Wood Species In Detail: Rubberwood

At Osborne Wood Products, we supply the cabinet and furniture trade with the highest quality decorative wood components. Naturally, we work hard to source the highest quality wood possible. In an effort to better help our hobbyist and DIY customers make the right choice in which wood types to use in their projects, we have developed several posts detailing our various wood types and answering any common questions our customers may have.

Rubberwood 101

It’s no secret that wood is one of the most popular materials used to make furniture. However, wooden furniture can be made of more types of wood than most home furniture shoppers might realize.

Many of the pieces you’ll see in your favorite stores are crafted from a popular type of hardwood called rubberwood or parawood. But what is rubberwood, you may ask? If you’re interested in wooden furniture for your home, it’s worth it to take the time to learn about the many different types of wood out there. In this guide to rubberwood, you’ll learn what this material is and why it’s used in so many different types of furniture.

What Is Rubberwood?

When many furniture shoppers hear about rubberwood furniture, they assume that this wood type must be made from synthetic materials. This is not the case; in fact, rubberwood is a naturally occurring hardwood type that comes from Brazil’s Pará rubber tree, or the hevea brasiliensis. It is often used as a substitute for other hardwood species like Meranti, Ramin, Lauan, and Nyatoh.

These trees are native to Southeast Asia and India, but their wood is used for building materials throughout the world. While hardwood is one primary product of the rubber tree, some of the tree’s byproducts are actually used to make rubber, which is where the tree’s name comes from.

Once a rubber tree reaches the end of its natural life cycle, its wood is harvested to create a variety of hardwood-based products. One of the most popular uses of rubberwood is for furniture pieces such as tables, chairs, cabinets, cutting boards, moulding, and similar items. Rubberwood is also a common choice for homeowners installing hardwood floors.

The wood harvested from rubberwood trees is naturally light-colored, which lends itself well to many popular furniture pieces. However, rubberwood can also be stained in a variety of finishes to achieve your desired hue and paints smoothly when using a good primer.

Rubberwood has a medium-density weight with a medium-coarse texture. Most rubberwood pieces have a straight grain pattern and rarely develop defects, which is part of why rubberwood is so commonly used for hardwood furniture, carpentry, or flooring. While warps can occur during the kiln drying process, this wood is considered to be stable and resistant to warping once dry.

Rubberwood Durability

One of the most important considerations that homeowners will make when choosing their hardwood furniture, flooring, or carpentry is the durability of the wood type. This relates to why real wood is often preferred over synthetic alternatives despite the difference in price; synthetic wood simply can’t compare to the reliability and long-lasting quality of real wood.

Is rubberwood furniture as durable as other types of hardwood? Rubberwood is a more budget-friendly option when compared to other types of hardwood, which means that other types might offer greater durability.

However, for its price point, rubberwood carpentry, furniture, cabinetry, and millwork are surprisingly durable. These options can stand up against shrinkage, cracking, and other forms of wear and tear when cared for correctly.

Rubberwood Sustainability

If environmental responsibility is important to you, you may be interested in making sure that the wooden furniture and construction features in your home are made sustainably. Luckily, rubberwood is considered to be a sustainable hardwood option that you can feel good about.

Rubberwood trees are well-known for how quickly they grow. This means new trees can grow in the place of harvested ones relatively at a rapid pace.

Moreover, rubberwood trees are only harvested for carpentry or woodworking purposes after they’ve been utilized for latex production. As a result, each rubberwood tree is used for multiple purposes, which cuts down on the environmental strain each industry causes.

Collecting hardwood from a renewable resource such as this makes it possible for furniture and flooring manufacturers to collect the materials they need without doing much harm to the environment.

Rubberwood vs. Soft Maple

When it comes to hardwood types that are directly comparable to rubberwood, soft maple is a common consideration. While many other types of hardwood are technically harder than rubberwood according to the Janka hardness test, soft maple is known to be slightly harder than rubberwood.

Maple wood can be categorized as soft or hard. While soft maple may be softer than maple wood, it’s important to recognize that hard maple is harder than rubberwood. It is also usually the primary choice for hardwood in carpentry projects that require a very hard and durable material.

What Furniture Is Typically Made From Rubberwood?

What is rubberwood known for in the furniture manufacturing and woodworking world? Since this type of wood is durable yet flexible and easy for carpenters to work with, rubberwood is a material that works well for several kinds of wood products.

Kitchen cabinets and other forms of cabinetry are a popular choice for rubberwood woodworking products. This type of solid wood is also commonly used for wood carving.

The Benefits of Using Rubberwood for Furniture

Why is rubberwood used so often in furniture making and woodworking? Here are a few reasons why this wood type is so commonly found in the most prominent furniture stores.

More Affordable

Rubberwood is known as a cost-effective option for homeowners who want to include hardwood features in their home but can’t afford pricier options like hard maple or oak. Though it may not be quite as durable as these other types of wood, it still holds up very well for furniture making or flooring.

Many Finish Options

Rubberwood naturally comes in a light color. However, it can also be painted or stained in all kinds of finishes to fit a wide variety of aesthetics.

Good for the Environment

The eco-friendly nature of rubberwood makes it a popular choice among homeowners and furniture shoppers of all lifestyles. You can rest assured knowing that your rubberwood product was made with sustainable materials.

Learn More About Rubberwood Furniture at Osborne Wood

As you can see, there’s so much to learn about the world of hardwood furniture, flooring, construction, woodworking, and more. At Osborne Wood, our experts are here to empower homeowners and assist them in making the right choices for their homes. Contact us to speak with a hardwood product specialist today.

Additionally, if you would like a part made in rubberwood, you can contact us for a custom quote by filling out our online form, emailing [email protected], or calling 800-849-8876 and speaking with a representative today.

Check out the links below to read more in-depth about all the other wood types we offer:

• Maple (hard, soft, tiger/curly)
• Pine (knotty, heart, specialty)
• Oak (red, white, rift vs. quarter sawn)
• Rubberwood – this post
• Beech
• Mahogany
• Cherry & Alder
• Black Walnut
• Hickory
• Poplar
• Miscellaneous & Specialty Woods