| Decks are becoming our focal point for entertaining | | | | canvas, each board is unique with its own distinct |
| and just living. Brazilian woods like Jatoba are | | | | grain pattern. You will not see repeating simulated |
| becoming the primary hardwoods for decks and | | | | grain. You will see a symphony of patterns each |
| decking use. Today there are a lot of composite | | | | contributing to the whole which will be your deck. |
| decking materials around. They are all the rage. | | | | You will quickly start to see one or two which will |
| Remember when the “space age” arrived | | | | become your favorites. |
| and aluminum was the rage. Everyone had to buy | | | | Jatoba’s Hardness: Jatoba is one of the hardest |
| an aluminum silver Christmas tree. The aluminum | | | | woods on Earth. To dramatize, Jatoba is twice as |
| trees are long gone but wood trees still adorn many | | | | hard as hard maple. Maple is the wood that Louisville |
| homes for the holidays. Decks are not like holiday | | | | Slugger baseball bats are made from. |
| decorations that you can change every year. They | | | | Jatoba Color: Jatoba arrives as a medium brown |
| are a fixture of your home. However, like the | | | | wood. However, Jatoba is photosensitive. Once in |
| avocado green appliances of the 70s you do not | | | | the sun it turns a beautiful russet red color. After a |
| want a product that dates your home. You may | | | | few months, like all woods, Jatoba will start to gray. |
| think the 50s were a long time ago, and you are | | | | If you are like many people and love the russet red |
| right. However, Ipe decking will easily last 50 | | | | color of Jatoba, it is easy to maintain. A periodic |
| years. In fact, if your grandfather had built a | | | | application of a UV finisher will keep that lovely |
| Brazilian Hardwood deck with Ipe or Jatoba for his | | | | reddish color. Jatoba only needs a simple finisher and |
| ranch home in the 1950s it would still be an asset | | | | not a sealer as the woods hardness already protects |
| today with many more years of service. Unlike the | | | | it from common injuries that would damage softer |
| avocado green appliance and the hot pink bathroom | | | | wood. |
| tiles, Brazilian Jatoba decking is ageless. In Brazil it | | | | Bugs hate Jatoba decking: Jatoba decking is so hard |
| is common to see a Jatoba deck that was built 30 | | | | that pine beetles and other wood destroying pests |
| years ago and is still in service. Compare that to | | | | do not bother it. It is easier for a termite to move |
| your average PT deck that was “treated” | | | | and find a tastier meal than to destroy its teeth on |
| with chemicals to make it last longer. | | | | Jatoba. With a Jatoba deck, the “treated” |
| The composite conundrum: You hear a lot of hype | | | | foundation will be much more attractive to bugs than |
| about composite decking. Composites are made from | | | | the Jatoba decking. |
| oil. They do not biodegrade and environmentally | | | | Ground Contact: Jatoba is fine for ground contact. |
| friendly. While the oil needed may be small for a | | | | You can use 4x4’s in the ground for various |
| deck, for an industry it is enormous. Also, oil is a | | | | purposes way beyond decking. |
| non-renewable resource. Jatoba decking, even | | | | Jatoba decking just has a lot going for it. Once you |
| though it may last 50 years, will eventually break | | | | look at the longevity, natural grain, hardness, and |
| down as nature intended. It will return to the soil and | | | | insect resistance, you have a great wood. Once |
| contribute to the next generation. Jatoba trees are | | | | you factor in Jatoba’s russet red color, you have |
| grown, not manufactured. Like a painter’s | | | | a phenomenal wood. |