If you’re looking for Brazilian Cherry flooring pros and cons, we’ve got you covered. Different kinds of hardwood flooring options have trended over the years and have gone out of style.
Yet, the Brazilian cherry hardwood has piqued many people’s interest after over a decade of being in the spotlight, perhaps, because it has a bold, rich, and exotic color. The Brazilian cherry comes from the rainforest in Brazil.
You can also find it in Southern Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. Although its name suggests it is a member of the cherry family, it is not.
Instead, it is a member of a legume species known as the Hymenaea courbaril. “Cherry” is used to describe the wood’s deep red color. Like other types of hardwood floorings, it has its pros and cons.
Learning about the Brazilian cherry flooring pros and cons would help you decide whether it is the right hardwood flooring material to use in your home.
The Pros of Brazilian Cherry Flooring
1. Rich Color Palette
The Brazilian Cherry’s rich color palette is one of the widely known Brazilian cherry flooring pros. The wood’s red undertones can add a hue of warmth to an otherwise drab room, making the room more welcoming.
There are different shades of Brazilian Cherry, all of which bring a distinct, pleasant aesthetic to a room. The wood’s rich color and variety of shades allow it to combine well with other wood kinds of furnishings.
For instance, the Brazilian cherry flooring with deep shades can provide the contrast needed to balance a room with too many light furnishings or one exposed to sunlight.
2. Very Durable
Durability is an important criterion many people consider when choosing the hardwood flooring material for their homes.
The Brazilian cherry has survived various hardwood flooring trends in the real estate market because its durability is one of the Brazilian cherry flooring pros.
The Janka Hardness Scale, which uses the amount of force required to embed a steel ball into a plank of wood to determine its durability, gives the Brazilian cherry a rating of 2350.
It would be best to compare it to other hardwoods to put that into proper perspective – the Janka Hardness scale rates the Brazilian cherry as 81% harder than the red oak (1290) and 62% harder than the maple (1450).
The Brazilian cherry’s hardness makes it a great flooring choice for home areas with high traffic because it won’t wear out easily. It also means it stands a better chance of withstanding scuffs and scratches from furniture or pets.
3. Value for Money
The Brazilian cherry offers a good value for money compared to many other exotic hardwood flooring materials.
Although comparing the cost of acquiring and installing the Brazilian cherry flooring to other options may seem a bit more expensive. However, the Brazilian cherry’s durability offers a better value for money in the long run.
With proper maintenance, the Brazilian cherry flooring can last 30 years or more, saving you money in terms of repairs or having to install another flooring.
4. Increases Home Resale Value
Aside from the value for money its durability offers, the Brazilian cherry can also raise the value of your property when you want to sell it.
People who engage in real estate flipping – buying a property, renovating it, and selling it for a profit – often install hardwood flooring to raise a home’s value.
The Brazilian cherry flooring pros and attractiveness increase a home’s resale value because it would save potential home buyers the cost of installing new flooring if they decide to renovate the home after purchasing it.
4. Versatile
The Brazilian cherry is among the few hardwood flooring options that blend well with all types of home decor. The reason behind the Brazilian cherry’s versatility is there are at least 25 species of the tree.
Thanks to the availability of different species, the Brazilian cherry flooring comes in various shades, giving homeowners the flexibility to choose one that compliments their home decor.
With the Brazilian cherry, you can achieve any home setting, including traditional and contemporary.
The Cons of Brazilian Cherry Flooring
1. Pricey
One of the Brazilian cherry flooring cons that often discourages people who love the hardwood from installing it is its price. It is often said that “quality doesn’t come cheap.”
The Brazilian cherry is not the best flooring option for anyone keen on saving money as it would eat into a lean budget. It is among the most expensive exotic hardwood floors to purchase and install.
While some alternatives that offer a similar appearance for less money exist, the Brazilian cherry outlasts them in the long run.
2. It Darkens Over Time
Many hardwood floors change color depending on the amount of natural or artificial light they are exposed to. While some will become lighter, some will become darker.
One of the Brazilian cherry flooring cons to be mindful of before installing it in your home is that it would darken with time.
That means the floor’s shade of color is likely to change after some years, depending on the light exposure it receives. While this may not be a con for some people, others may worry that the darkened shade would not go well with their home decor.
3. Risk of Water Damage
Like most hardwoods, the Brazilian cherry is not water-resistant. Despite their hardness and durability, Brazilian cherry floorings are susceptible to water damage. Water is the major enemy of wood and a proponent of wood rot.
The fungus responsible for wood rot feeds and survives only on damp wood. Since the Brazilian cherry is not a water-resistant flooring option, it is likely to rot if installed in certain moist home areas such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.
4. Difficult to Install
If flooring your home is a DIY project for you, the Brazilian cherry flooring would pose a big hurdle. The Brazilian cherry is not a flooring material that everybody can install due to its hardness.
If proper care is not taken during the tricky installation process, you will damage the plank. As a result, you need to hire qualified professionals to get the job done – an additional cost that makes it an expensive flooring choice.
5. Does Not Conceal Dirt and Dust
Like other hardwood floorings with dark finishes, the Brazilian cherry flooring tends to amplify dirt and dust rather than conceal them.
Homeowners who install the Brazilian cherry flooring will need to sweep, vacuum, or mop the floor more regularly than those who install other hardwood flooring options.
While this might not seem like a problem to some people, it would be a major problem for people with a busy schedule.
Final Thoughts
The Brazilian cherry is an excellent hardwood flooring option for homeowners because the wood’s natural color can complement various home decor and add a touch of elegance to the home.
It’s also a good choice of hardwood flooring for people who plan to sell their home later, as it can increase a home’s value.
The initial cost of acquiring and installing the Brazilian cherry flooring is a con that often drives many homeowners who like the wood’s rich color to seek other less experience hardwood flooring options.
However, when you consider the durability it guarantees, you will realize that the Brazilian cherry is a cost-effective flooring choice, especially when properly maintained.
Taste and budget, among other things, are some of the important factors to consider when choosing the right flooring material for your home. As a result, it is a personal decision that nobody can make for you.