What is Asian Mahogany Hardwood Flooring?
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Time to read 2 min
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Time to read 2 min
Botanical Name: Dipterocarpus spp
Color: The heartwood of Asian mahogany is usually a reddish brown, although some variations are expected because of the many varieties. These variations can range from a deep pink to a purplish red. The sapwood of the Asian mahogany is lighter and may have grey or yellow tint.
Grain: The grain of Asian mahogany is usually straight but may have a slight wave.
Variations within Species and Grades: With more than seventy varieties of Asian mahogany, there are some variations but not that are overly noticeable after processing.
Hardness/Janka: With more than seventy varieties of Asian mahogany, there are some variations but not that are overly noticeable after processing.
Sawing/Machining: With more than seventy varieties of Asian mahogany, there are some variations but not that are overly noticeable after processing.
Sanding: Pieces with a high density of resin can be more difficult to sand.
Nailing: No known problems with nailing.
Finishing: Asian mahogany that has a lot of resin is very difficult to finish, timber with less resin is much easier to finish.
Availability: Somewhat limited availability.
Credit: University of Tasmania
Asian Mahogany, or Keruing, is made up of about 70 species of the Dipterocarpus genus. These large hardwoods can grow to heights of 230 feet. The various species are found throughout the eastern hemisphere in areas such as the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Asian mahogany trees can reach heights of up to 200 feet when fully mature with diameters of up to six feet.
Keruing, or Asian mahogany, is still widely available throughout the areas in which it naturally occurs. Because of this it is not listed as endangered or even threatened. However, nations in which this tree grows have been urged to encourage conservation as the timber becomes more popular.