GARAPA
The Garapa tree reaches a height of 25 to 30 meters, the diameter of the trunk is from 0.8 to 1.2 m. The trunks are of regular cylindrical shape and the height up to the crown is 12 m. Garapa grows in Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina and Paraguay, it can also be found in other parts of the tropical forests of South America. Garapa wood is homogeneous, yellow in fresh condition, turns light brown in air.
The specific weight of garapa, dried to 12% moisture, is between 790 and 830 kg/m³. All material is dried in a dryer, because it increases its stability and reduces the possibility of bending. Due to its density and natural resistance to weather conditions, garapa is widely used for outdoor terraces, facades, fences, etc.
Over time, the wood loses its color and acquires a silvery patina. This only increases the resistance of the material, because it is the natural defense response of wood. Over time, small cracks appear on the fronts of the boards, which we avoid by protecting the fronts with wax.
During assembly, the recommended spacing of the substructure is 30-50 cm, as this further reduces the possibility of bending the boards. As the wood contains a lot of silicate, it is recommended to use better quality tools.
Due to its hardness, Garape wood has an excellent compressive hardness of 63 N/mm².
