Floor Talk! A Guide to Fabulous Flooring and Design

Exotic hardwood flooring is becoming increasingly more popular because buyers seem to constantly be searching for products for their homes that are more unique than what you find at your everyday big box store. These floors are a symbol of style and provide greater diversity from hardwood’s reputation as a traditional flooring choice.

The word exotic is defined as:

ex·ot·ic (g-ztk)

adj.

1. From another part of the world; foreign:

2. Intriguingly unusual or different; excitingly strange:

About Exotic Hardwood

Like traditional hardwood floors, exotic hardwood floors have styles offering different widths, species, grain, colors and types of construction. You can find exotic hardwoods that are unfinished, pre-finished, solid or engineered. Most of the floors come from South America, Australia, The Far East and Africa. Click here to see a selection of domestic versus exotic samples from the National Hardwood Association. It is also important to keep in mind that not all species of exotic hardwood are available as flooring. The ones listed here are all available for flooring.

Styles and Trends

It seemed when Brazilian Cherry was first introduced the people that selected it were really going out on a limb to choose something exotic, something different. Now, it seems that because Brazilian Cherry is used so often that it is the safe and average hardwood flooring choice. Does that mean it’s still exotic? Yes, it may not be as unique as when it first came out, but it is still a foreign, non domestic hardwood species.

Let’s explore what’s out there and what’s new and hot.

The ABC’s of Exotic Hardwood flooring. Of the 60+ species available I chose one from each (available) letter of the alphabet and an interesting fact about it.

Name: Afzelia

Origin: Africa

Hardness: Hardness is 1810 compared to red oak which is 1260

Fact: The most valuable exotic species because of its hardness.

Name: Bubinga

Origin: Central Africa

Hardness: 1980

Fact: When quarter sawn it displays a flame figured grain. Quarter sawing produces less board feet per log than plain sawing and is therefore more expensive. Quarter sawn wood twists and cups less and wears more evenly. When plain sawn it offers a rosewood graining. Plain sawn is the most common cut. The board contains more variation than the other two cuts because grain patterns resulting from the growth rings are more obvious.

Name: Cocobolo

Origin: Pacific regions of Central America, from Panama to southwestern Mexico

Hardness: 1136

Fact: Other than flooring, it is also used in the cutlery industry for utensil handles.

Name:Doussie

Origin: West and Central Africa

Hardness: 1770

Fact: Its finish color changes over time from an orangish color to a deep mahogany color.

Name: Eucalyptus

Origin: Australia

Hardness:1770

Fact: The sapwood is light brown while the heartwood is pinkish to reddish brown.

Name: Goncalo Alves

Origin: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala

Hardness:2160

Fact: Is known for its boldly striped grain with an orangish/reddish brown background and wide/dark brownish black stripes.

Name: Kambala

Origin: West Africa

Hardness: 1260

Fact: Commonly used as a teak substitute because of its similar coloring.

Name: Lacewood

Origin:Brazil

Hardness:840

Fact: Primarily used for accent stripes because of its many “eyes”.

Name: Movingui

Origin: West Africa

Hardness:1230

Fact: It has a slightly interlocked ribbon-featured grain.

Name: Olivewood

Origin: Brazil

Hardness: 3700

Fact: It projects dark green tones and a pronounced grain with woven texture. Streaks from yellow to light brown and orange are not uncommon.

Name: Padauk

Origin: Central Africa

Hardness:1725

Fact: Color ranges from medium orange to dark orange and color changes dramatically over time.

Name: Purple Heart

Origin: Central and South America

Hardness: 1860

Fact: Have you ever seen purple wood? It changes over time back and forth from purple to brown!

Name: Rosewood (Bolivian)

Origin: Bolivia and Brazil

Hardness:1780

Fact: It shows wide ranges of brown, often with black striping.

Name: Shedua / Mutenye

Origin: West and Central Africa

Hardness: 1780

Fact: This wood shows fine black striping.

Name: Tobacco Wood

Origin: South America

Hardness:1750

Fact: Its different pieces show different patterns of the growth rings.

Name: Wenge

Origin: Central Africa

Hardness: 1630

Fact: It is offered with select straight graining or mixed graining that produces a “flower” look.

Name:Zebra Wood

Origin: Central Africa

Hardness: 1575

Fact: It is sold in quartered selections to maintain its zebra like striping that it is named for.

Things to Consider about exotic hardwood:

Like any unique flooring or design purchase, be sure to view or request several different samples to see the range of color and grain in the floor. These natural characteristics are part of what makes the item exotic. Know what to expect so there are no surprises on installation day!

Check with your local retailer to be sure that the species you selected is acceptable for your climate.

Ask about the variations in color that can be expected over time. Some floors can completely change color over time.