Massaranduba: A Beautiful, Appealing Wood
"We had used massaranduba previously for siding applications at Riverview Gardens and the Peninsula residence, and even as flooring in our own offices, so we were familiar with its properties," said Dan Loe, one of the project's principal architects. "We loved the color; loved its strength and durability. And relative to other tropical hardwoods, it was economical."
Massaranduba heartwood ranges in color from light red to dark burgundy brown. The grain is straight, sometimes slightly wavy or interlocked with a very fine texture. Massaranduba is recognized by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory as one of the hardest and most durable species available. The Shore Vista project used 1" x 6" deck boards and 5/4" x 5/4" for the beach area where river water laps the wood surface. Left untreated, massaranduba turns silvery-gray over time. When treated with an oil based finish containing ultraviolet inhibitors, it retains its plummy red color.
Loe emphasized that it's critical to plan carefully and know what you're doing when working with massaranduba and other exotic hardwoods. "With something like cedar wood, if you make a mistake you can probably fix it," he says. "Not so with massaranduba because it is hard, dense and unforgiving. All sanding and milling must be done prior to the install, so you have to plan everything precisely, pre-drill the holes, seal the back sides and leave enough spacing between planks for the wood to expand in humidity."
"There's no room for error; you have to get it right the first time," adds Loe. "It's really important to have experience, field knowledge and to specify the wood appropriately. For this you need to have a good relationship with your suppliers." He notes that his firm has a great rapport with their supplier in Austin.
"Massaranduba is a beautiful, appealing wood," notes Loe. "Whether you allow it to patina to a silvery-gray or seal coat it so that it retains its reddish tone, there's nothing like wood to warm up a space emotionally."
"Massaranduba is a beautiful, appealing wood. Whether you allow it to patina to a silvery-gray or seal coat it so that it retains its reddish tone, there's nothing like wood to warm up a space emotionally." — Dan Loe, RA, Bercy Chen Studio LP
Frequently asked questions
What color is massaranduba wood?+
Massaranduba heartwood ranges in color from light red to dark burgundy brown. It has a straight grain, sometimes slightly wavy or interlocked, with a very fine texture.
How does massaranduba weather over time?+
Left untreated, massaranduba turns silvery-gray over time. When treated with an oil-based finish containing ultraviolet inhibitors, it retains its plummy red color.
Why did architects choose massaranduba for the Shore Vista project?+
The architects were familiar with massaranduba from prior siding and flooring projects and loved its color, strength, and durability. Relative to other tropical hardwoods, it was also economical.
What sizes of massaranduba were used on the Shore Vista project?+
The project used 1" x 6" deck boards, and 5/4" x 5/4" material was used for the beach area where river water laps the wood surface.
What special installation considerations does massaranduba require?+
Because massaranduba is hard, dense, and unforgiving, all sanding and milling must be done prior to install. Installers must pre-drill holes, seal the back sides, and leave enough spacing between planks for the wood to expand in humidity.
How durable is massaranduba compared to other wood species?+
Massaranduba is recognized by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory as one of the hardest and most durable species available. Unlike softer woods such as cedar, mistakes in working with it are difficult to fix.