World of Wood Flooring - Species Information

How to Use Species Information:

The wood flooring you are looking at on this website, if solid construction is made 100% from this species of wood, and if it was made in an engineered format, then the upper wear layer only is likely made from this species of wood. The information on this species page is offered as service to better educate prospective buyers about the wood they are buying and represents decades of our experience and knowledge of these woods when used in flooring. On this page you will find only GENERAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION about this wood species. Please note that ONLY on the flooring page will you find the detailed information as to which specific grade, graining and surface treatment, finish and stain colors that have been used/selected for the actual wood flooring you are looking at.

Wood Names	Wood Properties Chart
Wood Color Properties Chart	Wood Moisture Chart

The Species

Flooring Trade Name:		African Padauk
Botanical Name:		Pterocarpus, soyauxii
Lumber Name:
Grows In:

Description:

Color Range & Color Change:

Color Range: African Padauk offers a medium range of color variability from medium oranges through to vivid oranges with darker striping when freshly milled. Please see Color Change below as African Padauk changes color dramatically over time

Color Change: African Padauk undergoes an extreme degree of color change with pronounced darkening from the vivid orange color when freshly milled to a dark red almost black color when fully aged/oxidized. Oil finishes hasten this process and allow the full color change to occur while water based finishes inhibit the full color range

View Wood Color Properties Chart to compare this wood with other species.

Hardness:

African Padauk is 137% as hard as red oak ( 1725 on the Janka scale vs.1260 for red oak ).

For hardness comparisons to additional species, see Wood Names & Hardness Chart

Where to Use:

Special Characteristics / Issues Specific to this Species:

Stability: 2 (average and similar to red oak) For additional information, see: Wood Properties Chart.

Finish Issues: see: Finish Recommendations before commencing any site finishing.

Safety/Allergic Reaction Issues: see: Wood Properties Chart for more info. Also see Material Safety for safety issues with wood dust.

Other Characteristics/Issues specific to this species: none known at this time.

Additional Information:

U.S. Forest Products Laboratory - Additional information on white oak

FOR INSTALLERS: Wood Moisture Chart - to find info on moisture meter settings and shrinkage coefficient.