Andiroba is most commonly known as Royal Mahogany in the US. Some other names you may have heard it called are carapa, masabalo, and tangere. Andiroba originates from Central and Latin America. Andiroba is a tall rainforest tree that grows up to 40 meters high. It is in the same family as Mahogany, and has been called Brazilian mahogany due to similarity. It can be found growing wild thru out the Amazon, and parts of Brazil in the island region on rich soils, swamps, flats and marshes. Andiroba is fine to medium texture, with uniform to interlocking grain, ranging from straight to wavy or curly. Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive "fiddle back" or "mottle" figures. Andiroba polishes to a high luster, with excellent working and finishing characteristics. It responds well to hand and machine tools, has good nailing and screwing properties, and turns and carves superbly.

Some other features of Andiroba are that is has no odor, dries easily, and is well known for its excellent dimensional stability .Andiroda sapwood is a pinkish salmon color when freshly cut, but quickly transforms to a pale grayish-brown once it has been exposed to sunlight. The heartwood is reddish brown when freshly cut and the color smoothes out a little with age. Its rich texture and favorable grain makes it a favorite species for woodworkers of all types, and an excellent substitute for higher priced mahogany flooring.

Andiroba is easily workable and responds very well to all ranges of machining. It is also highly workable with hand tools. Andiroba flooring sands with ease, and accepts finishes very well. When the time comes to refinish your Andiroba floor, you won’t have any issues. Adhesives also respond well to both the long grain and end grain. Screws hold well with Andiroba flooring. Pre boring Andiroba is necessary to prevent splitting under the nailing. For best results of drying Andiroba use a slow drying process, and low temperatures, along with high humidity schedule for the best results. Andiroba has a wide range of uses in the wood industry such as furniture, cabinetwork, flooring, interior construction, and stair parts.

As a flooring option Andiroba is a wonderful choice because it is a hard and durable wood. It can handle heavy traffic, pets, and even that clumsy neighbor who drops that heavy object from your end table. When you compare Andiroba flooring to red oak, you’ll see that Andiroba will last longer and look better in an interior setting.

In this day and time consumers want a beautiful product for a great value. They also don’t want to install a floor like laminate that might look like hardwood, but falls short in terms of long-term maintenance issues and benefits. Andiroba flooring has the look of more expensive mahogany woods, at a lower cost. Also the heartwood of Andiroba is resistant to most American wood related insects. This has created a commercial and resident demand for Andiroba flooring.

If you’re looking to add beauty to your home without sacrificing on durability, then choosing Brazilian Hardwood Flooring is a solid choice.