Tigerwood sure looks exotic but it is more than that and that is the reason why it is one of the most popular choices forhardwood floors .
It is sleep with by contractors and householder alike because it is easy to puzzle out with , it is exceedingly durable and it is also water - resistant promising you a lifetime of beautiful hardwood floor if maintained well .
If you are considering tigerwood for your flooring , we will cover everything that you need to lie with about this exotic hardwood .
In this article
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What is tigerwood?
Tigerwood come with many other names including goncalo alves , African walnut , and Brazilian Koa hardwood . It is called Tigerwood because its rich brown or orangish color is made more dynamic by random black and disconsolate brown splashes . By this alone , it is already a standout from its other hardwood opposite number .
It has become one of the trendiest hardwood choices in the preceding geezerhood because of its overall , unique look . Tigerwood is native to South America specifically Brazil , Bolivia , Paraguay , and Uruguay .
To get to bang the tigerwood more , countenance us evaluate it with some tigerwood pros and hustle .
Pros of tigerwood flooring
The top side of tigerwood flooring lie in five things : strength , body of water - resistance , sustainment , inexpensive hardwood alternative , unique colouration practice .
1.Durability
Tigerwood is harder and more durable compare to fellow hardwoods likeoak , pecan hickory , and maple . It looks raw and dressed for a longsighted time and it is also practically dent insubordinate .
Despite its hard surface , it is still comparatively softer underfoot equate to cumaru and ipe woods . This make it ripe for homes with participating PET and children .
If you need a numerical character for how durable this hardwood floor is , just know that it could last for more than fifty class under the best condition and proper upkeep . Other than this , discolouration will not be visible until it reach its seventh to the tenth year .
2.Water-resistance
The dependable affair about tigerwood is that it will not blow up at heat and most specifically moisture . So even if you are in a cold , higher - altitude localization , you’re able to look on it for its durability and water - electrical resistance .
It is a high - density wood containing natural oils making it not just body of water - resistant but also falsify , rot , and collapse resistant in a moist environment .
3.Maintenance
Unlike otherwood floorings , you do not need to seal off or polish tigerwood flooring every now and then . But to keep it on its pristine look , verify that you mop it with a snowy vinegar and water solution ( soap and water solvent will also work ) once a week . Never habituate harshfloor cleaners as it will damage the colorpattern of the tigerwood .
4.Inexpensive
It is expensive but compare toteakand ipe , young man hardwoods with impressive durability and water - resistance , it is a trashy option . Its price range is comparable to cumaru , mahogany , and oak .
5.Unique color patterns
It takes its name from its interesting color design of rust orange , tan , and dark-brown along with random splashes of fine or bluff black and saturnine chocolate-brown lines . So spill the beans about course unparalleled color patterns in hardwood and tigerwood always comes up as a antecedency selection . As a matter of fact , it is tell that no other hardwood can achieve the same colour formula .
As such , tigerwood is mainly graded free-base on the colour patterns that the wood has . They are divided between clear and common score .
decipherable ground level tigerwood has a deep orange floor colouring material with streaks of black and chocolate-brown splashes / stripes . vulgar grade tigerwood has lesser color blueprint and would have ripples on the open .
Cons of tigerwood flooring
With all its hopeful top , tigerwood has its own fairish share of cons too . Here are some of the tigerwood downsides that you should be on the lookout for .
1.Discoloration
Like other hardwoods , tigerwood is also prone to color wearing especially in high - traffic homes . The deep hue are incomparable when it is newly installed but even with unconstipated polishing , you will see gradual fading on its seventh to the 10th year .
There are amendments to this , however . Using a UV - filtering picture will help in slowing down discoloration by specify the amount of direct sunlight that strike the storey during the daytime .
2.Sustainability
The high demand for tigerwood and other hardwoods pose serious sustainability way out for the countries they are import from . Present statistics show that tigerwood is now considered an endangeredtree speciesand the forests where they produce are overly forested . As such , export restrictions from major African and South American countries are now passed .
American baseball bat company have found a mode to make tigerwood harvesting more sustainable by spring up and culturing timber - form tigerwood . These lumber companies are scatter around the country let in Florida , Ohio , Louisiana , and Mississippi . When buying one , you also have to make certain that it has FSC certification .
3.Installation
Tigerwood can not be instal DIY as it command high-pitched - powered tools only . So while it is relatively cheap than other hardwood , it may have impart labor movement and installation costs that could be more expensive than others due to installation .
Tigerwood flooring cost
As have been mentioned , tigerwood drops at a terms range standardised to mahogany , cypress , and cumaru wood but is less expensive compared to ebony , ipe , and teak . According to online existent estate and coldcock adviser , tigerwood costs between $ 8 - 20 per square metrical foot . On top of this , installation ranges from $ 4 - 10 .
This price range can alter count on the floor area and your emplacement . You must contain and make an initial canvass for both wood and installation costs before locomote for it .
Where to use tigerwood flooring?
With all the upsides that we have mentioned here , you would in all likelihood think that the integral home floor could be made of tigerwood . You have to understand that there are specific rooms in the plate where tigerwood deck is the well fit .
First , tigerwood flooring will face beautiful in the dining room . Aside from its dramatic , classy flair , it is leisurely to make clean after a fellowship banquet . secondly , it is one of the well flooring pick for the living way . It is a versatile and cosmetic wood making it dear for rustic , ski lodge vibe , minimalist and swish aesthetics .
You could also use tigerwood flooring foroutdoor decksand patios . It is pee - resistant and its singular color patterns offer an illusion of space . Lastly , knowing that a tigerwood flooring could last for more than 50 years , consult with your contractor on how to achieve an all - tigerwood dump home .
How do you clean tigerwood floors?
As have been mentioned too , tigerwood flooring is low maintenance . rough floor cleaners are not required for tigerwood floorings . you may easily clean house them in three ways .
First , use a damp mop to clean it once a week or twice a calendar week in area with mellow foot traffic . To scavenge it , you may use homemade cleaners such as livid vinegar or apple cider and water solution or Georgia home boy and piss solution .
Second , vacuum and embroil the trading floor regularly to avoid dirt and gluey particles from being embedded in the floor ’s open . Make certain that you only use flaccid - setose brooms and vacancy for non - carpeted flooring .
For what it is worth , you also must recognise other care tip to maintain the beautiful look of tigerwood ball over :
Is tigerwood toxic?
Fortunately , when treated to be prepared for floor , tigerwood does not pose any toxic terror . However , middle and skin aggravation triggered by tigerwood in the wild have been wide reported . Because of this , tigerwood is listed as a sensitiser as it could trigger some allergic reactions in some masses .
Is Brazilian Koa the same as tigerwood?
Yes . It also occur with other names such as African walnut and goncalo alves . However , the name tigerwood is more referenced because it fits dear to its rust orange , tan , and dark brown fundament coloring material with dim and brown splashing .
Conclusion
Tigerwood is a formidable floor choice and for all the good reasons . It is brave , durable , comparatively inexpensive , and easy to maintain . It lasts for more than 50 years and it ask a long metre before visible discolorations become a problem .
On top of all of that , it has one of the most beautiful colour patterns for hardwood making it a versatile choice for many floor region in the habitation but it would take care best in dining room , life rooms as well as patios and deck .
Weighing in tigerwood flooring pros and cons , tigerwood ’s upsides outflank its minimal downside . The only serious military issue at hand is in full term of sustainability . But overall , investiture - wise , tigerwood flooring is one of thebest flooring choicesthat you will ever make .
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