B.caroleThe doussiè wood it is one of the hardest, most resistant and very compact woods. It has African origins and is mainly used for the construction of internal and external flooring. Thanks to its specific features, it is also suitable for damp environments such as bathrooms and kitchens. Last but not least, it has a excellent value for money.
Let’s find out in more detail all its features.
Contents of this page
- 1 Doussiè wood: what it is
- 2 Doussiè wood: tree
- 3 Doussiè wood: characteristics
- 3.1 Weaving
- 3.2 Color
- 4 Doussiè wood: advantages
- 5 Doussiè wood: defects
- 6 Uses and uses of doussiè wood
- 7 Parquet in doussiè wood
- 8 Cleaning and maintenance
- 9 Doussiè wood: price
- 10 Other insights
Doussiè wood: what it is
Doussiè wood is a very hard and resistant wood that comes from the forests of central and western Africa.
In the form of solid wood, it is mainly used for flooring. In fact, it is very resistant to insects and trampling.
Its natural color varies from reddish brown to light yellow, and then changes due to exposure to sunlight and already after the first sawing of the trunks. The winding grain is easily recognizable and does not undergo any changes during the seasoning phase.
The strength of doussiè wood is l‘excellent value for money, a feature that makes it one of the most requested essences for parquet.
Doussiè wood: tree
Doussié wood is obtained from the homonymous tree (scientific name Afzelia spp), belonging to the Fabaceae family. It grows only in the forests of central and western Africa, more precisely in Congo, Sierra Leone and Mozambique.
It is a very tall tree (it can reach and exceed 40 meters), while the diameter of the trunk can exceed one meter. It has a hard and very resistant wood.
There are several varieties, all used for the construction of parquet:
- Afzelia africana
- Apa
- Afzelia bipindensi
- Afzelia pachyloba
Doussiè wood: characteristics
The aesthetic appearance of doussiè wood can vary according to the climatic and mineralogical characteristics of the place of origin of the plant from which it is extracted, but also according to the point of withdrawal from which the strips are taken or the orientation of the trunk.
There are, however, some general characteristics.
Weaving
Coarse with intertwined fibers and rich in cracks and irregularities with rather evident chromatic variations from white to yellow.
Color
The natural color of doussiè wood ranges from brown to reddish, up to yellow-clear. These veins do not change too evidently.
The most conspicuous chromatic variations are visible due to theoxidation caused by exposure to the sun’s rays that highlight the traces of silica naturally present in the wood essence.
Doussiè wood: merits
The merits of this essence are truly numerous. This, together with the fact that its price is not too high, makes it one of the most requested woods for the realization of parquet since it offers an excellent quality / price ratio.
Let’s see its properties below:
- good hardness
- great stability
- good resistance to trampling
- good mechanical resistance
- almost immune to thermal excursions, humidity and atmospheric agents
- repellence to insect attacks
- aesthetically very beautiful
- possibility of creating any geometric laying pattern thanks to the extensive herringbone or mosaic combinability
- it can be laid on top of any type of existing floor
- it is also used in humid environments such as bathrooms and kitchens
- excellent value for money
Doussiè wood: defects
Despite being classified as one of the hardest woods, doussiè can be subject to bumps and dents caused by falling objects, loads concentrated on small spaces, trampling with stiletto heels, and scratches caused by nails and pebbles stuck under the soles.
For these reasons it is strongly recommended that the doussieè parquet be subjected to protective and finishing treatments.
The doussié is also particularly sensitive to oxidation processes which lead it to darken and change color. It is therefore possible to notice some differences between the time of sampling and the time of supply. Even the prolonged covering of the parquet with carpets or objects can create any color spots.
Uses and uses of doussiè wood
It is widely used in creation of floors. Thanks to its characteristics, it is mainly used for public environments, shopping centers, sports facilities such as gyms, velodromes and sports facilities in general.
In the home, it is especially recommended for bath And kitchen, the two rooms most exposed to the action of water and humidity.
Parquet in doussiè wood
Especially thanks to the excellent quality-price ratio, doussié wood is one of the most requested for the production of parquet. There are numerous advantages of a doussiè parquet:
- it fits perfectly both in classic contexts and in more modern environments
- the measures of the strips give the possibility to create any geometric design (mosaic and herringbone)
- it can be installed on pre-existing floors after roughing
Despite having a good mechanical resistance, doussiè parquet can still suffer scratches and dents, caused for example by stepping on heels, by falling heavy and sharp objects, by scratches caused by nails or pebbles left under the soles of shoes.
It is therefore advisable to subject the wood to finishing and protective treatments in order to amplify its endurance qualities.
Finally, remember that doussié is easily subject to oxidation processes that cause it to darken. This means that from the moment of choice by sample to the moment of delivery of the product, the color of the parquet could be varied.
Cleaning and maintenance
The parquet must be treated with specific products, such as waxes and soaps based on vegetable oils. And finally, the use of the polisher.
Doussiè wood: price
Depending on the size, format and quality of the doussié boards, the price fluctuates between 35.00 and 55.00 euros. A really affordable price that, together with all its advantages, make it an excellent choice for the construction of wooden floors.
It is no coincidence that doussié is one of the most chosen woods for its excellent quality / price ratio. Among other things, it fits very well both in classic contexts and in more modern furnishings.
Other insights
On the parquet theme, here are other suggestions:
- Faux parquet: prices and features
- Guide to oak parquet, prices and features
- Guide to natural products to treat parquet
- Floating parquet: what it is and what are its advantages
- Natural parquet cleaners: our choices
- Ikea parquet views: a simple and effective choice
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George
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