The Pros and Cons of Brazilian Cherry Hardwood Floors
Deon Saddler
Intentionally Living With Only the Things You Really Need
Renovating your home to look more modern doesn’t have to result in flipping the entire residence. Sometimes a home needs a simple refresh, such as adding new hardwood flooring. After years of living in the same house, old carpets become stained, odor-ridden, and worn out. As a result, switching to hardwood flooring would benefit a busy home.
So once you go through with installing hardwood flooring, it’s time to figure out what kind of hardwood you want to use. Thankfully, there are many different types of Brazilian hardwoods to choose from for the perfect atmosphere and theme you’re going for. Before you know it, your home will feel more inviting and have floors that will last for years to come.
Before going over the types of Brazilian hardwoods and how they’re different, it’s necessary to cover the basic overview of Brazilian hardwood itself. Brazilian hardwood originates from Brazil and other nearby regions. It’s an exotic hardwood flooring material, providing many species.
Brazilian hardwood offers the highest density rank for homes with high foot traffic. Because it originates from South America, Brazilian hardwood can come at a higher cost depending on the source and brand. Some include a premium price tag due to limited availability and shipping costs. Even though it may cost more than other hardwood materials, you get high-quality hardwood flooring that will last for many years.
Brazilian hardwood comes with many benefits compared to other hardwood materials. The hardwoods’ density measurement comes from the Janka hardness scale. The Janka hardness scale is numerical values tested through a steel ball pressed into the wood until it’s depressed into half its thickness. So the higher the assigned number, the harder the wood is.
According to the Janka hardness scale, Brazilian woods sit in the mid-2000s to mid-3000s, making them among the hardest and sturdiest woods on the market. Because of the high rating in hardness, you can expect them to last around 30 years or more if correctly maintained. Additionally, Brazilian hardwood is incredibly versatile, such as being heat-resistant. This makes them excellent radiant flooring bases for all seasons. Lastly, it can go through multiple refinishing sessions for a lifelong pristine look.
Brazilian hardwoods are highly sought after for several reasons. Their natural beauty, combined with unmatched durability, makes them an ideal choice for homeowners looking for long-lasting and stunning flooring options.
Brazilian hardwoods are known for their incredible hardness, which makes them resistant to scratches, dents, and general wear and tear. This durability ensures that your floors will look beautiful for many years, even in high-traffic areas.
Each type of Brazilian hardwood has its own unique grain patterns and colors, offering a range of aesthetic options to suit any style. From the deep, rich tones of Brazilian cherry to the striking contrasts of Brazilian pecan, these woods can complement a variety of interior designs.
Many Brazilian hardwoods are sourced from sustainably managed forests, ensuring that your flooring choice is environmentally responsible. Choosing certified products helps support conservation efforts and reduces the environmental impact of your home improvement projects.
Brazilian hardwood offers many different species that can make any homeowner happy. There are five notable kinds of Brazilian hardwood: Brazilian Walnut (Ipe), Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba), Brazilian Oak (Garapa), Brazilian Teak (Cumaru), and Tigerwood. They come in various colors, dramatic and bold floorings, and make any home feel exciting. Plus, Brazilian hardwood is beautiful to look at and provides durable flooring for years to come.
Brazilian Walnut, also known as Ipe, is nearly the hardest, most durable wood available. It has a Janka rating of 3,680 and has a Class A rating in fire resistance alongside notable substances like steel and concrete. Brazilian Walnut comes in plenty of colors, from near-black to olive-brown tones. Additionally, it resists moisture, fungus, and insects, such as termites.
Brazilian Walnut also provides toughness that makes sawing difficult and challenging for sanding without causing scratches. However, Brazilian Walnut is hard to come by and high in demand for its superior quality because of decreased availability. So it’s essential that your Brazilian Walnut comes from an ethical and legal source if you plan on purchasing it for your home.
Let’s delve into the specifics of some of the most popular Brazilian hardwoods used in flooring.
Brazilian cherry, also known as Jatoba, is perhaps the most well-known of the Brazilian hardwoods. It is celebrated for its rich, reddish-brown color that deepens over time, adding warmth and elegance to any space.
Coming in with a Janka rating of a high 3,540, it’s three times stronger than regular red oak wood. It provides the necessary density to take a beating, and you can refinish it multiple times. Lastly, Brazilian Teak is naturally oily, making it stain- and moisture-resistant.
Tigerwood, which comes from Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay, is a one-of-a-kind wood material you won’t regret purchasing. It has unique banding patterns in chocolate-brown colors woven through deep gold tones. It’s an eye-catching and beautiful wood that makes excellent flooring and works wonderfully for paneling, shutters, and furniture.
It also has a Janka rating of 2,160, making it sturdy. Like Brazilian Teak, Tigerwood is an oily wood that prevents moisture and decay. Although it may prove challenging to cut, it makes a great home flooring option.
Brazilian koa, commonly known as Tigerwood, is prized for its striking appearance. It features a unique combination of dark stripes on a golden-brown background, resembling a tiger’s stripes.
Brazilian pecan is known for its distinctive color variation and grain pattern, which ranges from creamy whites to deep browns. This variety makes it a versatile choice that can complement both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Brazilian teak, or Cumaru, is valued for its rich golden-brown color and exceptional hardness. It is often compared to traditional teak due to its similar appearance and properties.
Brazilian walnut, also known as Ipe, is one of the hardest woods in the world. It is revered for its deep brown color and outstanding durability, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.
Choosing the right type of Brazilian hardwood is just the first step. Proper installation is crucial to ensure the beauty and longevity of your floors. At Mr. Felix Floor, Inc., we follow a meticulous process to guarantee exceptional results.
Our process begins with a consultation to understand your preferences and needs. We help you select the perfect type of Brazilian hardwood that matches your home’s style and your personal taste.
Proper preparation of the installation site is essential. We ensure that the subfloor is clean, dry, and level. Acclimatizing the wood to the room’s temperature and humidity is also a crucial step to prevent future issues such as warping or buckling.
Our team of skilled installers meticulously fits each plank, ensuring precise alignment and a seamless finish. We use high-quality materials and techniques to secure the flooring, whether through nail-down, glue-down, or floating methods, depending on the specific requirements of the wood and the site.
Once the installation is complete, we apply the necessary finishes to protect and enhance the wood’s natural beauty. This may include sanding, staining, and sealing, tailored to your specific choice of wood and desired look.
Brazilian hardwoods are relatively low-maintenance, but proper care can extend their lifespan and keep them looking beautiful.
Dust and dirt can scratch the surface of the wood, so regular sweeping or vacuuming is essential. Use a microfiber mop for dusting and a damp (not wet) mop for deeper cleaning.
Place mats at entryways to reduce dirt and grit brought in from outside. Use felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratches, and avoid walking on the floors with high heels or shoes with sharp points.
Depending on the wear and tear, Brazilian hardwood floors may need refinishing every few years. This involves sanding the surface and applying a new finish to restore their original beauty.
Brazilian hardwood flooring offers an unbeatable combination of beauty, durability, and luxury. Whether you choose the rich hues of Brazilian cherry, the striking patterns of Brazilian koa, or the exceptional hardness of Brazilian walnut, you’re investing in a flooring option that will enhance your home’s aesthetic and value for years to come.
Ready to transform your home with the timeless elegance of Brazilian hardwood flooring? Contact Mr. Felix Floor, Inc. today to schedule a consultation. Our expert team is dedicated to providing top-quality installation and exceptional customer service. Let us help you choose the perfect Brazilian hardwood and bring your flooring vision to life. Call us now or visit our website to learn more!
Brazilian cherry hardwood floors have been a popular choice throughout the decades, staying current as other flooring trends have come and gone. Like any type of flooring, Brazilian cherry wood has its own pros and cons. Understanding this wood will help you decide whether it will suit the needs of the space you’re decorating. When selecting this flooring, go a little lighter than your desired shade, as this wood will naturally darken over time.
Contact us about custom installation services on your Brazilian Wood
This exotic hardwood flooring carries with it a host of benefits that make it a long-sought-after flooring choice. The look, strength, and versatility of the material make it a sound investment for new or historic homes.
Brazilian cherry floors feature a deep, rich color palette with red undertones. The variation of colors calls attention to the intricate wood grains of this exotic hardwood flooring. Because there are so many different shades in this wood, it is easy to pair it with many other wood furnishings in the home, creating a warm and welcoming aesthetic.
When it comes to hardwoods, Brazilian cherry is one of the hardest. The Janka hardness test gives it a rating of 3500, which makes it incredibly durable and resistant to scratches, dents, and imperfections. This hardness makes it strong enough to hold up to use in even the most high-traffic areas of the home. Use it in a dining room without fear of chairs scuffing the floors.
It is the density of the wood that makes Brazilian cherry so strong and that same density makes it both fire resistant and bug resistant as well. Natural oils contained in the wood kill mites and spores, making it a great option for allergy sufferers as well.
This floor may be a little expensive upon initial installation, but it is absolutely an incredible value for the dollar. Once installed, expect Brazilian cherry floors to last for roughly 30 years; much longer with proper maintenance. The timeless look of the flooring elevates any home, enhancing resale value now and for many decades to come.
Brazilian cherry’s natural resistance to heat makes it an ideal choice for installation over a radiant flooring base. It is actually one of the only hardwoods suitable for this type of installation, providing all-season warmth for bare feet.
Most hardwood flooring types including chestnut and walnut can be refinished a few times in the lifespan of the flooring, but Brazilian cherry takes it a step farther. The incredible strength and density of the wood makes it possible to sand and refinish many times, even a dozen, in the span of the lifetime of the floors. Sanding and refinishing the floors on occasion with buff out any scratches that have occurred over time and provide an opportunity to change up the color.
As with any flooring, Brazilian cherry comes with a few drawbacks to take into consideration when selecting this as the flooring for a space. Most of the drawbacks are minimal in comparison to the many benefits of this luxury flooring.
The main item that deters people from installing hardwood floors in their homes is the cost. Brazilian cherry is one of the priciest types of hardwood floors to purchase and install. If you fall in love with the warm look of this wood but can’t find room in the budget, try Brazilian walnut hardwood flooring instead. It offers a very similar look for a fraction of the cost. Another option would be getting a luxury vinyl floor designed to look like Brazilian cherry. Weigh the cost of the product against the longevity though, because although more expensive at the outset, Brazilian cherry lasts a lot longer than the less expensive alternatives.
Like most floors with dark finishes, Brazilian cherry floors have a tendency to highlight any dirt and dust. Because of this, they can be difficult to maintain simply because daily cleaning is often required. If you have this flooring, consider using a robotic vacuum to keep it free of dirt and debris. Daily cleaning of the floors also helps to prevent scratches and prolongs the life of the floors.
Floors with a dark finish tend to make a room feel smaller and darker. It is ideal for making a large room feel inviting and cozy, but it can be a drawback for smaller spaces, where becoming open and airy is a goal. Consider the needs of the space and the final look desired. Keep the look of the space unified by running the same flooring throughout the living area and hallways. Every transition from one flooring to another can chop up a space and make each room appear smaller.
Because wood has a natural ability to absorb water, Brazilian cherry is not suitable for use in wet or high-humidity locations. It should never be installed in bathrooms or laundry rooms. It is also not generally recommended for use in kitchens, where water can splash or spill or leak from a dishwasher. If you live in an extremely humid climate and have this type of flooring, running a dehumidifier can help to prevent water damage.
When it comes to adding warmth, elegance, and everlasting style to a space, Brazilian cherry hardwood floors make an excellent option. If chosen, professional installation is highly recommended. Because the wood is extremely dense, the planks can split if not installed with care. Once in place, expect this flooring to transform the look of your space and act as a strong foundation for your room for a lifetime.
One of the most sought after exotic wood floorings available now, is Tigerwood. Tigerwood is durable, has amazing coloring and grain patterns, and is a great flooring for any home. Mike’s Custom Flooring would like to shine the spotlight on tigerwood flooring and share why this beautiful flooring has become one of the most popular exotic floors.
We know that the quality of your flooring is crucial to both your health and your home's beauty. That's why, at Saddler Flooring, we're committed to providing you with the highest quality service by providing you with personal care. With decades of experience installing and refinishing wood floors in homes of all types, sizes, & budgets, you can trust this Michigan flooring company to work on your entire home. An expert in home-related services, Saddler Wood Floors offers cost-effective, quality flooring solutions. From the living room to the kitchen, our team will install beautiful wood floors in your home. Hardwoods are our specialty. If you're looking to breathe life into an old wood floor, we can help. Want to get ride of the old stained carpet and change to hardwood? We believe your wood floor is a work of art and should be treated with care. We would love to show you the level of passion we have for our products and help restore that classic beauty.
