From Crown Molding to Tropical Hardwoods: Laura Basili’s Journey with Brazilian Lumber | Podcast #39

Brazilian Lumber was born from a mistake: asked to build a jatoba spiral staircase, Laura Basili's team imported a full container of wood to control cost, then had to sell the surplus — revealing a business that has grown to roughly 40 employees across Miami and LA.

Tropical hardwoods score 1,500–3,300+ on the Janka hardness scale versus 300–500 for domestic pine or spruce, and their natural tannins repel rot, mold and insects, letting them last 70–80 years with no chemical treatment.

Upkeep on tropical hardwood is only about color, not integrity: apply a UV-protectant oil (roughly every six months in full Florida sun) to keep the rich brown/golden tone, or let it weather to a silver patina — either way the board stays sound and can be sanded back to original color.

Harvested tropical hardwood must come from already-dead, non-seed-bearing old-growth trees under a managed forestry plan, so it delivers dense, tight-ringed wood while supporting the local economy rather than harming the living canopy.

The key species differ by use: ipe is hardest and best for seaside builds, kumaru is the trending British-brown favorite at lower cost, garapa is a golden softer-working wood good for furniture, jatoba runs reddish, and tigerwood shows striped grain.

Thermally modified wood is kiln-dried then baked at high heat with no chemicals to strip out water and glucose, making otherwise non-durable species (ash, pine, iroko) stable and rot-resistant for exterior siding — and they install fast with a nail gun.

Buyers should verify an FSC-certified supplier and Lacey Act compliance; a bigger disruption looms as ipe and kumaru are being considered for the CITES restricted-species list, which would tighten imports.

For contractors, stocking tropical-hardwood samples opens an upmarket, status-conscious clientele and builds repeat relationships with architects and designers who specify natural wood, turning one-time deck sales into an ongoing referral pipeline.