When considering finished carpentry, there are many hardwood options that can be found in this region of Mexico. It’s important to consider hardwoods that serve a dual purpose; enhance the look of your home while remaining resistant to both insects and the coastal elements. Certain types of coastal hardwoods such as the much used “parota” wood for example are a protected species and can be more difficult and costly to source. However, there are a plethora of hardwoods that have both a beautiful finish, are accessible cost wise and with a little ongoing maintenance will last for decades.

Caoba is a hardwood tree which exists in the South American tropics and is known for its fine and exotic beauty. It has been used locally as a building source and was and continues to be used for ship building due to its resistance to the humidity. Caoba tends to have a redish, rosey, salmon or honeyed finish when it is freshly cut and turns slightly darker once it’s been dried. Caoba is an exceptionally easy wood to work, either by hand or machine. You can still find many artesans who hand make furniture and decorative masks from caoba wood. Its durability and stability make it highly desirable for creating intricate designs for furniture and décor. Its natural resistance to parasites & high humidity allow for a long lifetime in our coastal conditions. For its unique characteristics, Caoba wood continues to be commercialized both in Mexico and internationally.

Parota is also a common hardwood used for furniture production and general finished carpentry. The parota is especially poisonous to parasites such as termites and other wood-eating pests, making it highly desirable for the bug-infested tropics. The parota trees typically have a massive girth, making it possible to mill the trunks for use as structural elements in a deck, terrace or pergola. Similar to caoba, parota wood is highly resistant to humidity. However, unlike the caoba wood, parota creates an irritating and toxic dust when milled or power sanded and is therefore considered difficult to work with. The color of parota is generally a much darker and richer coffee color than caoba, but often you will see lighter honey colored swirls or strips intertwined within dark sections of the wood.

Bocote which has a similar rigidity to teak wood is highly desired for fine furniture making, moldings and decorative door knobs and is also used on some boats interiors in lieux of teak. It is commonly used by wood artesan for a variety of finished products and is also used for flooring and veneer. Generally a darker and oily tropical wood, it’s highly prized for its dramatic, wild grain striping. These dark brown or black streaks, which sometimes form in concentric circles, give Bocote its defining look and lend finished products a truly distinctive appearance.

Palma de coco or palmwood is another type of local hardwood that is commonly used for beams and flooring, though the finished look doesn’t share the same kind of luster or beauty as caoba or parota. It is possible to add a sealant or varnish in order to add luster to the wood, however if not up kept regularly will return to its naturally dry state. Palmwood is also resistant to parasites and its thick knotty bark is often used as a decorative finish. It’s also a very dense wood and can be used as sectional or cross beams for roofing or as structural elements in building. Though not as striking as other hardwoods, it is a more economical option and found in abundance locally.

Tornillo de Peru is another beautiful tropical hardwood, imported from South America that has recently become available in the local market. Tornillo de Peru shares some visual characteristics with maple, having uniform lighter honey-gold tones and grain striations. Its finished look is more oily than matte and can be worked into cabinetry, doors, furniture and décor. Highly resistant to parasites and humidity it is another hardwood that is ideally suited to the tropics. However, as this type of hardwood has only recently been introduced locally it is often difficult to find and can subsequently be more costly.

Most hardwoods will retain their beauty over time if they are given a bit of regular maintenance every 8-10 or 10-12 months. This can be done with a wood sealant such as CWF, which comes in different stains to match with the wood’s natural tones or a transparent sealant is also just as effective. If you are using palma de coco beams for a deck or exterior pergola or roofing, make sure that the beams are thoroughly dried out before applying a sealant. Otherwise moisture can get trapped inside and create pockets of humidity that will slowly rot the beams interior. This simple maintenance will keep your hardwood looking lustrous and protected year round.

· · · This article originally appeared in the March 2010 issue of Another Day in Paradise for which Maura Taylor is a regular contributor. CLICK HERE to read full digital issues of this vibrant local magazine on all things Zihua.