?Exotic? is the name given to wood, mostlyhardwoods, from faraway lands. Because they mostly originate in the tropics, South America,Asia and Africa, the name was an obvious andalluring choice. Exotics appear ?foreign? to American eyes because of theirunusual colors and grain patterns. You can see Mother Nature's handiwork inunexpected hues of dark reds and browns with hints of charcoal, blue or blonde,and you'll find it in names like Brazilian Cherry, Brazilian Cherry, SantosMahogany, Australian Cypress, Wenge, Amendoim, Eucalyptus, and Purpleheart.

Colorations are so striking that manyexotics are prefinished without stain. Because the natural color is consistentthroughout the entire plank, restoring the original exotic beauty requires justsanding and recoating.

They may be exotic, but they're notdelicate. Exotics tend to be harder than their American hardwood cousins, oftentwo to three times that of North American Red Oak. In the hands of betterquality manufacturers, exotics get even tougher with precision milling for atight fit and long-wearing finishes like aluminum oxide. Most countries nowhave strict laws requiring sustainable forestry practices, and they work handin- hand with better brand-name wood floor brands. The process begins withtaking weak, old and fallen trees first and using precision cutting to getevery square inch possible out of every piece, whether the end-product is solidor engineered. Because exotics mostly grow in tropical regions, they grow andreplenish themselves much faster than ours do here in more temperate climates. can be used in formal or informal settings. The grain and hue ofBrazilian Cherry and Santos Mahogany are favored for more formal d'cors. Lightercolors of Eucalyptus or Brazilian Maple work well in contemporary settings. Andthe ?knotty? and striated look of Australian Cypress lends itself to designsfrom casual to rustic. Rich colors from blonde to ebony, together with newfeatures like the hand-scraped look open up a new world of personalization.Maybe it's a simple light border to frame a stunning dark African wood, or aherringbone in mahogany, but these days hardwood floors are a bit of luxuryjust about anyone can afford. Come in and discover the world of exotic woodfloors. Let us show you the latest exotic styles, design and installationtechniques and, of course, products and services to keep that new floor lookingworld-class.