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If you’re seeking the perfect timber for your next project, both spruce and cedar are excellent choices. At AtoZ Wood Company, we believe that understanding the individual properties, workability and best use cases of each wood species is important for making an informed choice. In this article, we tackle one of the most debated questions …

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Tiama wood, with scientific name Entandrophragma angolense, is an exotic, highly versatile African tropical hardwood procured from the large Entandrophragma angolense tree in the prestigious Meliaceae (Mahogany) family. Often sold and used under various regional names such as Edinam in Ghana, Gedu Nohor in Nigeria, and Mukusu in Uganda, this species shares physical similarities with …

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Dibetou wood (scientific name Lovoa trichilioides), commonly known as African Walnut, is a tropical hardwood native to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It features a golden to reddish-brown heartwood with dark black ribbon-like stripes. The wood color gets darker with age. It has a fine-to-medium texture, an interlocked grain, and a distinct cedar-like …

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Cumaru is a tropical hardwood found primarily in Northern South America. Prized as one of the strongest and most versatile hardwoods, Cumaru is known for its exceptional hardness (3,330 lbf) and natural durability, including resistance to moisture, insects, and decay. It is popular for both residential and commercial construction applications, including luxury decking, furniture, flooring, …

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Zebrano, often called zebrawood in many parts of the world, is a visually appealing, strong and durable African hardwood. Known for its beautiful dark stripes on a light golden or yellowish heartwood, this exotic African timber species is a favorite for premium furniture, veneers, musical instruments, cabinetry, and other interior applications. While its appearance is …

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Beli is an attractive, moderately durable African hardwood valued for its unique, zebra-like appearance, good strength and excellent workability. Primarily used in premium furniture and decorative applications for its striking striped grain pattern, Beli is often compared to Zebrawood and used as a readily available alternative in its native regions. Not widely exported, it is …

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Spruce is a popular softwood used throughout the world. Known for its vibrant yellow color, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and versatile applications, it is extensively used in general construction, furniture manufacturing, packaging, the paper industry and musical instrument production. With around 5-6 species, Spruce is found all over the world, including Northern and central Europe, Asia, …

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When it comes to premium hardwoods for furniture, cabinetry, boat building, and outdoor structures, two names come up again and again: Mahogany and Spanish Cedar. Both are prized for their rich color, pleasant grain, and resistance to decay — and both are often mistaken for one another. But they are not the same wood, and …

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Movingui (Distemonanthus benthamianus) is a durable West African hardwood prized for its bright lemon-yellow, slightly goldenish color and natural satiny finish. The wood is extensively used to make exquisite veneer for plywood, furniture, cabinets and other visual-centric applications. With a Janka hardness rating of around 1,280 lbf and average dried density of 720 kg/m3, Movingui …

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Ilomba is a popular African commercial timber valued for its light weight, smooth appearance, and excellent workability. It’s an affordable, non-durable wood commonly used in interior and industrial applications. Ilomba is obtained from a tree called Pycnanthus angolensis in the Myristicaceae (nutmeg) family. It is also sometimes called African nutmeg. Ilomba is commonly used for …

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