Using Exotic Woods for your Wood Floor

When you go to a home improvement store or lumber yard to get the actual wood for your wood floor, you will have a variety of different types of woods to choose from. However, chances are you will not have the option to get exotic woods to use for your floor unless the company can order them specifically for you.

Exotic woods can be great to use in your home, especially if you are looking for a way to make your wood floors unique from so many other homes. By learning about different types of exotic wood and ensuring they’ll work for your home, you can make your family, friends and neighbors envious of your wood floor.

If you do decide you want to use exotic wood to create your floor, it is important to learn about the different exotic woods and which one will work best for your home. Some of the exotic woods will not provide you with the high-quality floor you desire simply because the environmental conditions of your home are not optimal for the properties of the specific wood type. Lumber experts should be able to help you find an exotic wood that can work for your home though.

When choosing exotic woods it is also important that you consider whether or not you have the budget to afford the wood. Some wood is highly unique and must be shipped from other parts of the world, thus it can significantly raise the square foot price of your wood floor.

Purpleheart

is an exotic wood that you can use to create your floor. It originates from Central and South America, and garners its name from the purple color it has. While the wood does change from purple to more brown once it has been sanded it still maintains some of its purplish color. If you do choose to use this type of exotic wood in your home, consider using a finish that is water based as this helps to hold the purple color in the wood.

Cocobolo

Native to the western edge of Central America is Cocobolo wood. It is ideal for wood flooring as it is a heavy wood that offers high durability. It contains natural oils that provide a nice finish and resist decay and insects, yet it is wood that cannot be glued together because of the oil. Cocobolo wood is not just limited to floors though, as it is used to make a variety of household items and furniture.

Peroba

Another type of exotic wood that is idea for flooring is Peroba, which comes from the costal regions of Brazil. It is an excellent choice for floors as it holds both glue and nails and it sands and finishes in excellent condition. The color of Peroba can range from a light yellow that appears almost white to more of an olive color with a red tint.

The three exotic woods discussed here are just a small fraction of the actual number available for use in your home. By learning more from the lumber professional about the types of exotic wood, as well as what to expect when purchasing them for your home, you can make your hardwood floors unique to your style and your taste.