Exotic hardwoods remain popular among builders and designers seeking durable materials that also offer strong visual character. Each species brings its own advantages when it comes to structure, weather resistance, and surface finish. Not all exotic wood types are created equal, and the differences go far beyond color and grain.
Why Some Woods Outperform Others
There’s a practical side to every beautiful board. Some varieties are prized for their hardness and resistance to the elements. Others shine for their color, grain, or texture. When reliability is key, few materials compare to those shaped by harsh natural conditions over decades.
The Lumber Plus Standard: Performance-Driven Selections
Lumber Plus focuses on premium hardwoods that perform reliably across climates, applications, and design styles. Below is a breakdown of their core offerings—each one chosen for its durability, beauty, and proven job site performance.
Builders comparing species will find that performance comes down to more than appearance. Factors like Janka hardness, moisture movement, and grain density determine how well a material holds up over time. For example, Jatoba provides excellent resistance to surface denting, while Cumaru’s lower tendency to check makes it a smart choice for vertical cladding in sunny conditions.
1. Ipe
Deep brown in color with a fine grain, Ipe brings a clean, natural look to modern outdoor projects. It is extremely dense, rot-resistant, and insect-repellent, making it ideal for harsh climates and heavy traffic. Most commonly used for exterior decking, boardwalks, and structural applications.
2. Garapa
Pale honey-toned with subtle grain variation, Garapa offers a bright, warm appearance. Though lighter than Ipe, it still provides excellent resistance to moisture and surface wear. It’s well-suited for decks, benches, and light-colored trim work.
3. Cumaru
Golden to reddish-brown with interlocked grain patterns, Cumaru adds richness and dimension to any project. It has a high Janka rating and performs exceptionally well in both dry and humid conditions. Frequently used for exterior cladding, railings, and hardwood decking.
4. Tigerwood
Known for its bold, contrasting stripes, Tigerwood is one of the most visually striking exotic species available. It’s dense and stable, holding up well under sun exposure and seasonal shifts. Designers use it for wall accents, deck borders, and furniture-grade features.
5. Jatoba
Reddish-brown with a smooth texture, Jatoba darkens beautifully over time, adding warmth to interior spaces. Its hardness makes it ideal for flooring and stair treads that need to handle constant foot traffic. It also works well in commercial interiors and feature walls.
6. Angelim
With golden-brown hues and a coarse texture, Angelim offers a natural, rustic aesthetic. It’s exceptionally durable, performing well in structural and high-impact installations. Builders often choose it for framing, exterior beams, or outdoor steps where strength is a priority.
When Beautiful Isn’t Enough
Not every rare timber lives up to expectations. Some lesser-known woods may appear appealing in photos but prove difficult in the field. They may fade, leach oils, or resist proper installation. Some aren’t viable long-term, either because of unstable grain or questionable sourcing.
Choosing the wrong material can result in callbacks, repairs, or worse—replacements before the project’s even settled.
A Few Exotic Woods to Avoid
In a marketplace filled with options, it’s helpful to understand which materials can become liabilities instead of assets. Wenge, for instance, is striking in color but suffers from sustainability concerns and is difficult to finish cleanly due to its coarse grain. Padauk is known for vibrant color at first, but that brightness fades quickly with sun exposure, leaving behind a dull, uneven appearance.
Ebony is another wood often romanticized in design circles, yet its sourcing is heavily restricted due to overharvesting, and its density makes it extremely difficult to machine or bond. These materials may appear impressive at first glance, but they frequently introduce challenges in durability, stability, or sourcing that professionals can’t afford to overlook.
A Smarter Way to Source Exotic Hardwood
Lumber Plus selects hardwoods based on quantifiable factors like density, dimensional stability, and suitability for exterior use. Every board is sourced from verified legal harvests and reviewed for compliance with FSC or comparable forest management standards. Only species with a consistent track record in structural, decking, or cladding applications are included in their inventory.
Sustainability is built into that selection process. The hardwoods they supply are either FSC-certified or sourced from managed forests that follow strict regional harvest quotas and long-term renewal plans. This ensures compatibility with LEED project requirements, municipal bid specs, and third-party environmental audits.
A High-Performance Portfolio Worth Exploring
Every wood species interacts differently with fasteners, substrates, and finishes. Lumber Plus selects hardwoods that maintain structural integrity when installed with hidden clips, stainless steel screws, or surface-mounted hardware in open-air environments. Their catalog features only species that perform consistently with modern building assemblies, including installations over ventilated joist systems, rain screens, and steel subframes.
Ipe and Angelim, for example, are frequently used in high-humidity coastal zones due to their low expansion rates and resistance to warping under thermal cycling. In contrast, species like Tigerwood require careful spacing and acclimation but offer excellent results when correctly detailed. This level of technical compatibility reduces callbacks, speeds up installation, and ensures long-term finish integrity.
Specify Trusted Exotic Hardwood from Lumber Plus
Lumber Plus provides access to exotic hardwoods that meet project specs without compromising on durability, sourcing integrity, or dimensional stability. Exotic wood species backed by proven site performance and real-world specification use are available now — contact us today for more information.
