Dramatic and tough

Tigerwood Flooring is extremely tough

Tigerwood flooring is a true hardwood and very dense. Although the Janka rating on any kind of hardwood can vary according to where the wood is harvested, Tigerwood has a rating that hovers around 2000, which is quite hard.

Installing Tigerwood flooring can present some challenges. The fact that it is so hard makes it kind of a bear to cut. Carbide tipped power tools are required for Tigerwood installation. Tigerwood is 170% stronger than red oak.

Origins of Tigerwood flooring

Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay are the leading producers of Tigerwood flooring, with smaller quantities coming from other Latin American nations. Sometimes the wood is referred to as Brazilian Tigerwood regardless of origin. Because the wood is imported, this exotic hardwood can fetch a fairly handsome price. But due to the unusual nature of the wood, it can impart a real feel of luxury to any room in which it is installed.

Other names for tigerwood are goncal alves, muiracatiara, astronium and cuta tigre as well as the aforementioned ‘zebrawood’. Because it is such a very hard wood, it is long-lasting and will be an enduring feature of your home.

Caring for Tigerwood Floors

Once the Tigerwood flooring is installed, caring for it isn’t much different from other types of hardwood floors. As with our care articles it is worth repeating that you should use mats at all outside entries, sweep before you mop, avoid harsh chemicals, vacuum with proper attachments and care and use as little water as possible when cleaning your floors.

Tigerwood flooring, like any hardwood floor will darken in tone with age and more so if it is exposed to a great deal of natural light. The contrast that Tigerwood is prized for can fade slightly as the contrast between the light and dark hues in the wood lessens. Therefore, as we have advised in our care articles about other types of flooring, care should be taken to draw the curtains when the sun is bearing down directly on your Tigerwood floor.

As far as exotic hardwood species go, dramatic Tigerwood is really an eye catcher. It has a base color of golden yellow to golden brown with highly contrasting streaks throughout. Deep black or chocolate brown stripes serve to create a truly unique. A wonderful living material, Tigerwood will mature with time and the colors will become mellower and a bit more subtle.

The typical garage is several hundred square feet, and most people use the extra storage around the perimeter for storage. But if your garage floor is unfinished concrete, whatever you’re storing is subject to moisture, spills, and debris from your cars.

A few garage floor options

Upgrading your garage floor will make your garage cleaner, healthier, and a more pleasant place to do laundry or other chores. And the right floor will also be a lot easier on your feet and back.

Garage flooring can help to deaden noise, and reduce accidents by provided a non-slip surface.

Several different kinds of garage flooring are available. And most are inexpensive and easy to do yourself.

Rubber garage floor mats provide some limited protection underneath your cars, but since they don’t cover the entire floor, they don’t improve the appearance of your garage as much as a wall-to-wall solution will. The best ones are leak proof and have a raised lip to contain spills.

Rolled garage floors are an affordable option. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, and all you have to do is roll them out. They protect the garage floor from grease and oil, and resist condensation. Ribbed floors also reduce the risk of accidents by channeling away liquids that may have spilled or dripped from your car.

In most cases, little preparation is required, as the flooring is installed over the existing floor. And with a few basic tools, you can have a new floor – and a dramatically improved room – in just a few hours.

Garage floor tiles are almost as easy to install and they can be mixed and matched to create a truly custom look. Checkerboards, stripes, and borders can really jazz up a room.

Tiles with a peel-and-stick back are extremely easy to install, and once the floor is down, it can be kept cleaned with an occasional mopping.

Epoxy garage floor paint doesn’t take long to apply, but it requires some preparation in advance. The entire floor must be thoroughly cleaned and any cracks should be filled. One it’s dry, epoxy does look good and any spills will wipe right up.

In most cases, your garage floor is the first thing you see when you come home, so don’t settle for an ugly, dirty one. With a little time and money, your garage floor can be as inviting as the rest of your home.

A few garage floor options Image Flickr: stevendamron