Is Jatoba a durable decking material?

Let's begin with the basics. Like all other hardwood decking materials, Jatoba decking is made of close wood fibres that gives the timber its high density and strength with an average weight of 940kg/m3. This is what makes the material extremely durable and hardwearing, in fact, it makes it perfect for exterior decking use.

How long does Jatoba decking last?

When shopping for decking, one of the most important factors is to find a material that will last. Luckily, Jatoba has an extended life expectancy of 25 – 50 years as it’s naturally decay and insect resistant. We recommend maintaining your Jatoba decking often to preserve its excellent lifespan, such as a simple clean with a Karcher pressure washer and patio cleaner head every couple of years. Or if you’re someone who likes the finished look, follow our How To guides and apply a quality UV protection oil.

Is Jatoba decking cost-effective?

You’ll find the price point of Jatoba decking to be a lot cheaper than premium products like Ipe, but slightly more expensive than cheaper alternatives such as Yellow Balau. But the best part about buying Jatoba is there’s an extremely low volume of natural defects, which means there’s a much lower need to factor in wastage when ordering it, ultimately keeping costs as low as possible when buying timber decking.

How sustainable is Jatoba decking?

The sustainability of any timber product all comes down to how the wood is sourced. The main thing to look for is a certification of some kind that guarantees the product has been harvested from responsibly managed forests. In this case, you’ll discover all our Jatoba is sourced from South America and has the highly respected FSC Certification to assure you of its sustainability. As a matter of fact, Jatoba was our first decking product that we invested in where all our stock was 100% FSC Certified.

Is Jatoba water resistant?

Wood that’s kiln dried can handle moisture better than others, and our stock of Jatoba is kiln dried to 14 – 16% for greater stability. Better still, the close compact wood fibres that we spoke about earlier means minimal amount of moisture is absorbed when it rains.

Is it slippery?

Going off the back of its water resistance, the fact that there’s a reduced amount of moisture content absorbed when it rains means all the water only penetrates the outer layer, so the surface dries rapidly without deteriorating in any way.

How do you fit Jatoba decking?

Amongst our stock of Jatoba, there are two different options for fitting. You can go for the traditional screw through the face, or you can opt for hidden fixings. In case you’re not already familiar with the hidden fix system, this is when the boards are grooved on the sides so the fixings can be hidden between the boards, meaning there’s no need to screw through the face during installation. For some, this clean, smooth look enhances visual appeal massively so hidden fixings would be an excellent choice. For others, strength is the most important factor, and you can’t beat securing hardwood decking boards with face fixing screws. To make a fair decision when shopping, be sure to read one of our previous articles, The Definitive Guide to Hidden Fixing for Hardwood Decking, which will tell you everything you need to know about both screwing through the face and using hidden fixings.

So, is Jatoba the same as Brazilian Cherry?

That’s right! Brazilian Cherry is just another name Jatoba is widely known by. This is mainly because of its rosy appearance, but you’ll mostly find the term Brazilian Cherry being used when referring to Jatoba in the interior flooring industry. But yes, it’s the same wood, but in most cases, it’s listed differently depending on how it’s sold and dried.

So, despite the speculations, Jatoba wood is actually an excellent choice for decking. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s also a heavy-duty, long lasting, versatile timber which makes an excellent real wood decking material.

Shop Jatoba and choose your decking wisely.