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Bold, exotic, and visually striking, Tigerwood is a premium hardwood known for its dramatic grain patterns and exceptional durability. We offer top-quality Tigerwood lumber and decking products ideal for luxury flooring, outdoor decks, furniture, and feature pieces that demand a vibrant, high-impact look. Tigerwood—also known as Goncalo Alves—features a rich reddish-brown base streaked with dark brown to black striping, resembling the stripes of a tiger. Beyond its beauty, Tigerwood is prized for its natural hardness, resistance to moisture, insects, and decay, making it a top performer in both interior and exterior applications. As a proudly Canadian company, Windsor Plywood specializes in hard-to-find exotic woods and offers expert, personalized service. Whether you’re creating a show-stopping accent wall or building a durable, elegant deck, Tigerwood delivers strength, longevity, and a stunning visual finish that stands out in any setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tigerwood and what makes it distinctive?
Tigerwood is a common name applied to several tropical hardwoods with bold, striped figure, most commonly Astronium fraxinifolium (Brazilian tigerwood) from South America. It has vivid dark reddish-brown irregular streaks against a lighter orange-brown background, producing the tiger-stripe appearance that gives the species its name. It has a Janka hardness of approximately 1850 and is used for flooring, accents, turning, and decorative furniture.
Is tigerwood suitable for hardwood flooring?
Yes. Tigerwood's extreme hardness makes it one of the most durable exotic hardwood flooring options. The bold striping pattern creates a dramatic, high-impact floor suitable for contemporary and tropical-influenced interiors. As with all exotic species, confirm the specific product's FSC certification status if sustainable sourcing is a project requirement.
Does tigerwood colour change over time?
Yes. Tigerwood's vivid striping contrast mellows with UV exposure, with both the light and dark tones shifting toward a more uniform medium brown over time. This fading is most rapid in the first months after installation and continues more slowly thereafter. UV-inhibiting finishes slow the process. Furniture moved occasionally will expose areas of the original floor colour, showing the degree of UV darkening.
Is tigerwood difficult to work with?
Tigerwood's hardness requires carbide-tipped tools. Pre-drilling is required for all fasteners. The interlocked grain can cause tearout in hand operations — sharp tools and working with the grain direction are important. It sands to a smooth surface and accepts most finishes well after a mineral spirits wipe to remove surface oils.
Does Windsor Plywood carry tigerwood?
Windsor Plywood carries tigerwood as a specialty exotic hardwood for flooring and woodworking applications subject to current availability. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm current stock and dimensions for your project.