Moabi Lumber in Houston – Overview

Moabi Lumber

Specifications

  • Thicknesses (Commonly Stocked at Houston Hardwoods in): 4/4. We also offer custom milling to your exact specifications (e.g., 1×2, 1×4, 1×6, or other custom dimensions), as well as various options including S4S, S2S, S2S1E, and SLR1E.
  • Species: Baillonella toxisperma
  • Hardness (Janka): 2,050 lbf
  • Color: Heartwood is a distinctive reddish-brown to dark purplish-brown, often with subtle darker streaking, resembling the rich tones of African Mahogany or Sapele but typically denser. It tends to darken slightly with age and exposure. Sapwood is yellowish-white and clearly demarcated.
  • Grain: Typically straight to interlocked or wavy. Fine to medium texture with a good natural luster, often with a subtle ribbon figure on quarter-sawn surfaces.
  • Workability: Moderately difficult to work due to its high density and hardness; it can be challenging to saw and may dull tools somewhat quickly. However, it planes, sands, and finishes very well, taking a smooth surface and excellent polish. Pre-drilling is recommended for fasteners.
  • Common Uses in Houston: Heavy exterior construction, decking, outdoor furniture, high-end interior furniture, cabinetry, architectural millwork, and turning.

What Makes Moabi Unique

Moabi is prized for its rich, warm reddish-brown color, which deepens beautifully with age, offering a sophisticated aesthetic reminiscent of high-end African mahoganies but with superior density and hardness. Its unique distinction lies in its exceptional durability and natural resistance to decay and insects, making it suitable for a broad spectrum of demanding applications, from robust exterior structures to elegant interior furnishings. Moabi provides a compelling combination of visual appeal, remarkable strength, and reliable performance, making it a versatile and long-lasting choice for discerning projects in Houston.

Why Choose Moabi

  • Appealing Reddish-Brown Color: Offers a warm, inviting hue that deepens over time, adding richness and character to any project.
  • High Hardness and Durability: With a Janka rating of 2,050 lbf, it is very resistant to dents, scratches, and wear, ensuring long-lasting performance in both interior and exterior settings.
  • Excellent Natural Resistance: Possesses very good natural resistance to decay, fungi, and insect attack, contributing to its longevity in challenging environments like Houston’s outdoors.
  • Good Dimensional Stability: Exhibits reliable stability once properly acclimated, minimizing movement in finished pieces, crucial in fluctuating humidity.
  • Versatile Applications: Strong enough for heavy construction yet beautiful enough for fine furniture, offering flexibility in design.

Why You Might Not Choose Moabi

  • Moderately Difficult to Work: Its high density and hardness can make cutting, planing, and shaping challenging, and it tends to dull tools more quickly than softer woods. Carbide tooling is recommended.
  • Dust Can Cause Irritation: The sawdust can cause skin irritation or respiratory issues in some sensitive individuals, so good dust collection and personal protective equipment are advised in any Houston workshop.
  • Weight: Being a dense wood, it is relatively heavy, which can be a factor for handling and installation, particularly for large pieces.
  • Interlocked Grain Potential: While often straight, if the grain is interlocked, it can be prone to tearout during planing, requiring careful attention to grain direction.
  • Cost: As an imported hardwood with notable qualities, it typically falls into a higher price bracket than common domestic species.

Moabi in the Houston Climate

Acclimation for Best Results

Moabi’s inherent density and good dimensional stability make it well-suited for both interior and exterior applications in Houston’s humid climate. For interior projects, thorough acclimation to your workshop or the final indoor environment is still recommended. Given our city’s persistent high humidity and warm temperatures, allowing the wood to slowly stabilize before milling or finishing ensures minimal movement, warping, or checking, preserving the integrity and beauty of your finished Moabi pieces.

Ideal for Durable & Elegant Structures

This wood is an excellent choice for a wide array of projects that demand both beauty and resilience in Houston’s challenging environment. Its natural resistance to moisture, rot, and insects makes it a strong contender for outdoor structures like pergolas, gazebos, or even durable decking in high-end residential areas. Indoors, its rich, warm reddish-brown aesthetic and impressive hardness lend themselves beautifully to luxury furniture, custom cabinetry, and architectural elements in contemporary or traditional Houston homes, providing a touch of exotic elegance and long-lasting performance.

Color and Grain Stability

The distinctive reddish-brown to dark purplish-brown heartwood of Moabi is generally very color-stable, subtly deepening in tone over time with exposure to light, which enhances its inherent richness. The typically straight to interlocked grain is dimensionally stable once the wood is properly acclimated. Applying a high-quality finish will not only protect its surface but also intensely highlight its natural luster and deep, varied coloration, ensuring your Moabi projects maintain their luxurious and robust appearance for many years, indoors or out, across the Houston metro area.

Popular Moabi Applications in Houston

Moabi’s appealing color, impressive hardness, and natural durability make it a versatile material highly valued by Houston’s custom builders, furniture makers, and designers for both structural and decorative applications where strength and beauty are key.

Popular Applications Include:

  • Heavy Exterior Construction: Used for durable posts, beams, and structural elements in outdoor settings due to its natural resistance to decay and insects.
  • Decking and Outdoor Furniture: An excellent option for long-lasting decks and outdoor furniture that can withstand Houston’s climate, offering an alternative to Teak or Ipe.
  • High-End Interior Furniture: Crafting personalized tables, chairs, cabinets, and case goods where its rich color and fine texture provide a sophisticated finish.
  • Cabinetry and Architectural Millwork: Employed for custom kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, interior doors, and decorative moldings, adding warmth and durability.
  • Turning Projects: Valued by woodturners for creating durable and visually appealing bowls, pens, and other decorative items that showcase its rich color and ability to take a smooth finish.

Current Design Trends Featuring Moabi:

  • Warm and Earthy Interiors: Incorporated into designs that emphasize natural materials, rich color palettes, and a sense of inviting luxury.
  • Transitional and Contemporary Spaces: Its balance of classic color and modern density makes it suitable for bridging traditional and contemporary aesthetics.
  • Durable Outdoor Living: A growing choice for clients seeking resilient and beautiful materials for patios, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens.
  • Accent Elements: Used for creating impactful details, whether as a contrasting element or as a focal point in furniture and architectural features.

Looking for Moabi for Your Next Project?

We stock this wood in 4/4 thickness and can custom mill to your exact needs. Our team is always here to help you select the perfect lumber for your project.

Visit Houston Hardwoods or contact us to inquire about Moabi, request a quote, or discuss your project plans.