Tigerwood is sought after for its unique, exotic-looking color and grain pattern that give it a dark brown, richly mottled appearance that is similar to rosewood. It is one of the finest quality hardwoods available.
Muiricatiara, also sold commercially as Tigerwood, grows primarily in the northeastern Amazon basin. While a good, naturally durable species, consumers should be aware that not all the lumber produced from this species will contain the desirable striped characteristics.
Tigerwood is very resistant to preservative treatments, but is also highly regarded for its durability and natural resistance to decay and rot. It is a dense and heavy wood at 60lbs/cu.ft. yet it is still very bouyant.
| Tigerwood | CCA-Treated Pine | Composite Decking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Hardwood | Softwood | Plastic Wood |
| Maintenance | Low | High | Low |
| Decay Resistance | High | Varies | Varies |
| Strength | High | Medium | Low |
| Movement in Service | Low/Medium | High | High |
| Fire Rating Class | Medium | Varies | Low |
| Weight per cu. ft. | 60lbs. | 35lbs. | 60 to 64lbs. |
| Bending Strength | 16,600 | 9,900 to 14,500 | 1,423 to 4,500 |
| E-modulus | 2,230,000 | 1,170,000 to 1,510,000 | 175,000 to 480,000 |
| Shear Strength | 1,960 | 1,370 | 561 to 1,010 |
| Hardness | 2,160 | 690 | 940 to 1,390 |
This species is moderately diffficult to work with, especially with hand tools, but its striking beauty make it worth it. Tigerwood is a great choice for residential decking, flooring and paneling and a great alternative to traditionally softer choices.
We supply tigerwood in multiple dimensions, with availability dependent on what you are ordering.
Decking, Kiln Dried – up to 5/4x6
Lumber, Kiln Dried – 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, and special order
Timber – special order
Tigerwood is a low-maintenance decking. It naturally weathers into light silvery gray tones - there's no need to apply annual sealers. To enjoy its warm golden-brown hues, a simple application of an outdoor finish can be periodically be applied to maintain its beauty. Consult our installation guide, available at your dealer, for more outdoor finishes and hints on working with Tigerwood.
Iron Woods® Tigerwood decking is supplied as kiln dried lumber and is for outdoor use only. Store the wood out of direct sunlight and be sure to keep it dry and off the ground. Allow the wood to acclimate and stabilize to the installation area's humidity before installing.
Tigerwood will naturally, slightly darken on exposure. Due to this, there may be lighter colored areas underneath banding. These will darken and blend in witht the rest of the board after exposure.
We recommend carbide-tipped saw blades and high-quality drills for smooth cuts.
These spans are are designed for Tigerwood to allow for minimal deflection of the deck surface. For maximum spans and engineering data, you can contact us.
| Load Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Size | 100psf | ||
| 1x4 | 16″ | ||
| 1x6 | 16″ | ||
| 5/4x6 | 24″ | ||
Allow a 3/16" gap between 6" wide deck boards and a 1/8" gap between 4" wide deck boards for drainage, airflow and expansion. Kiln dried decking may expand 1/8" on 6" wide boards during times of high moisture. Expect some shrinkage in width in hot or dry areas.
Adequate ventilation of the deck is essential for long-term stability and to minimize cupping. Proper air ventilation allows air to flow in from outside the deck area, under the joists and up through the gaps between the deck boards.
For screws, we recommend a high-quality, stainless steel trim head screw. Though coated or galvanized screws may also be used, they generally cause black staining and have a shorter service life. To install Iron Woods® Tigerwood, you must pre-drill a pilot hole and countersink to avoid splitting and then fasten with the stainless steel screws, which are available at Iron Woods® dealers.
Seal Iron Woods® Tigerwood immediately after installation to reduce the potential for surface checking. If installing over a prolonged period or during hot weather sealing after each phase is recommended. Be sure to seal all ends immediately after cutting with Anchorseal clear wax end sealer (available from your Iron Woods® dealer) in order to reduce end checking.
To maintain a golden brown color, use a transparent, penetrating oil-based sealer with UV inhibitors in a trans-oxide pigmented tint and reapply annually or as needed.
If you prefer a natural, silvery-gray appearance, use a clear oil-based sealer for the first coat and then simply let the wood weather to its natural gray color. If you want to return silver-gray wood to the original color, use a "wood brightener." Careful power washing and/or sanding can help to remove the grayed wood.
Download a printer-friendly PDF of this Installation & Maintenance guide. Click the link to open/download the PDF in most browsers. You can also right-click and choose to Save Link As.
For further details on the installation of Iron Woods® Tigerwood, you can contact us at any time.
Contact Timber Holdings
Phone: 414-445-8989
Fax: 414-445-9155
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