Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring is a type of material used in making floors for home and businesses that comes from South America in Brazil. It is a red-brown color and has darker brown flecks with irregular grain and layers of both soft and hard woods and a medium texture. The botanical name for Brazilian Koa hardwood is Astronium fraxinifolium.
There are several grades of Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring. These include:
Clear Grade – This type of Koa wood is generally uniform in looks and it will have very little character marks, and is made mostly of heartwood.
Select Grade – This type of Koa wood has no knots, but vinyl floor planks colors in it will vary more so than the clear grade.
Natural/Common Grade – This type of Koa wood has more variations in the colors, as well as some mineral coloring and a few small pin-sized knots.
Rustic Grade – This type of Koa wood flooring will tend to have bigger and tighter knots and may have a lot of variations in the colors.
Brazilian Koa Hardwood Flooring Facts
The Janka hardness rating for this type of wood product is 1850 to 2150, which means it is actually harder than oak, teak or cherry flooring materials. The Janka scale determines the hardness of wood’s throught the measurement of the amount of force it takes to put a .444 steel ball halfway into a portion of wood.
Higher scores specify harder wood. Arating could be different, depending on the area the wood was grown. Other names for Brazilian Koa hardwoord flooring are Tigerwood or Zebrawood. It can also be used in furniture making and deck construction.
Brazilian Koa hardwoord flooring is an all-natural product that is made without the use of harsh or harmful chemicals and is 100 percent biodegradable. The trees that Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring are made from can grow up to 150 feet high and have a truck that is five feet wide.
Unlike some flooring, it can be refinished many times, and it repels scratches and dents. It has an expected lifespan of at least 25 years. It is known for being able to be highly polished to make it shine, thus causing the streaks of brown color to contrast with the light and have a truly magnificent look that is also durable and strong.
If you are considering installing a floor made of Brazilian Koa wood, then you should find out if the company selling it is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), as this global organization focuses on accountable management of Brazilian forests and you can be sure the harvesting of the trees to make your floor is being done in a responsible manner.
Maintenance of Brazilian Koa Hardwood Flooring
When it comes to maintain Brazilian Koa Hardwood flooring, you should follow your manufacturer’s directions. In general, you need to know the type of finish put on your flooring and substances such as wax, or products meant for tile or vinyl flooring should not be used on hardwood flooring.
One tip is to always place a mat or small rug at the doorway to rooms with Brazilian Koa Hardwood flooring to prevent the spread of dirt and dust. You should merely sweep or vacuum the flooring regularly.
A wet mop should also not be used as it will cause damage to the wood, as well as dull its finish. If necessary, you can quickly use a damp cloth to clean up stains, but make sure to thoroughly dry the floor afterwards.
In order to keep the floor from scratches, you should place glides under furniture legs, as well as restrict the usage of shoes with cleats or pointy high heels.
Benefits of Brazilian Koa Hardwood Flooring
Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring is a product that is naturally hard and sturdy. This ensures that it provides good protection against wear and tear of normal usage. It is also very resistant to getting infested by pests such as beetles.
It is, however, somewhat expensive when compared to other types of flooring, but you will get what you pay for with this natural tiles for floors strong product in your home since it is designed to last for many years.
Brazilian hardwood flooring comes in several different sizes and widths from between 3″ wide to 7″ wide. It can be bought in standard lengths of between one foot and seven feet, or you can order a custom size up to nine feet long if needed.
You also have to decide if you want to get prefinished or unfinished versions of the flooring material. Prefinished is easier and can be installed cheaper because it doesn’t have to be sanded and finished after it is put in. It is best if they are installed by experts in Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring, as it can be tricky to install due to its hardness.
Installation Tips for Brazilian Koa Hardwood Flooring
If you decide to install Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring on your own, this could prove difficult due to its hardness. It usually takes professional grade cutting tools to cut the wood for this type of flooring in order to install it. Special tools are needed, so it is best to get it installed by flooring specialists who are used to dealing with Brazilian Koa woods.
The bottom line is that if you want a unique, exotic and durable wood that will wow your friends and neighbors then you should install floors and decks made of Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring materials. They are strong, durable, repel insects and dirt, and are made to last for more than 50 years if they are well taken care of.
Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring is easy to maintain, easy to clean, and although wood and tile floor bit pricy to buy and install, it is one of the strongest types of flooring material and much tougher than many regular types of wood flooring materials. So, if you want the best of the best in flooring materials, look for Brazilian Koa hardwood flooring for your housing needs online and in stores.