Jatoba wood, a South American wood species, is known for its extraordinary hardness and durability. With its natural elegance and striking characteristics, it is the ideal choice for demanding projects. The fresh heartwood has a warm flesh color that gradually evolves into a deep reddish-brown, accompanied by dark (black) streaks that give the wood a unique character. A smooth finish reveals the beautiful luster of this fine wood, giving it an unmistakable appeal.
Jatoba's broad sapwood ranges from gray to brownish-gray, creating an attractive contrast with the heartwood. In addition, tangential series of resin channels may occur, which enhances the natural appearance of the wood. It is ideally suited for various applications, ranging from large civil engineering projects to refined facade cladding, where the wood can prove its wear resistance and durability in practice.
| Name | Jatoba |
| Growth area | Tropical Central and South America |
| Botanical name | Hymenaea courbaril L. |
| Durability class | Heartwood class II |
| Fire class facade cladding* | D-s2, d0 |
| Strength class | Not known |
| Artificially dried | 12-14% |
| Voluminous mass | (750-)900 (-1050) kg/m3 at 12% moisture content, fresh 1150 kg/m3 |
| Suitable for | Indoor and outdoor work such as window frames, construction wood and furniture. Shipbuilding, civil engineering applications |
| To edit | quite easy to work with and has a nice smooth finish |
*View the CWFT table For more information
Jatoba is one of the wood types that is suitable for the Forestlines® facade system. The innovative facade system with invisible mounting and Fire Class B-S1 d0 certification without any treatment. The perfect harmony between wood and aluminium.
What is Jatoba usually used for?
Due to its high wear resistance, this type of wood is very versatile for:
Is Jatoba a sustainable type of wood?
Yes, it falls withinnatural sustainability class 1-2. This means that the heartwood is highly resistant to fungi and insects. In outdoor applications, the wood can last 15 to 25 years or longer (untreated).
Does Jatoba react strongly under the influence of moisture?
Jatoba is known for reacting relatively slowly to changes in moisture, but once it does work, the power is great. It is therefore essential that the wood is well dried (KD – Kiln Dried) for interior applications and that sufficient spacing (at facades and decking) is maintained.
Should I treat it or let it gray?
That depends on what you prefer in terms of appearance:
‘Does Jatoba 'bleed' on the adjacent applications?
Like many other hardwoods, it contains substances that can leach out with the first rain showers. This can cause brown stains on underlying plaster, joists, or light tiles.
Solution: Ensure a good leak detail (for example, a drip edge or overhang) so that the water does not run directly down the facade.
Why is Jatoba suitable as facade cladding?
It is an extremely dense and hard wood species. This makes it impervious to dents or scratches (for example, on the ground floor) and highly resistant to weathering. Furthermore, the natural grain pattern gives a facade a very luxurious and warm appearance that is lacking in many other hardwoods. In addition, the wood species has a high density, which naturally ensures favorable fire behavior and a low rate of burn-in. Consequently, it can be installed using the Forestlines® facade system or optionally treated with a fire-retardant.
Use exclusively Stainless steel (A2 or A4 quality) screws or nails. The acids in the wood react with galvanized steel, resulting in unsightly black streaks and stains that are virtually impossible to remove.
How do I prevent Jatoba siding boards from warping?
Because Jatoba has a high density, the forces involved during movement can be significant. Pay attention to the following points during installation:
We supply tailor-made and ready-made wood solutions to construction, trade, industry and shipbuilding, the carpentry industry, yachts and interior construction. Do you have specific questions or wishes? Get in touch.
Our clients have realised wonderful projects. Do you have a question? Then take a look at our knowledge base or take contact with one of our specialists.
You already know exactly what you need? Then request a no-obligation quote. Where necessary, we will be happy to provide advice.
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