Afrormosia
Afromosia vs Teak for Exteriors
Pericopsis elata
Afromosia (AKA Afrormosia) is an African hardwood which is an acceptable Teak alternative. Its appearance is a bit darker than Teak and has a more pronounced grain pattern. Afromosia also shows distinct ribbon striping in a quartersawn much like African Sapele and unlike Teak. It is rot resistant and very hard making it a great option for exterior applications like trim, doors, windows, siding, and even decking.
Afromosia Lumber Characteristics
| Character | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1570 | lbf |
| Bending Strength MOR | 14,920 | lbf/in2 |
| Stiffness MOE | 1,715,000 | lbf/in2 |
| Weight | 4.5 | lbs/board foot |
| Specific Gravity | .57 | |
| Crushing Strength | 9,570 | lbf/in2 |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6.2 | % |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3.2 | % |
| T/R Ratio | 1.9 |
Afrormosia Sustainability
The species is listed on CITES appendix II essentially meaning it is heavily regulated as it is in danger of becoming endangered. This dramatically limits the export volumes of the species and requires extensive import and export regulation (CITES passports). This gives us a very clear line of sight back to the stump with all our Afromosia inventory and a strong ability to verify sustainable harvest. The species has been CITES listed for many years and it is something we pay close attention to with on site inspection vists to the mills from which we buy Afromosia. If you have questions about Afromosia and its CITES status or how to ensure its legality contact us for details.
