Bubinga

Botanical Name: Guibourtia demeusei

The bubinga trees are found in West Africa, generally in the areas of Gabon and Cameroon.

Those trees grow in height from 130 to 170 feet and can have a trunk diameter of six and a half feet. When discussing about the colors, the wood ranges from a pinkish red when first milled to a darker burgundy once aged. Darker veins of a deep rose or purple combine in order to create a unique and stunning flooring.

History

Bubinga is also called African Rosewood, Essingang, and Buvenga. It has not historically been proved to being used for flooring because of the difficulty milling the lumber by hand. The mainly uses of this lumber were veneer work, paneling, and furniture. Items as decorative boxes and knife handles were also famous.

Durability

The Janka scale measures the durability of hardwood. The rating starts with zero and indicates a wood too soft to be used in flooring while a ranking of 4000 indicates a much too hard wood. The Janka scale rating for bubinga is 2690, which is harder than red oak, but not as hard as Brazilian cherry.

Workability

Bubinga is easily machined as long as there are no sap pockets which can cause problems with localized gluing or difficulties finishing the wood.

Wood without sap pockets is easily finished and displays a fine luster. It is possible for cutters to be blunted when working with the lumber. Pre-drilling is required before nailing, again because of the hardness of the lumber.

Where to use

Bubinga hardwood flooring can be used anywhere in the home because it is very durable and has a dark reddish hue that makes it ideal for customers with a desire darker flooring. We do not recommend installing the flooring in areas that will be exposed to excessive moisture or standing water (for example bathrooms and mudrooms).

Care and Maintenance

Keep in mind that no matter the relative hardness of a hardwood, proper care and maintenance are important.

The first step is preventative maintenance. Entryways should have mats covering the floor to avoid scuff or heel marks. It is important to place runners or rugs in extremely high traffic areas (for example hallways). We recommend you placing pads underneath furniture legs to prevent gouges in the hardwood. Regularly trim the nails of your pet in order to prevent scrapes.

You should also regularly sweep or vacuum the floor. Always remember to promptly wipe spills to prevent stains and discoloration.