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Hardwood is a type of wood commonly used in construction, furniture making and various other purposes. Hardwoods are products of deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in autumn. Hardwoods are considered hard, dense and durable (not all) and generally more suitable than softwoods for a number of uses. At the same time, hardwoods are also generally more expensive than softwoods.

If you are working on a hardwood project or planning to buy hardwood for a new project, it helps to have a basic idea of the different types of hardwood.

Types of Hardwood

Hardwood is a very broad term. It includes all wood species procured from deciduous trees. There are hundreds of hardwood species around the world, however, not all hardwoods are equally good or popular for commercial uses.

Some examples of hardwoods include Abachi, acacia, African padauk, afzelia, agba, alder, ash, aspen, Australian red cedar, balsa, basswood, birch, blackbean, blackwood, boxwood, Brazilian walnut, brazilwood, buckeye, butternut, cherry, cottonwood, cumaru, dogwood, ebony, elm, eucalyptus, greenheart, gum, hackberry, hickory, ipe, iroko, ironwood, kingwood, limba, locust, mahogany, maple, meranti, marblewood, mopane, oak, Merbau, olive, okume, poplar, pink ivory, redheart, sal, sandalwood, Spanish cedar, teak, tulip, walnut, willow, wenge, and African zebrawood.

Since we cannot cover all types of hardwood in just one post, in this article, we will talk about the top 10 most popular types of hardwood.

1. Black Walnut

Black walnut hardwood is native to the Eastern United States. It has a Janka rating of 1,010 lbf and is considered very hard and durable. The wood is resistant to decay but susceptible to insect attacks. Black Walnut heartwood is light brown or dark brown with darker streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow or white. The grain is straight, which makes it easy to work with. The wood is extensively used in furniture, cabinetry, veneering, panelling, and turned items.

2. Hickory

Hickory is a popular hardwood that is mainly used for flooring because of its extreme durability. Hickory is strong hardwood, looks beautiful and requires very little maintenance, which is why it is preferred for flooring. The wood is also somewhat resistant to moisture.

3. Oak

Oak comes in many varieties, almost all of which are strong hardwood. As one of the most inexpensive hardwoods, oak is widely used in many commercial applications. Popular types include red oak, white oak, black oak, and willow oak. It can be non-durable to moderately durable depending on the species.

4. Teak

Teak is another popular and globally used hardwood. It is stronger, harder, more durable and also more expensive than oak. The heartwood of teak is golden medium brown and looks absolutely amazing. The wood is very durable and resistant to decay and termites. It is usable for everything from furniture to construction, flooring, veneering, boat building, carving, etc.

5. African Zebrawood

Zebrawood or Zebrano is a hardwood native to West Africa. The heartwood is light brown or cream and has brown or black streaks similar to that of a zebra. The wood is considered strong and durable and is primarily used for veneering. Other uses include furniture, boats, skis, and tool handles.

6. Wenge

Wenge is another Africa-based hardwood exported by CameroonTimberExportSarl. It is mainly produced in Central Africa. With a 1,930 lbf Janka rating, Wenge is considered a very strong and durable wood. The heartwood is a medium brown with an occasional reddish hue and black streaks. It is used in veneering, furniture, panelling, musical instruments, and turned objects.

7. Poplar

Poplar wood comes in more than one variety – white poplar, black poplar, yellow poplar, etc. Black poplar grows in many parts of Africa and is also planted in North America. It has a light brown heartwood with straight or interlocked grain. The wood is non-durable and commonly used for boxes and crates, plywood, and utility lumber.

8. Rosewood

Brazilian rosewood, the most famous species of rosewood, is sourced from Brazil. The wood is dark brown with even darker streaks. It is rated as extremely durable, hard and resistant to decay and insect attacks. The uniform texture and straight grain make it easy to work with. Popular applications of rosewood include veneering, cabinetry, fine furniture, turned objects, and musical instruments.

9. Meranti

Popular species of Meranti hardwood are Dark red meranti, white meranti, light red meranti, and yellow meranti. Dark red meranti, also known as Philippine Mahogany, is dark reddish or brown and has a straight or interlocked grain. It is moderate to non-durable. The wood is mainly used for plywood, furniture (interior), veneering, boat buildings and general construction.

10. Sapele

Sapele is a popular tropical African hardwood. It is golden to dark red-brown with a ribbon pattern among other figured grain patterns. The wood grain is interlocked. It is rated as moderately durable to very durable and is resistant to insect, borer and decay. Sapele is used in many applications such as furniture, veneering, plywood, flooring, boatbuilding, and cabinetry, among others.

Buy Top Quality Hardwood from Cameroontimberexportsarl

If you want to buy premium quality hardwood at the best price online or need help selecting the right hardwood for your project, feel free to connect with us on call or email at info@cameroontimberexport.com.

Eucalyptus is a hardwood that is considered one of the sustainable woods that are both useful and environmentally friendly. Because Eucalyptus wood comes from a species of fast-growing trees, it is easily available at a cheaper price than other hardwood options. Not only the wood looks absolutely attractive but also shares many qualities with similar hardwoods. It’s easy to work with and is suitable for a large variety of purposes.

In this article, we take a deep look into the various properties, characteristics and uses of Eucalyptus and try to understand what makes it a suitable choice for your next project.

Eucalyptus Wood Properties

The two most commonly used species of Eucalyptus are Red Eucalyptus and Pink Eucalyptus.

Both Eucalyptus species are commonly found in Australia and are also grown on plantations in Brazil. Red Eucalyptus has a dark red color and different figures like bees wing, curly grain and burl. Pink Eucalyptus is light pink and looks similar to pink ivory and has the same figures as Red Eucalyptus.

In terms of strength and durability. Eucalyptus is considered very strong and has a high density. It is rated as moderately durable. However, the wood can break easily, as it is brittle and not resistant to shock. Drying can result in cellular distortion.

Eucalyptus is mostly easy to work with. Despite being dense and very strong, the wood cuts well. Also, it turns, glues, finishes, and stains well. Kiln drying is recommended for the best results. Kiln-dried Eucalyptus is suitable for a variety of projects, including premium furniture making.

Technical Properties of Eucalyptus Urograndis

• Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft3 (850 kg/m3)
• Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .60, .85
• Janka Hardness: 1,420 lbf (6,330 N)
• Modulus of Rupture: 17,110 lbf/in2 (118.0 MPa)
• Elastic Modulus: 2,049,000 lbf/in2 (14.13 GPa)
• Crushing Strength: 8,640 lbf/in2 (59.6 MPa)
• Shrinkage: Radial: 8.2%, Tangential: 12.8%, Volumetric: 21.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Eucalyptus has a medium texture and small to medium pores. The grain is usually straight and even. Though the wood is hard, durability is only moderate. Eucalyptus is resistant to decay but can be susceptible to insect attack. Being brittle, the wood can burn easily.

Eucalyptus Lumber Uses

Eucalyptus is prized for its beautiful look, sustainability and decent durability. It is used in a variety of wood projects, from flooring to construction and furniture making.

Some of the popular uses of Eucalyptus wood include fencing, shade structures, paneling, millwork, support beams, lumber, cabinetry, plywood, and turned objects. Eucalyptus poles are quite popular for use in fencing. The wood is hard, durable and easy to install and because it is easily available in large, prefabricated slabs and panels, any type of fencing or other projects can be made from it.

Other than that, Eucalyptus is also widely used to build shade structures for buildings, especially in commercial establishments. Eucalyptus poles are used for support and rafters for the construction of shades and the wood is used to build a trellis for a stylish shady roof appearance for outdoor areas.

Eucalyptus wood properties also makes it usable for paneling purposes. The wood stains well and can withstand weight and tension, which makes it an ideal choice for paneling in high-traffic areas.

How to Buy High-Quality, Sustainable Eucalyptus Wood at the Best Price Online

If you are looking for the best place to buy Eucalyptus wood at the lowest price online, welcome to CameroonTimberExportSarl. We export and supply best quality Eucalyptus wood to customers all over the world.

We have Eucalyptus timber available in large live edge slabs that you can use to build large pieces of furniture and other items for consistent color and figuring throughout the item.

Contact us today to know more about or to place your order for Eucalyptus wood.

Are you looking to buy the best quality wood for decking or fences? Then, you might want to know that Garapa is one of the most preferred hardwoods for decking. This is because the Garapa wood looks very attractive and is extremely durable. Here’s everything you need to know about Garapa lumber properties, including the best way to buy this wood at the right price.

Garapa Wood Introduction

Garapa trees are 65-100 ft tall and have 3-5 ft trunk diameter on average. These trees are commonly found in Brazil and other South American countries. The sapwood or outermost is yellowish, while the heartwood is deep golden to yellowish-brown and slightly darker from the sapwood, but not always clearly distinguishable. The wood color tends to darken (grayish) with age.

With a Janka rating of 1650 lbf, Garapa wood is considered fairly hard and dense and is also rated as durable. However, it can be attacked by insects, including termites. The grain is usually straight with a uniform texture. Garapa is prone to insect attacks and termites but is resistant to decay, pests and fungi and can be used even in extreme weather conditions.

In terms of workability, Garapa is considered easy to work. It finishes and glues well.

Garapa Wood Properties

• Average Dried Weight: 51 lbs/ft3 (820 kg/m3)
• Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.65, 0.82
• Janka Hardness: 1,650 lbf (7,350 N)
• Modulus of Rupture: 18,530 lbf/in2 (127.8 MPa)
• Elastic Modulus: 2,257,000 lbf/in2 (15.57 GPa)
• Crushing Strength: 9,030 lbf/in2 (62.3 MPa)
• Shrinkage: Radial: 4.2%, Tangential: 7.5%,
• Volumetric: 11.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

The average lifespan of Garapa wood is 30+ years, which makes it fairly suitable for a range of applications, including decking and flooring.

Garapa when untreated will turn a grayish light silver color with age. Many people love the natural color of this wood, so they use treated Garapa. You can use it either way for superior looks.

Garapa Wood Uses, Availability & Price

Because Garapa  is quite dense and durable, it is primarily used for exterior applications. However, it is prone to termite attacks, so proper finishing or treatment should be done when using it outside.

Common uses of Garapa hardwood include boatbuilding, flooring, decking, fences, furniture, and docks. The wood logs are commonly used for construction and by woodworkers.

How To Buy Garapa Hardwood?

Garapa wood is easily available in most locations and is moderately priced.

If not available in your area, you can import Garapa from a global timber supplier like CameroonTimberExportSarl. We are based in Cameroon and supply wood to all major countries around the globe.

How to Buy Garapa Wood at the Best Price Online?

Ready to order wood? Call our 24×7 helpline or use the contact form on our website to send your requirements. Make sure to mention the dimensions, size and amount of Garapa Wood that you need. We deliver to all locations in major countries and cities in Asia, Africa, Europe, America and other regions. All our wood is sustainably harvested and processed and delivered through our in-house shopping system to ensure quality and sustainability. Contact us to know more.

A light-colored wood is wood with a pale color, ranging from pale white to yellow, orange, pinkish, greenish or light brown. If you are looking to know more about light colored wood or planning to buy one, you’re at the right place.

CameroonTimberExportSarl is the #1 wood supplier and exporter in Central Africa. We export woods in all colors, including light colored woods and deliver to all major locations around the globe. No matter where you are in the world, feel free to contact us for the best quality wood timber at the right price.

Before we start talking about light-colored woods, you should know that not all woods that have white in their names are essentially white-colored. In fact, there is no wood that is 100% white in color.

Light-colored Wood Properties & Characteristics

Most of the light-colored woods are softwoods.Generally hardwoods are considered to be dark wood. However, there are exceptions such as white oak, maple, red oak and hickory that despite being hardwoods are light-colored.

Because most of the light-colored woods are softwoods, they share many similar characteristics. For example, all softwoods are produced from conifers. Light-colored softwoods are generally less strong and durable and have lower densities. They are easy to work with and are generally cheaper to buy. We’ll discuss more properties of light-colored wood by species here.

Different Types of Light-colored Wood Species

Most softwoods are light-colored, and the color will darken with age in some cases. The following wood species generally have light color:

1) Eastern White Pine

This is a popular softwood species and grows primarily in Eastern North America. The tree size is in the range of 65-100 ft and has a 2-4 trunk diameter. The heartwood is light brown and the sapwood is a pale yellow to almost white. The color of the White Pine darkens with age. It has a straight grain with a medium texture, which makes it fairly easy to work with. In terms of durability and rot resistance, the wood is rated as low to moderate.

Common uses of Eastern white pine include construction, boxes, carving, interior millwork, and boatbuilding.

2) Western White Pine

Western White Pine has properties similar to Eastern White Pine. It grows in Western North America and has a low Janka rating. Heartwood is light brown and darkens with age, while the sapwood is pale yellow. It has a straight grain with a medium texture. The wood is low durable and generally easy to work with.

Uses include veneering, plywood, boxes, carving, construction, crates, wooden matches, and interior millwork.

3) White Oak

White Oak is a hardwood native to the Eastern United States. The tree has a max height of about 85 ft and a trunk diameter of 3-4 ft. The heartwood is light or medium brown, while the sapwood is slightly paler. It has a straight grain with a coarse texture. Unlike other light-colored woods, white oak is very hard, dense and durable. It has good resistance to moisture and rot. Common uses of white oak include furniture, boatbuilding, cabinetry, flooring, interior trim, veneering, and barrels.

4) Red Oak

Same as white oak, red oak is also hardwood. It’s mainly grown in the Northeastern United States and Canada. Trees are about 80-115 ft tall and have a 3-6 ft trunk diameter. Most properties are similar to white oak. Heartwood is light or medium brown and sapwood is paler in colour. It has a straight grain with a coarse texture. However, red oak is not as durable and has poor insect and moisture resistance. It is easy to work with though. Commonly used for furniture making, cabinetry, flooring, veneering, and interior trim.

5) European White Beech

Found in Europe, white beech is generally pale cream in color and may acquire a golden tone when prepared with steam for veneering. It has a straight grain with a fine to medium texture. The wood is practically non-durable and susceptible to rot, insects and moisture. Workability is good. Possible uses include veneering, lumber, flooring, furniture, boatbuilding, cabinetry, plywood, musical instruments, and turned objects.

6) American Hard Maple

Commonly known as hard maple, this wood grows in Northeastern North America. The trees are about 80-115 ft tall with a 2-3 ft trunk diameter. Hard maple is primarily used for its sapwood, which is white to off-white in color. The heartwood color is darker reddish-brown. The wood grain is straight and has a fine texture. It is easy to work with, but is rated as non-durable and non-resistant. Uses include flooring, veneering, musical instruments, paper pulp, cutting boards, workbenches, baseball bats, and turned objects.

7) American Holly Wood

The American Holly is native to the Eastern and South-central US. It is very pale, almost white. The grain is irregular and the texture is fine. Holly is practically non-durable and prone to insect attack. Because of interlocked grain, it is generally difficult to work with. Uses include furniture, piano keys, inlays, brush handles, whip handles, and turned objects.

8) American White Ash

White Ash wood is produced in Eastern North America. It is light to medium brown and has a medium to coarse texture. The grain is straight. It is rated as slightly durable to perishable in terms of insect resistance. Uses include flooring, millwork, baseball bats, boxes, crates, tool handles, etc.
Uses of Light-colored Wood

Light-colored woods are preferred for construction and furniture projects where a clean and bright appearance is needed. For example, interior design in homes and offices is often made with pale color woods, which not only allow more sunlight in the place but also make it look bigger.

Contact CameroonTimberExportSarl to enquire about or purchase the best quality, sustainable light-colored woods at the lowest price in the market.

Wood siding refers to the use of wood, natural or artificial, as a siding on the exterior side of walls of a building. There are different types of materials used for house siding, with vinyl siding, wood siding, etc. being the most popular options. In this article, you can read in detail about the best wood siding, including the various advantages and disadvantages Of wood siding.

What is Wood Siding?

Wood is one of the popular options for siding on building walls, which refers to the application of a good quality protective material on the exterior walls of a house or building.

For centuries, wood has been used as a crucial part of buildings. In fact, people used to build complete houses of wood. This is because wood is a beautiful, strong and reliable construction material. However, today, because of the rising cost of natural wood and other durability concerns, most houses are being built using concrete, bricks, steel, and cement, with wood only used for exteriors, frames, flooring, and other specific purposes. Siding is one of the primary uses of wood in construction.

Wood siding can be of two types – natural wood siding and manufactured wood siding.

Natural wood siding involves the use of natural, solid wood for constructing sidings for a building. Natural wood is better looking and may offer more durability (depending on species) when compared to other options such as manufactured wood siding, where the siding is made using manufactured wood such as plywood or MDF.

Let’s talk about the various advantages and disadvantages of wood siding.

Advantages of Wood Siding

Using wood for siding in your house or office has many advantages. Not only does it look very attractive but also wood siding is easier to maintain and is environmentally conscious. Here are some other benefits of wood siding.

Looks Beautiful

If you are after the most beautiful and attractive choice for exterior siding, wood has to be it. Natural wood, in both pale and darker shades, looks totally enchanting. Wood comes in a large variety of colours, shades and hues, and many of them feature beautiful streaks in different shapes that will make siding look even more attractive.

Easy to Maintain

Wood is easy to paint, so you can get your wood siding in any colour you want. Painting it will also help protect the wood and increase its life. In addition, wood siding is easy to maintain and repair. For instance, if one or more blocks in the siding get damaged, it can be easily damaged or repaired.

Environmentally-Friendly

One of the biggest benefits of using wood for siding is that it is totally friendly to the environment. As a natural material, wood is eco-friendly and doesn’t cause any harm to the environment or its surroundings.

Very Durable

Some wood species, especially hardwoods, can be very durable, which makes them an excellent choice for outdoor wood siding. Make sure to do your research and find good, durable wood for siding.

Using wood for siding may also have some disadvantages too. Let’s explore them.

Disadvantages of Wood Siding

Need Regular Maintenance

Wood sidings need regular maintenance in order to keep them safe from rot, insects and moisture. Though maintenance is easy, it may cost a lot depending on the type of damage.

Susceptible to Insect Attacks

Depending on wood species, wood sidings can be susceptible to insect attacks and rot. When used outside, special care must be taken and proper treatments applied to avoid such problems. When selecting wood for siding, check whether it is resistant to insects or has been treated.

High Cost

High-quality hardwoods with good durability and rot resistance can be quite expensive.

Fire can be a Problem

Not many woods are naturally resistant to fire. If you live in a place where fire incidents are common, you’d rather want to go with another, fireproof material for house siding.
Best wood species for wood siding

When it comes to wood siding, many options are available in different colors, varieties and appearances.

Top 4 Choices for Wood Siding

1. Pine Wood Siding

Pine is a softwood that is easily available at low to moderate prices in all parts of the world. Treated pine is a great choice for wood siding.

2. Fir Wood

Fir is also a softwood and also easily available and inexpensively priced like pine. It is easy to work with and is commonly available in long lengths.

3. Cedar Wood Siding

Cedar is another wood preferred for wood siding. It is somewhat durable and has good resistance to rot. Cedar wood can be low to moderately priced and is widely available.

4. Redwood

Redwoods are very durable and are durable to moisture, insects and rot. They are perfect for outdoor siding and need less maintenance than softwood options.

These above listed advantages and disadvantages of wood siding wood help you select the right wood? Contact Cameroontimberexportsarl for all your timber needs. We are a leading exporter of wholesale timber in 30+ countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia, Canada, etc. Best quality wood for siding at the lowest price in the market.