Species Guide · Jatoba
Warm reddish-brown color with the rot resistance to back it up.
Jatoba is a Central and South American hardwood in warm reddish-brown tones with darker streaking through the grain — a rich, consistent look that reads as a genuine step up from domestic decking options without the premium price tag of Ipe.
Characteristics
Jatoba carries a Janka hardness of 2,690, solidly in the same performance range as Cumaru and Red Balau, with very durable rot resistance and strong insect resistance built in. It holds up well in Central Florida's humidity and heat, and installation runs similar to the other dense exotics — pre-drilling recommended, best handled by an experienced installer.
Also Used For
Jatoba's warm tone and durability carry over well to exterior siding, and it mills into tongue and groove or custom trim profiles.
Common Questions
Yes — Jatoba is very durable when it comes to rot resistance and holds up well against insects, both of which matter in Central Florida's humidity and heat.
Jatoba runs a warm reddish-brown with darker streaks through the grain, giving it a rich, consistent look across a full deck.
All three sit in a similar performance tier — dense, durable, and well-suited to Florida's climate. Jatoba's main distinction is its warm reddish-brown color with darker streaking, versus Cumaru's golden-brown and Red Balau's reddish tone.
No — Jatoba carries a Janka hardness of 2,690 versus Ipe's 3,680. It's still a very dense, durable hardwood, just not quite in Ipe's top tier.
Pre-drilling is recommended given its density, and installation is best handled by an experienced contractor — similar to Cumaru and Red Balau.
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