Brazil is home to one of the biggest forests in the world, therefore, the amount of hardwood species is more abundant. The density rankings among the highest of timber species which raises the effect durability. Domestic woods such as oak, maple, and birch are often in contrast to Janka hardness evaluations of South American exotics like Jatoba, Ipe, and Cumaru, as an example. When these domestics do not measure up in terms of hardness, that's only a single factor that determines the sturdiness of a flooring.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT
You might think by purchasing Brazilian wood you are contributing to illegal logging practices. To take it one step further, look for certificates from the Forest Stewardship Council and Lacey Act which works in complete compliance with the rules of the United States laws for protecting the forest and bans the use of illegally sourced forests.
PRICE
South American exotics can come in a higher cost based upon the source and manufacturer. Some species have a premium price tag due to the limited access to raw material. When it is milled, it then has to be sent a fantastic distance. All this will raise the charge to the consumer. One may want to take into account the non-monetary costs as well. Labor laws in Brazil have a propensity to prefer the employer, therefore, workers may be more prone to being manipulated and forced to operate in poor work conditions. However, it should be mentioned that criteria are shifting and many brands that deal with North American markets are increasingly improving their working conditions.
SOLID OR ENGINEERED?
It used to be that strong hardwood was unquestionably the better choice. However, improvements in technology have made this question harder in recent years. Engineering uses less hardwood than strong. The top layer is timber, and the rest commonly composed of plywood composite. This usually means that engineered timber is more sustainable than its counterpart and if given a thick surface 3mm+ the engineered can also be refinished.
As you can see, Brazilian hardwood is a superb choice for your new flooring job. Just make sure you weigh all of the pros and cons to make sure it is ideal for you.
