Brazilian Oak - A Great Choice For Decking

Brazilian oak is a good choice for lumber if you want your deck to have a luxurious light color. Also known as 'garapa', Brazilian oak is an exotic lumber that can be supplied as handrails and four-by-four posts to go with your deck. It can be used by itself or paired with another Brazilian hardwood like ipe to create a unique look and feel. Its durability is comparable to that of ipe, but it is more cost effective if you are looking for a decking material that is available at a fraction of the cost of Brazilian walnut.

Garapa is known for its yellow hue and fine grain. Due to its nature, some boards have aesthetically pleasing streaks of brown that adds to their appeal. If left untreated, Brazilian oak boards gracefully turn the yellow color into a lovely russet golden brown when exposed to sunlight. You may apply a UV inhibitor to finish the deck boards if you want to preserve the honey yellow color. Brazilian oak deck boards have a medium brown hue, which can be darkened using a tinted finisher. Like all hardwoods, the material comes with different grain and color features to add more character and interest to your deck.

On the Janka hardness scale, Brazilian oak is rated 2280 lbf, making it harder than oak (1360 lbf) and maple (1450 lbf). This hardness is a factor for garapa's durability and natural resistance to fungal growth and termite infestation. As long as you keep water from permeating the wood, the material's integrity can be preserved, and it can continue to repel insects and fungus. The hardness of Brazilian oak makes it naturally scratch resistance, too.

Garapa comes from the Amazon rainforest, so it naturally resists the factors that can usually damage wood, such as decay, rotting, insects, and water damage. A Brazilian oak deck will last anywhere up to 25 years or more, and it does not need any preservative to ensure its lengthy lifespan. The material is naturally biodegradable, so it will not harm the environment when it decomposes.

Once you decide that Brazilian oak is for you, be sure to buy it from a supplier that responsibly sources and harvests the material. Choose a supplier that gets its Brazilian oak from sustainably managed forests in South America. Look for a supplier that ships garapa directly to your job site or home to save money.

This article is written by Bruce Master. He gained an interest in woodworking at an early age. Bruce Master started working with contractors in the 1970s as a salesman at Ace Hardware in Miami.