Monterillo Lumber in Houston – Overview

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: Myrocarpus frondosus (also known as Incienso, Cabreúva, or Peruvian Cedar)
Hardness (Janka): 1,780 lbf
Color: Heartwood is a beautiful light reddish-brown to medium brown, often with subtle darker streaks or a golden sheen that gives it depth. It generally darkens to a richer reddish-brown with age and exposure to light. Sapwood is a pale yellowish-white and distinct.
Grain: Typically straight, but can sometimes be wavy or interlocked, creating interesting figures. It has a fine to medium texture with a good natural luster, often feeling somewhat oily.
Workability: Moderately easy to work given its hardness; it generally planes and sands well, though interlocked grain can lead to tearout. It has a pleasant, aromatic scent when being worked. Takes screws and glues well, and can be brought to a high polish.
Common Uses in Houston: Fine furniture, custom cabinetry, interior architectural millwork, turning, musical instruments, and decorative items.

What Makes Monterillo Unique

Monterillo is cherished for its warm, inviting reddish-brown color, which deepens gracefully over time, offering a sophisticated aesthetic that blends well with various design styles. Beyond its visual appeal, it possesses a notable hardness and density, making it a durable choice for demanding interior applications. What truly sets Monterillo apart is its distinctive, often pleasant aromatic scent when freshly cut or worked, providing a sensory experience unique among hardwoods. This combination of beauty, durability, and a subtle natural fragrance makes Monterillo a distinctive and sought-after timber for creating enduring and appealing pieces in Houston homes and businesses.

Why Choose Monterillo

Warm, Appealing Color: Its light to medium reddish-brown hue offers a rich and inviting look that matures beautifully with age.
Good Hardness & Durability: With a Janka rating of 1,780 lbf, it is resistant to dents and wear, suitable for various high-use interior applications.
Pleasant Aromatic Scent: Emits a subtle, often vanilla-like or spicy fragrance, especially when worked, adding a unique sensory dimension.
Good Workability: Despite its hardness, it machines and finishes well, allowing for fine detail and a smooth surface.
Good Dimensional Stability: Exhibits reliable stability once properly acclimated, minimizing movement in finished pieces, important in Houston’s climate.

Why You Might Not Choose Monterillo

Interlocked Grain Potential: While generally cooperative, areas with interlocked grain can be prone to tearout during planing, requiring careful attention to grain direction.
Dust 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.
Natural Scent (Subjective): While often considered pleasant, the aromatic properties might not be preferred by all individuals in enclosed spaces or for specific applications.
Cost and Availability: As an imported exotic hardwood, its price point is typically higher than domestic woods, and availability may vary.
Not for Exterior Use: While durable, it lacks the extreme natural resistance needed for prolonged outdoor exposure without significant treatment.

Monterillo in the Houston Climate

Acclimation for Best Results

Monterillo’s inherent density and good dimensional stability make it well-suited for interior applications in Houston’s humid climate. Thorough acclimation to your workshop or the final indoor environment is recommended to ensure optimal performance. 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 Monterillo pieces.

Ideal for Elegant Interior Spaces

This wood is an excellent choice for a wide array of interior projects across Houston’s homes and commercial spaces where warmth, beauty, and durability are desired. Its rich reddish-brown aesthetic and fine texture make it perfect for custom-built cabinetry in upscale kitchens in The Woodlands, elegant dining tables in River Oaks, or tailored architectural millwork in commercial offices. Monterillo’s natural properties hold up well to interior climate control, ensuring its refined appearance and structural integrity for years to come.

Color and Grain Stability

The beautiful light reddish-brown to medium brown heartwood of Monterillo is generally very color-stable, and it tends to deepen gracefully to a richer reddish-brown with age and exposure to light, enhancing its inherent warmth. The typically straight to sometimes wavy 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 Monterillo projects maintain their luxurious and enduring appeal for many years across the Houston metro area.

Popular Monterillo Applications in Houston

Monterillo’s appealing color, moderate hardness, good workability, and subtle aromatic qualities make it a versatile and desirable material among Houston’s custom furniture makers, cabinet shops, and designers for creating elegant and durable interior pieces.

Popular Applications Include:

Fine Furniture: Crafting custom dining tables, coffee tables, cabinets, and chairs where its warm color and fine grain provide a sophisticated and lasting appeal to homes in areas like Bellaire and Memorial.
Custom Cabinetry: Used for high-end kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and built-in shelving, offering a refined and inviting look.
Interior Architectural Millwork: Employed for interior doors, window frames, custom moldings, and wall paneling, adding warmth and architectural detail.
Turning Projects: Valued by woodturners for creating unique bowls, pens, and other artistic items that showcase its rich color and fine texture.
Musical Instruments: Used for specific components in guitars and other instruments where its density and acoustic properties are beneficial.
Decorative Items: Ideal for jewelry boxes, humidors, and other handcrafted items where beauty and a refined finish are important.

Current Design Trends Featuring Monterillo:

Warm Modern Interiors: Its balance of traditional warmth and clean lines fits well into contemporary designs that seek natural elements.
Transitional Styling: Perfectly suited for bridging classic and modern aesthetics in residential and commercial spaces.
Custom Built-Ins: A popular choice for creating beautiful libraries, home offices, and entertainment centers due to its stability and finishing properties.
Naturally Scented Spaces: Appealing to clients who appreciate subtle natural fragrances in their living environments.

Looking for Monterillo 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 Monterillo, request a quote, or discuss your project plans.