In Estonia most popular decking materials are Ash, Larch, Pine (weight 300-500 kg/m3), Oak (weight 600-700kg / m3), which are low to medium durability and density. Therefore, to rise their durability and density, wood will thermo treated or impregnated with chemicals.
The advantage for using exotic wood is their extremely durability and resistance to rot, insects and fungi attacks, weather etc.
If you will choose decking material, then good indicator of wood durability is the weight per m3, due to the denser wood, the more durable and less susceptible to different kind of insects, fungi etc. Also, exotic wood decking will last up to 50 years.
MASS offers exotic wood decking material, which has the advantage of durability and timeless quality. Exclusive red-brownish color shades will make every terrace unique and distinctive.
CUMARU
Distribution: mostly from Brazilia. Also called Brazilian Teak
Color/Appearance: medium to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish or purplish hue; some pieces may have streaks of yellowish or greenish brown.
Durability: Cumaru is very durable. The heartwood has shown to be very durable in resistance to rot fungi and also to weather. Cumaru has a faint, vanilla or cinnamon odor when being worked.
Weight apx 1100kg/m3
Common Uses: decking, flooring, furniture, heavy construction, docks, railroad ties, bearings, handlas etc
Rot Resistance: Cumaru has excellent durability and weather resistance. The wood is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance, though it may be susceptible to some insect attacks.
IPE
Distribution: South-America, also known as Brazilian Walnut
Color/Appearance: can vary in color from reddish brown, to a more yellowish olive brown or darker blackish brown; sometimes with contrasting darker brown/black stripes. In certain species, there are powdery yellow deposits within the wood. Ipe can be difficult to distinguish visually from Cumaru, though Ipe tends to be darker and lacks the subtle yet characteristic vanilla/cinnamon scent while being worked.
Durability: very durable and long lasting decking material. (Ipe was used for the boardwalk along the beach of New York City’s Coney Island and was said to have lasted 25 years before it needed to be replaced: an amazing lifespan given the amount of traffic and environmental stresses put upon the wood.)
Weight: apx 1100 kg/m3
Common Uses: flooring, decking, exterior lumber, veneer, tool handles, and other turned objects.
Rot Resistance: resistant to fungi, termites and weather.
GARAPA
Distribution: South-America. Also known as Brazilian Ash. Very popular decking material in South-America
Color/Appearance: golden to yellowish brown color, which darkens with age.
Durability: durable. Garapa good for dimensional stability.
Weight: apx 900kg/m3
Common Uses: flooring, decking, dock, and boatbuilding
Rot Resistance: rated durable, though vulnerable to termites and other insect attacks.
THERMO ASH
Distribution: Europa
Color/Appearance: after thermo treatment color is chocolate brown/dark brown
Durability: thermo treated wood provides better abrasion resistance (near to Teak and Ipe). Thermally treated wood is more stable, as it does not swell so much depending on the weather. Lower thermal conductivity. The wood is lighter because the thermal moisture content of the thermo processing drops in the heat treatment.
Weight: apx 500-600kg/m3
Common Uses: decking, terrace furniture, saunas.
Rot Resistance: thermo treatment protects modestly from insect attacks, fungi and rotting.
