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Deck photos courtesy Georgia Decks and Docks
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JATOBA / BRAZILIAN CHERRY / HYMENAEA COURBARIL
Jatoba hard wood
– RealJatoba - decking, also known as Brazilian cherry
decking, is the most popular hardwood flooring import from Brazil to
the USA. Known for its hardness and durability, this exotic hard
wood is a great choice for exterior decking. Jatoba's
– RealJatoba - popularity as a decking material is
well-deserved. Open-grained like oak, but more than twice as hard,
this wood features dark brown or black streaks contrasting with a
background that ranges from deep red to reddish brown, darkening
after several months to a deep reddish-brown. Native Americans made
canoes from the smooth, hard, thick bark by stripping a piece of
bark from the tree, sewing the ends together, waterproofing the
seams with gum or resin, and inserting wooden crosspieces. Jatoba
hard wood
– RealJatoba - is sometimes compared to mahogany. It is not
as porous as mahogany but harder and denser, making it a far
superior decking material.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae.
Other Common Names
Brazilian Cherry, Jatai, Courbaril, Locust, Algarrobo.
Origin: Brazil and tropical South America.
Appearance
Like domestic cherry, Brazilian Cherry hard wood
– RealJatoba - decking will
change dramatically over time from the tan/salmon color with black
accent stripes when freshly milled into a deep rich reddish color.
In direct sunlight, the color change will occur within a few days.
Out of sunlight, jatoba
– RealJatoba - decking will oxidize slowly over six months.
Water based finishes tend to retard the color change in jatoba
– RealJatoba - decking while oil based
finishes enhance it.
The Tree: Leguminosae Family
Jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril) hard wood
– RealJatoba - trees grow to an average
height of 120 feet with diameters of 2-4 feet. Jatoba
– RealJatoba - is often referred
to as Brazilian cherry although it is not a cherry wood, and has
been called Locust or Courbaril in different areas of South America.
Jatoba hard wood
– RealJatoba - grows in most of the South American islands as
well as Mexico, Brazil and Peru.
Density and Buoyancy
Janka hardness is 3290, making it extremely hard and durable, 155%
harder than Red Oak (1210 Janka). Average weight is 56 lbs./cu. ft.
Specific gravity is .91, making this wood dense and only very
slightly buoyant.
Drying and Shrinkage
Jatoba hard wood
– RealJatoba - decking seasons at a fast to moderate rate
with only slight cracking, checking and warp. Shrinkage is low for a
wood of this density.
Workability
Being extremely dense, jatoba hard wood
– RealJatoba - decking is hard
to cut and has a fairly high blunting effect. Pre-boring is
necessary for nailing or screwing, and gluing must be done with
care.
Durability
Jatoba
– RealJatoba - decking is durable to fungi, dry wood borers
and termites.
Preservation
Does not require any preservative treatment. Premium finishes retain
the natural color very well.
Uses
Used heavily for flooring, decking, veneer, interior trim, furniture
and cabinet work.
General Characteristics
Found in Central and South America, Jatoba hard wood
– RealJatoba - is a very hard and strong species, and has
shock-resistant qualities similar to ash and hickory. It is also
very resistant to insects.
high density§
§ natural resistance to
damage
extreme hardness, ideal for flooring, decking§
and cabinetry
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