The Wonders of Rubberwood

Posted on October 14, 2008 by Joyce Benson   8 Comments |
Tag(s): For Kids, Green Building, Green Furnishings

Rubberwood may sound flimsy, but the wood from the Pará Rubber tree is actually a strong, tightly grained wood that is ideal for furniture, flooring, and even toys. It is commonly cultivated in South America and Asia for its natural latex sap (which by the way makes cozy, comfortable mattresses), but when the trees have reached the ripe old age of 30 years, sap production has greatly diminished. So, instead of these valuable trees going to waste, they are then cut down for timber, and new rubber trees are planted to replenish the stock. Unlike mahogany or teak, rubberwood (aka Parawood), is considered a sustainable source of wood.

Rubberwood grows to a mature height of 75 feet with a 3-foot diameter. It withstands the kiln-drying process with very little shrinkage and takes finishes well, which makes it perfect where a stable wood is required.

So, the next time you’re out shopping and come across something made of rubberwood, don’t underestimate its good qualities and eco-friendliness. You’ll likely find wooden toys made of rubberwood and painted with non-toxic paints at smaller toy shoppes. All kinds of rubberwood furniture can be found online and in some stores, as it is gaining in popularity. Rubberwood flooring can be purchased online or at some green building supply stores.

Sources: WiseGeek and FAO Forestry Department

Comments

8 Responses to “The Wonders of Rubberwood”

  1. Bill Tragert on October 14th, 2008 2:05 pm

    Very very few rubberwood trees grow to three feet in diameter. They are usually harvested at about 6-10″ diameter when they have finished their latex-producing 25-30 year-old lives. “Hevea Brasiliensis” is a member of the maple family, and it’s a very stable, machinable, stainable, and strong wood.

    I agree it’s a great eco-friendly wood for furniture, plywood, and other uses. I only know this because I’m involved with building a hopefully Smartwood-certified, formaldehyde-free rubberwood plywood plant these days in Thailand.

    It’s a great wood, and we’ll be seeing more and more of it in lots of products in the not-too-far future !!!

  2. linda on December 19th, 2008 3:08 pm

    My research says it tends to “warp noticeably in dry climates”. If this product is shipped to North American dry climates, how will it stand up? We have seen a lot of warping and cracking.

  3. Joyce Benson on December 20th, 2008 11:33 am

    From what I have seen, rubberwood is a very stable wood and resists cracking and warping. In what kind of application have you seen it crack and warp?

  4. linda on December 22nd, 2008 6:49 pm

    Furniture in dry climates.

  5. Sheila Smith on January 17th, 2010 7:08 pm

    I am wanting to paint a rubberwood cabinet, is this possible?

  6. Joyce Benson on January 24th, 2010 12:32 pm

    I don’t see why it wouldn’t be paintable just like any other wood.

  7. Thailand’s Furniture Industry « Thai Trade Center, USA on July 19th, 2010 4:27 pm

    [...] teak, but primarily rubberwood. A byproduct of Thailand’s rubber industry, rubberwood is the most ecologically friendly of all lumber used to manufacture furniture.  When a rubber tree is about 30 years old and has [...]

  8. Alina on February 4th, 2011 11:39 pm

    How would one care for rubberwood furniture?

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