Design by MO Design
Brazilian cherry wood, also known as Brazilian cherry, or Jatoba is a gorgeous exotic hardwood that has been used for flooring for many years. If you’re considering installing Brazilian cherry wood floors in your house, or if you have it already and want to change the look, this blog post will give you all the information you need.
What is Brazilian Cherry?
Ironically, Brazilian cherry does not actually come from a cherry tree. It’s called cherry because of its deep red color. The actual tree name is Jatoba, and it’s native to Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Brazilian cherry was considered an endangered tree for a while, but if you purchase wood that is FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council), you can be assured that your wood was sustainably sourced and harvested.
Brazilian cherry is a very hard wood. In fact, on the Janka Hardness Scale, it scores a remarkable 2350 (as a comparison, white oak scores a 1360). This makes it an excellent choice for flooring as it resists scratches and indentations and is one of the most durable types of wood available.
Pros and Cons of Using Brazilian Cherry Flooring
There are a lot of reasons to be a fan of Brazilian cherry wood flooring. If you are considering installing it in your home, you will want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of using this unique type of wood so you can make the best decision.
Pros:
- As mentioned above, Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring is incredibly durable. This makes it a great choice for families with pets or young kids. It also works very well in dining rooms. You do not have to worry about the floor being scratched up by chairs.
- It works well with all decor types and styles. Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring can be used successfully in everything from modern to farmhouse to traditional-style homes.
- It has a timeless appeal and while its popularity has lessened a little over time, Brazilian cherrywood is still a solid choice that will stand the test of time.
- The deep red color also has other shades of brown in it, making it easy to pair with other wood tones throughout your home.
- Brazilian cherry is fire- and bug-resistant, and it also contains natural oils that kill mites and dust spores. This means it’s a great choice if someone in your family suffers from allergies.
- The grain is very noticeable, making each board look like a work of art.
- Brazilian cherry wood floors can last at least 30 years and with care, will remain in good condition even longer. It’s a long-term investment in your home.
- On a related note, Brazilian cherry hardwood floors will raise your home’s resale value. It is a very sought-after flooring that buyers love.
- Because it is heat-resistant, Brazilian cherry is one of the only types of hardwood flooring that can work with a radiant heart system–an in-floor heating system that keeps you toasty warm in the winter.
- It is such a durable wood that it can be sanded down and refinished a dozen or so times throughout its lifetime. This is helpful if you need to refinish to deal with scratches or damage, or if you want to change the color. More on that below.
Cons
- Brazilian cherry hardwood is expensive. In fact, it is one of the priciest types of hardwood you can get. (Sidenote: if you love the look of Brazilian cherry but can’t afford the price, consider using Brazilian walnut instead. It’s a less expensive wood with the same look. You can also use engineered hardwoods or even LVP or laminate that looks like Brazilian cherry. This will help you get the look you love, although not all the benefits of real hardwood flooring.)
- Because of the dark color, Brazilian cherry shows dust and dirt easily. It will look its best with daily sweeping or vacuuming, or you can try a robot vacuum to keep it clean.
- Again, due to its dark color, this wood can make a small room or home seem smaller. It doesn’t lend itself to a light, airy look. This is great if you want to make a larger space seem cozy, but not necessarily what you want in a smaller home.
- It shows water stains and damage more than other types of hardwoods. Because of this, it’s not recommended for use in bathrooms, and be sure to use it in kitchens with great care.
Not Sure About the Red of Brazilian Cherry Wood Floors?
Brazilian cherry peaked in popularity in the early 2000s and the deep red color was on-trend and desired. Now, some people are reconsidering their design decision to have the glossy red flooring installed. If you have cherry red flooring that you’re tired of, don’t rip it out just yet! Even if the color isn’t your favorite, Brazilian cherry is such a great flooring that it would be a shame to replace it. Try refinishing it instead to get a look you love.
It is durable enough to withstand sanding and refinishing and it takes stain very well. This means you really have a lot of options if you want to refinish your floors. If you prefer a more timeless brown to a deep red color, you can use a green stain to neutralize the red. Don’t worry–you won’t see the green. But because it’s opposite red on the color wheel, it will tone down the red color and give you a more neutral, lovely brown.
You can also bleach the wood to remove some of the red hue, and then refinish it. This results in the floor looking more like teak than Brazilian cherry, which may be more what you’re after. You can also recreate a bleached look by using 60 parts white stain and 1 part green.
One of the most important aspects of refinishing your Brazilian cherrywood floors is choosing an appropriate topcoat. In the 2000s, glossy, shiny topcoats were in fashion, and they accentuated the red of the wood. A matte or satin finish is more timeless and subtle and will drastically change the look of your floors. As a bonus, matte and satin finishes hide scratches a lot better than glossy finishes do.
Summary
If you’re deciding what type of hardwood floor to install in your home, Brazilian cherry is an excellent choice. It is durable, gorgeous, exotic, and eye-catching. It will bring warmth and natural beauty into your space. Your choice of stain and finishes can give it a timeless appeal.
If you have dark red, glossy Brazilian cherry and don’t love it, you have so many options to get a new look without ripping out your flooring. Give it another chance, some sanding, and a good refinish, and see if you’re not blown away by how much you love your floors.
You can have all the benefits of Brazilian cherry hardwood floors without the dated look. If you’re renovating a home that has Brazilian cherry wood floors, you are in luck. You can make it look just how you want it to and you’ll love the results.
