $5 to $15 a square foot
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There is no doubt that walnut floors are a showstopper. But all that beauty comes at a price.
North American Walnut is only slightly harder than North American Cherry. This means that it will mar and dent in response to chair legs and spiked heels so be careful where you use it.
Walnut
Pros: Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Cons: Relatively soft, always dark
Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, stair treads
Price range: $10 to $20 a square foot
North American Walnut is only slightly harder than North American Cherry. This means that it will mar and dent in response to chair legs and spiked heels so be careful where you use it.
Walnut
Pros: Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Cons: Relatively soft, always dark
Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, stair treads
Price range: $10 to $20 a square foot
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| Lyptus is a eucalyptus hybrid developed by the Brazilian corporation Fibria. It's grown on sustainably-managed plantations and distributed in North America by Weyerhauser.
It's a beautiful wood with a fibrous grain pattern similar to mahogany. Unlike mahogany however, it can be harvested after 15 years of growth. It's significantly harder than oak and is easy to mill and finish. Lyptus is available all over the world and is increasing its market share every year. If sustainability is one of the things you're looking for in a flooring material, consider Lyptus. Lyptus Pros: Gives the feel of mahogany at a lower price Cons: Tends to draw attention to itself Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, hallways, stair treads Price range: $5 to $10 a square foot |
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| Rosewood is an exceptionally hard wood with a very distinctive grain pattern. Its colors range from light yellow to nearly purple. Rosewood has been popular for centuries for furniture making and has recently been turned into flooring planks. It is an uncommon wood species, due mainly to its historic over-harvesting. However, in recent years it has started to grow on sustainable farms.
Rosewood doesn't get its name from its coloration. Rather, it gets its name from its distinctive, rose-like scent. A rosewood piece of furniture or rosewood-floored room will smell like a spring garden for years and years. Rosewood Pros: Its distinctive grain pattern and fragrance add character to any home Cons: An attention grabber with a checkered past Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and baths Price range: $8 to $25 a square foot |
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| This is what's sold as Brazilian Cherry. Brazilian Cherry is not a true cherry at all, and it's known as jatoba in Brazil. Whatever its called, it's an exceptionally hard wood and in my opinion, has more of the characteristics of mahogany than cherry.
Whatever you call it, Brazilian Cherry tends to be sustainably harvested and it's always extremely resilient. Brazilian Cherry Pros: Many of the characteristics of mahogany, tends to be sustainably harvested Cons: May be overwhelming for small rooms Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and baths Price range: $3 to $8 a square foot |
by Paul Anater
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Zebrawood is a Central African, tropical hardwood that's come into vogue in the West. However, it's an environmental nightmare, despite its beauty.
Zebrawood, or Zembrano, is something to avoid. Before too long, that won't be hard to do as the supply is drying up due to overharvesting.
Never buy Zebrawood unless it's upcycled from another use. There are stranded bamboo alternatives that abound and are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
Zebrawood
Pros: Very distinctive grain pattern, very hard and resilient
Cons: Unsustainably harvested, use caution when buying
Suggested uses: Not recommended due to its harvesting issues
Price range: $15 to $20 a square foot
Zebrawood, or Zembrano, is something to avoid. Before too long, that won't be hard to do as the supply is drying up due to overharvesting.
Never buy Zebrawood unless it's upcycled from another use. There are stranded bamboo alternatives that abound and are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
Zebrawood
Pros: Very distinctive grain pattern, very hard and resilient
Cons: Unsustainably harvested, use caution when buying
Suggested uses: Not recommended due to its harvesting issues
Price range: $15 to $20 a square foot
by Paul Anater
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Tigerwood is another wood species with a troubled history. It's an African native tree that's left a legacy of overharvesting and deforestation. However in recent years, it's been farmed in South America with a better environmental record.
Do not buy wild-cut, African Tigerwood. Instead look for FSC- or SFI-certified, South American grown Tigerwood.
Tigerwood
Pros: Extremely hard and beautiful
Cons: Has some of the same problems as Zebra Wood does with its supply
Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and baths
Price range: $10 to $15 a square foot
Do not buy wild-cut, African Tigerwood. Instead look for FSC- or SFI-certified, South American grown Tigerwood.
Tigerwood
Pros: Extremely hard and beautiful
Cons: Has some of the same problems as Zebra Wood does with its supply
Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and baths
Price range: $10 to $15 a square foot
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Teak is a deciduous tree native to Southeast Asia but now commercially farmed throughout the tropics. It's an extremely long-lasting material and reclaimed, upcycled teak products abound.
The natural resins in teak heartwood are water- and insect-resistant and it's been used in ship building for centuries. Those same characteristics make it an obvious choice for use in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor decks. Though it's not the hardest wood out there, it's one of the most dense and few woods will dull a saw blade faster.
Teak
Pros: Water- and insect-resistant, long-lasting
Cons: Its density may make installation more expensive
Suggested uses: Decks, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and baths
Price range: $10 to $25 a square foot
The natural resins in teak heartwood are water- and insect-resistant and it's been used in ship building for centuries. Those same characteristics make it an obvious choice for use in bathrooms, kitchens and outdoor decks. Though it's not the hardest wood out there, it's one of the most dense and few woods will dull a saw blade faster.
Teak
Pros: Water- and insect-resistant, long-lasting
Cons: Its density may make installation more expensive
Suggested uses: Decks, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and baths
Price range: $10 to $25 a square foot
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| The native hardwoods of Australia, in this case Spotted Gum, are showing up outside of Australasia with increasing frequency.
Spotted Gum makes a stunning floor, whether it's an exotic species or not. Because I live in North America, I know very little about Australian hardwoods. Do any of our Australian Houzzers have an opinion about the woods that are available for floors? Spotted Gum Pros: Beautiful patterns in its natural grain Cons: May be too busy when you're looking for a subdued floor Suggested uses: Living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, foyers, baths Price range: $10 to $20 a square foot In my two part series, I've covered most of the species most people encounter when considering solid plank flooring. Stay tuned for when I will review engineered floors and how they're different from plank floors! Next: See more flooring guides Your Floor: An Introduction to Solid Plank Wood Floors 5 Innovative Wood Floors |
Ideabook updated on Aug. 10, 2011.
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"Eucalyptus is one of three similar genera that are commonly referred to as "eucalypts," the others being Corymbia and Angophora. Many, but far from all, are known as gum trees because many species exude copious sap from any break in the bark (e.g. Scribbly Gum)." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus; paragraph 2)
We're so fortunate to have such options to consider besides Maple/Oak/Pine
http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/environment/plants__and__animals/threatened_species/animals/koalas
The Spotted Gum is by far our most common gum tree on the Peninsula - but it’s not the favorite of the Koala. Instead, they strongly prefer the Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata). Of the 38 trees known to be favoured Koala food trees, 31 are Grey Gums.
While the Grey Gum makes up only 5% of the trees on the Peninsula, it is 45% of the trees in which Koalas were reported. The preference of the Koalas for this species has long been recognised locally and it is known to be a staple food tree from nutritional studies.
So, while we're in awe by the beauty of this flooring, please be mindful of the danger to the Koala...whether it's a bear or not, is not the point. I'm including a link where you'll find more information.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/3964688/Koalas-in-danger-of-extinction-as-rising-carbon-levels-poison-eucalyptus-trees.html
I learned this last year when I was buying furniture and had never heard of gum trees, so I did an extensive search on the internet where I learned this. But, I suppose if a lamp shade made of animal fur is acceptable, then caring about the Koala's plight won't matter much. My 2 cents.
Recycled and reclaimed timber is big over here as well....we like our forests and ALL our wildlife, not just the Koala.
thank you
Juniper is often referred to as the weed of the tree world. The average mature tree consumes 50 gallons of water per day and the species encroches on the Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir forrests of the Northwest. As a result they are most often, cut down, dozed over or burned. However, Juniper has some VERY sustainable properties. It is extremely durable and is one species that can be used as fence posts without pressure treating the lumber with chemicals making it ideal for farm and vineyard posts.
It also has a manifold color and character profile ranging from bright white's to deep reds. Here is a photo of a Juniper floor.
You can see other Australian timbers at http://www.boral.com.au/TimberFlooring/showcase.asp but I must mention that conservationists are unimpressed with the Australian Forestry Standard mentioned there. Stick to FSC. However, I don't think that sending our timber halfway around the world is terribly eco-friendly, so consider that aspect too.
The diet of koalas is a complex subject and IMO our problem is that we farm too much radiata pine instead of native tree species, and that we don't take wildlife corridors seriously enough. I am sure Greenpeace will have the relevant information, but it's not as simple as felling trees = dead cute marsupials.
Today so many of us relocate to different parts of the world and won't have the knowledge of what works and does not work that a native would tend to know.
Thanks again for a very helpful idea. I have broadened my perspective and am going to consider some new floor types in the home we are planning.