Gabon padauk in Chennai.
Vivid orange red off the saw, deepening with light. Hard, stable and exceptionally durable. Gabon padauk is the finest there is, and this is it.
Padauk is not a teak. It is Pterocarpus soyauxii, a West African hardwood, and it does not look like anything else in the stack. Cut it and it comes off the saw a startling orange red. Leave it in daylight and over months it settles into a deep, rich red brown.
It is hard, it is dimensionally stable, and it is exceptionally durable. It resists insect attack well and it holds crisp detail, which is why it is favoured for flooring, heavy furniture, turned work and anywhere a piece is meant to be looked at rather than painted over.
Gabon is where the best of it comes from, and Gabon padauk is what we bring in. If someone has offered you padauk without telling you where it grew, that is worth asking about.
How it is sold, and what it suits.
How it is sold
- Round logs, measured in Hoppus cubic feet
- Sawn to your cutting list at our mill
- Sections cut for frames and shutters
- Planks for furniture and joinery
What it suits
- Flooring and heavy use surfaces
- Statement furniture
- Doors where colour is the point
- Turned and carved work
- Decorative panelling and inlay
What decides the price
- Origin and grade
- Girth of the log
- Length available
- Oil content and grain
- Quantity you are buying
What buyers ask about Gabon padauk.
Does the orange colour fade?
It changes rather than fades. Freshly cut padauk is bright orange red. With exposure to light it darkens over months into a deep red brown, which is the colour most people actually want. A finish with UV protection slows the change.
Is padauk harder than teak?
Yes, noticeably. It is a dense hardwood and it wears very well, which is why it works for flooring. It also means your carpenter will want sharp tools.
What is padauk used for most often?
Flooring, furniture, doors, staircases and decorative work. Anywhere the colour and the hardness are both wanted.
Ask for today's rate.
Rates move with the market, so we quote on the day. Tell us the sizes you need and the quantity, and we will give you a straight number. Work out your volume first on the free timber calculator.