Tigerwood is a gorgeous and durable wood to have. Also known as the African Walnut or Brazilian Koa, this exotic wood has a striking pattern that nobody can resist.
For outdoor settings like on a patio or deck, Tigerwood can last up to 25 years. Indoor flooring even doubles the number to 50 years.
Other things that make this wood stand out are its high durability and distinctive pattern. The grain texture is unique and easy to recognize. You also can choose a clear finish to expose the natural wood colors.
What is Tigerwood good for?
The beautiful grain pattern makes Tigerwood seems like a daunting wood to have. You may wonder how to match it with the furniture and other elements.
But despite all that, this exotic wood is highly versatile. It works great as a piece of furniture, as you can see in various cabinets and tables. It also works great as a floor or an integral part of the house.
Most people use Tigerwood as part of the exterior or outdoor area. It’s an understandable move since anyone having wood this gorgeous can’t resist flaunting it. But above all, the wood is also highly durable and can hold its colors beautifully.
Tigerwood Decking
Tigerwood is one of the best exotic hardwoods that can be bought. Its color ranges from light golden brown to reddish brown, and its black and brown stripes give it its name.
Tigerwood decking is the third hardest decking material we sell. It doesn’t rot or decay because of how it’s made. This means that floors and decks made of Tigerwood can last more than 30 years without any added chemicals.
Tigerwood is resistant to scratches because it is one of the hardest and hardest. It’s a good idea to make your deck scratch-resistant if you have pets or patio furniture or if you anticipate having many people wander over it.
Tigerwood also has an appearance that is all it’s own. Many fillers or stains try to make this look, but nothing beats real Tigerwood. One bad thing about Tigerwood is that it is costly compared to other kinds of wood.
It’s important to remember that Tigerwood is usually more expensive than traditional softwoods. Tigerwood has one of the highest market values of all decking materials, which you should consider if cost is a consideration in your project.
Benefits of Tigerwood Decking
- Easy to put together, clean, and keep up.
- Sun damage, scratches, and normal wear don’t hurt it.
- The very dense material keeps it from warping, chipping, or cracking.
- Harvested in a good way
- Regenerative resource
Tigerwood floors pros and cons
- Tigerwood is not a rarity or a protected species, but it’s still an exotic wood. Therefore, you should expect its rarity at times. Of course, rarity will reflect on the price.
- Tigerwood gets its name from how its rust, orange, brown, tan, and red patterns stand out. The unique patterns are made up of thick brown and black swirls that grow naturally around the colorful and grainy mosaic.
- This wood is also unsuitable for a DIY or a small-scale project. Primarily because of its exceptional hardness requiring specific tools and conditions to have. There is also a case of discoloration on numerous tiger wood flooring.
- Tigerwood doesn’t need to be sealed or polished as often as other types of wood flooring. The floor must be swept daily and mopped once a week with a solution of water and vinegar or soap and water.
- On the other hand, it’s highly durable. As long as you keep a good job maintaining it, you will have a Tigerwood floor for many decades. Remember, this wood scores 1850 on the Janka hardness scale, making it one of the hardest hardwoods to work with.
- Tigerwood dries quickly after being in water or liquid, and it doesn’t grow fungus or mold very well.
How to clean and maintain a tigerwood floor
You may think you need to invest more to clean an exotic wood like tiger wood flooring. On the contrary, it’s one of the easiest wooden floors to clean and maintain.
Its high durability ensures the wooden floor can resist most treatments and still give its best look.
You need to sweep, mop, and vacuum the wood floor. However, high-traffic area requires more protection, such as a carpet or rug. You also need to avoid using any harsh cleaners directly on the wood.
Having good durability doesn’t make this wood resist aging and discoloration. Therefore, you must regularly change the furniture placement to avoid an uneven look across the floor.
Tigerwood engineered floor
It’s not a secret how an engineered wood floor is more favorable to some people. They are more affordable and less demanding to work with during installation.
And the same goes for this wood case. The engineered floor is exceptional if you are in a hurry to install the wooden floor.
Installing Tigerwood solid planks can be more time-consuming than other hardwoods. You need to regularly check and climate the planks to ensure no dramatic shrinking and expansion.
But with engineered wood, you can install the wooden floors right away. As usual, you can choose to get the finished or prefinished wood.
Tigerwood floor cost
At times, Tigerwood can be very expensive to have. Remember that it’s a natural material and also an exotic wood. The supply may be lower than in other woods. Even so, teak or ebony is more expensive than purchasing and installing.
For you who want mahogany with more attitude and character, Tigerwood comes as a good alternative. Both hardwoods are in the same price range. Both are also durable and have easy maintenance.
Tigerwood flooring is usually more expensive than other exotic woods like teak and mahogany, but it’s still cheaper than those two.
A solid tigerwood costs US$30 to $60 per square foot. The calculation already includes the labor cost and other necessary materials. It may differ depending on the location and the house structure. But when you use engineered wood, you can slash this expense up to 50%.
Tigerwood flooring alternative
You can always look at these alternatives when you need more money or time to source a tigerwood floor. You still get the desired effect without digging too deep into your pocket.
The most popular alternative is the bamboo floor. Most bamboo floor has a similar pattern to Tigerwood at a fraction of its cost. It’s also fairly easy to install. Many people opt for a bamboo floor because it’s more environmentally friendly than hardwood.
Another popular alternative is laminate. The click-on laminate is a good option for a small space as it looks better than vinyl.
They are available in various sizes and patterns. And if you choose it right, you can make it looks like you have a solid hardwood floor.