When embarking on any project, selecting the right type of wood for the intended purpose is crucial. One of the woods that many customers of K-TIMBER seek out and find suitable for a wide range of projects is Iroko wood. Thanks to its superior durability, resistance, and natural beauty, this hardwood is suitable for various interior and exterior projects. In the article below, let’s explore more about the prominent uses of Iroko wood with K-TIMBER!
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General introduction to Iroko wood
Iroko wood, scientifically known as Milicia Excelsa, is a large hardwood tree originating from West Africa , stretching from Ghana to Mozambique. It belongs to the Moraceae family, known for its diverse range of trees, including figs and mulberries. Iroko trees can reach impressive heights of 100-130 feet (30-40 meters) and live for centuries, with some specimens exceeding 500 years.
Iroko wood possesses a number of outstanding characteristics such as:
- Color: Iroko boasts a beautiful golden brown color that matures to a richer, copper brown over time. The heartwood exhibits a distinctive grain pattern with streaks of yellow, brown, and even hints of purple.
- Durability: One of Iroko’s most prized features is its exceptional durability. This dense, heavy wood (around 41 lbs/ft³) is naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insect attacks, making it ideal for outdoor applications. Unlike many other woods, Iroko doesn’t require additional preservative treatments, offering both economic and ecological benefits.
- Workability: Iroko is considered moderately easy to work with for experienced woodworkers. It possesses good machining properties, allowing for smooth cuts and finishes. However, due to its density, using sharp tools and proper techniques is crucial.
So why is Iroko wood so popular with so many customers? Let’s find out the next part with K-TIMBER!
Why is Iroko wood widely used in all projects?
Iroko timber boasts exceptional durability and aesthetic appeal. This versatile wood finds its application in various projects, both indoors and outdoors. Iroko’s natural resistance to rot, decay, and insects makes it a popular choice for outdoor projects like gates, infrastructure elements, and even boat building. Its weather resistance ensures long-lasting performance, even in harsh environments.
While renowned for its outdoor applications, Iroko’s beauty extends to interior spaces. Its warm golden brown color matures to a rich copper hue, adding a touch of elegance to domestic flooring and furniture. Compared to other premium hardwoods like teak, Iroko offers a more economical option, making it an attractive choice for cost-conscious projects. While Iroko is a robust wood that readily accepts nails and screws, its interlocked grain can present challenges when working with tools. This is why seeking expert assistance is recommended, especially for intricate furniture projects.
Outstanding features of Iroko wood
Known as the “queen” of African woods, Iroko possesses superior characteristics and is widely used in many fields, bringing both luxurious beauty and outstanding durability.
In the furniture industry
With its hard wood and beautiful grain, Iroko wood is very suitable for producing household furniture such as beds, wardrobes or tables and chairs. Furniture products made from Iroko wood have good load-bearing capacity and are not attacked by termites, providing long-lasting durability.
In addition, Iroko wood flooring is also an ideal choice for those who love luxury and class. The warm golden brown color along with the unique wood grain patterns create a luxurious and sophisticated feel for the room. This type of wood has good scratch resistance, water resistance, and does not warp, helping the floor to always keep its new look over time.
In the construction industry
With its high durability and good load-bearing capacity, Iroko wood is the perfect choice for load-bearing structures such as house columns, beams, and trusses. Thanks to its resistance to warping and cracking, Iroko wood ensures the stability and safety of the construction for a long time.
Iroko wood has a high density, which gives it superior durability compared to many other types of wood. Its high compressive and flexural strength allows Iroko wood to withstand heavy loads without deforming or breaking, making it ideal for use as wall panels, ceilings. In addition, Iroko wood is also used to make plywood, flooring, stairs, and windows, etc.
With its advantages and wide application, Iroko wood is the top choice for architects and contractors in construction projects.
In the industry
In the industry, Iroko wood, also known as African Teak, is a popular choice due to its excellent durability and rot resistance. With a Janka hardness of 1,260 lbf (5,610 N) and an average dry weight of 41.2 lb/ft³ (660 kg/m³), it makes it an ideal choice for heavy-duty applications such as flooring, shipbuilding, and bridge construction.
With its high moisture resistance and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, Iroko wood is also widely used in the shipbuilding industry, especially in the construction of ship decks and interior decoration. In addition to the industrial applications mentioned above, Iroko wood is also used for other purposes such as railway tracks, construction beams, and industrial flooring, where high strength and durability are required.
Where to import quality Iroko wood?
If you are looking for a reputable and quality Iroko wood supplier, K-TIMBER is the top choice. K-TIMBER, established in 1996 with branches in Angola and Vietnam, has emerged as a leading exporter, wholesaler, and supplier of Iroko wood, as well as other hardwoods and softwoods.
With over 20 years of extensive experience and large production capacity, we are able to offer competitive prices and high-quality wood products. Our commitment to quality and sustainability, along with our ability to supply large quantities (with a minimum order of 25 m³ and a supply capacity of 20,000 m³/month), makes K-TIMBER a reliable choice for many partners and customers who want to import Iroko wood.
Furthermore, K-TIMBER is proud to promote a positive relationship with the Angolan government and support African farming families, as well as ensuring sustainable logging practices, ensuring that the wood meets the international quality standard FAS.
For more detailed information about our products and specific prices for Iroko wood, you can contact K-TIMBER directly through the website https://k-timbers.com/ or by phone (+84) 833333914.
Not only is Iroko wood the top choice in the construction and interior design industry due to its good load-bearing capacity, termite and moisture resistance, but it is also popularly used in the construction of exterior works such as outdoor decking, piers and boats. Hopefully through this article, K-TIMBER has provided you with more useful information about the outstanding features of Iroko wood.
