What is ParaWood? All About You Should Know

Last Updated on April 3, 2022 by woodcutter

Parawood is one of the most popular types of wood that Mother Earth has been blessed with. It offers a lot of advantages and can be used for a variety of purposes. The other names for para wood are rubberwood, plantation hardwood, and Malaysian oak.

This type of wood comes from the rubber tree. Rubber trees are usually grown on rubber plantations. Para wood is commonly found in Brazil and South East Asia. It’s popular for producing a sappy material called latex.  Para wood has a texture that is very fine and is one great renewable wood source.

Perhaps you’ve heard about para wood but aren’t sure if you can use it in your woodworking project, then you’re at the right place. In this article we share with you all you need to know about para wood, so read on.

Is parawood good quality?

Before you pick any type of wood for your project, you must know how good the quality is. Investing in poor-quality wood may cause you some financial losses and is quite frustrating. You probably don’t want that.

Parawood is a bit costly so it’s important to know if its price is worth the quality. Well, the good news is that para wood is excellent quality wood. It’s one of the strongest wood types and therefore highly durable. This is made possible by its compact grainy texture.

Because of its good quality, parawood makes furniture that’s able to withstand wear and tear. More so, it’s very resistant to stain and this means that your furniture made from parawood will remain shiny and attractive for a very long period.

Although parawood is of good quality, outdoor use may cause it to rot. If you want it for outdoor use, you must treat it with preservatives. This is because regardless of being strong it has high levels of starch. This makes it susceptible to insects and fungi. Having said this, without the necessary chemical treatments, para wood tends to decay easily. You are encouraged to treat parawood regularly. If you do it well your parawood can last for more than two decades.

Is parawood real wood?

The next thing we want to discuss is whether para wood is real wood or not. This knowledge is important as it helps you to know which purposes are best suited for para wood. Well, para wood is real wood. To be more specific, it is real hardwood.

There is no doubt that para wood has become one of the most popular alternatives for the timber industry. It’s moderately hard and has density as well as weight similar to maple. It has a medium texture. Para wood comes in many different colors and very attractive grains as well as finishes, making it ideal for home furniture making. Apart from furniture making, para wood is also used for cabinetry, kitchen accessories, etc.

If not treated para wood should be used indoors, otherwise it will be subject to wear and tear by rain and other unfavorable weather conditions. Like we said earlier, when you treat para wood with the necessary preservatives it becomes good for both indoor and outdoor use.

How hard is parawood?

The other important thing you may want to know about para wood is how hard it is. Again this is important as it will help you in using it for the purpose suited to its hardness. Para wood is considered hardwood.

In terms of hardness, it’s hard like maple, oakwood, and cherry. Its Janka hardness score is 980 Newtons which is high enough to qualify it as a hardwood. Because of this, para wood is highly durable making it great for furniture making. Though para wood is hard, you should take good care of it so that it lasts long.

Para wood is known for being strong as well as being easy to work with. What makes it strong is its highly dense grain. The other characteristic of para wood is shock absorbance. . This is because it’s a pretty soft wood type.

For this reason, it’s ideal for hardwood floors. The shock-absorbing property of para wood is the one responsible for making floors comfortable to walk on. Also, it helps if you’re suffering from pain in the joints. Walking on a floor made from para wood has been proven to lessen pain in the limbs. For this reason, para wood is being used for flooring in places such as old people’s homes and gyms.

What wood is similar to parawood? 

Now that we discussed what para wood is, its different characteristics as well as its applications we can now look at other woods it’s similar to. Picking the best wood that suits your needs is important. However, it can be a pain in the neck especially if you have no experience with wood. To make it easy let’s look at other woods that are similar to para wood.

Para wood has similarities with several other kinds of wood. In terms of hardness, it’s similar to maple, cherry as well as oakwood. Below we compare para wood with other woods.

●       Para wood versus oak

 Para wood and oak are quite similar and the main similarity is that both belong to the oak family. Because of the similarities they share, para wood and oak are often used for similar purposes. They both have a grainy texture and are known for boasting a quite smooth finish.

Although a lot similar to each other, para wood and oak have some differences. Compared to oak, para wood is more durable.  This is because of its shrinkage value that is less than that of oak. This lower shrinkage value makes the interior of the para wood quite compact. This is not the case with the interior of oak.

The other difference between para wood and oak is that if you maintain para wood well, it will last longer as compared to oak. On the other hand, oak is capable of withstanding moisture better than para wood. Oak is also not susceptible to the attack by fungi and insects.

●      Para wood versus beechwood

The other wood similar to para wood is beechwood.  The main similarity between para wood and beechwood is in the color of the two. Both para wood and beechwood have a pale color. The other similarity is that both kinds of wood have shock-absorbing properties. For this reason, both para wood and beechwood can be used in hardwood flooring.

Although they share some similarities beechwood and para wood have differences as well. The main difference between the two is that para wood is softer than beechwood.

●      Para wood versus maple

 Para wood and maple are similar when it comes to their hardness. In terms of color maple wood is available in various colors ranging from white to grey-brown. The other difference is in its applications. Para wood is mostly used in furniture, flooring, and cabinetry while maple is used to make items used in sports like baseball bats and hockey sticks.

Between the two kinds of wood, the one you choose depends on what you want to use the wood for. Para wood is a better option for a variety of applications, but that is if you treat it well.

●      Para wood versus pinewood

Para wood and pinewood have fewer similarities as compared to para wood and oak. The first difference between the two is that para wood produces latex while pinewood produces resin.

In terms of susceptibility to fungi and insects, pinewood withstands fungi and insects better. For this reason, it’s suited for outdoor use. On the contrary, para wood is best suited for indoor use because it rots easily if exposed to harsh weather conditions. In terms of attractiveness and comfortable texture, para wood is a better choice.

Now that we have compared para wood with other woods let’s look at the safety of para wood below.

Is parawood safe?

You probably don’t want unsafe wood in your home, office, or around pets and children. Well, the good news is that para wood is very safe and environmentally friendly. When you burn para wood, it won’t release harmful fumes like other types of wood.

Having said this, you can use para wood in the kitchen or for your fireplace without having to worry about your safety or the safety of your kids and pets. Para wood is proven to be non-toxic making it the ideal choice of wood for your next project.

Conclusion

Para wood is one wood-worthy consideration in your next project if you are a woodworker. It has amazing properties which make it outstanding. The wood is highly durable and can be used for many purposes. Whether you want to use para wood for furniture making, cabinetry, kitchen accessories, flooring, or your DIY projects para wood won’t disappoint you.

It’s cushy to work with and also has some health benefits. For it to last longer, all you need to do is treat it with some chemical preservatives. This will make it withstand attacks from fungi and insects. Having said this, there is no doubt that para wood is a good wood choice.