Kempas Hardwood Flooring

Color: Kempas heartwood is very light in color, usually white to light yellow. Kempas sapwood is more orange to red or reddish brown. Over time and with exposure to UV light, the floor will darken to a more reddish color.

Grain: The grain is interlocked and/or spiraled, and is generally rough.

Variations within Species and Grades: There is little variation within the species and grades.

Hardness/Janka: Kempas has a Janka Scale rating of 1,710, making it harder than most species used for hardwood flooring.

Dimensional Stability: This particular species of wood is not considered dimensionally stable, and is less stable than the traditional Northern Red Oak.

Sawing/Machining: Sawing and machining kempas is somewhat difficult because of hard deposits. It can dull and damage tools so it is important to be careful when working with kempas.

Sanding: Kempas is known to sand well.

Nailing: It may be difficult to nail because of how easily the wood may split.

Finishing: The coarse texture and acidic nature of the wood make finishing more difficult than some other species. It will need good filling to finish and polish well.

Availability: Limited availability.