Here, we’ll discuss a tree species; acacia wood.
As this article unfolds, you’ll find all there is to know (the basics) of acacia wood. This includes the features, pros & cons when used for furniture, and more.
Trees offer tons of benefits to the environment as well as use value.
Apart from helping to provide oxygen, they help with the cooling effect wherever they’re found in cities; trees save way, prevent water pollution, prevent soil erosion, provide food, help mark the seasons, beautify spaces, and provide timber.
While all of these points are true for trees, we’re only interested in the use value they provide.
About Acacia Wood
Acacia wood can be identified from its deep, rich, reddish brown color and is known for its durability.
This highly water-resistant wood is ideal for both outdoor and indoor use. Due to its many positive features, acacia wood is easily among wood products in high demand.
This wood has broad applicability, seen in the carving and product of serving bowls, furniture, and flooring, among several others.
There are lots of acacia wood species. Known varieties of acacia number around 1,350. So do all species look the same? Not exactly! You’ll find differences when comparing.
Such differences are primarily seen in how hard and heavy the wood is. From decorative items, furniture, kitchen accessories, and wood flooring, acacia wood is the wood of choice for many.
So far, it sounds as if acacia wood is the perfect material for your furniture. Is it? You’ll find out shortly.
Acacia Wood | Benefits | Challenges
To better understand acacia wood, you’ll have to look at its different properties.
The pros and cons better capture these. Here, you get to decide if this wood will serve your needs or to seek other alternatives.
i. Pros of Acacia Wood
Regarding the benefits of acacia wood, there are several—these range from antibacterial properties to durable, scratch-resistant, sustainable, and low maintenance.
Other benefits of this wood include being workable, having a smooth finish, and having a visually appealing grain pattern.
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Antibacterial Properties
One of the best features of acacia wood is the fact that it has antibacterial properties. Why is that a big deal? It is because wood rot is a problem for lots of wood varieties.
This condition is caused by bacteria that damage wood within a short period. Acacia wood is resistant to this condition.
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Durable
Being one of the hardest woods you’ll find, its durability counts to its advantage as you can apply acacia wood to varying uses.
Homeowners and professionals want to use the best possible material during construction projects. The durability this wood is known for makes it ideal for furniture and construction.
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Scratch Resistant
Due to its hardness, acacia wood is almost scratch resistant. This means it can hold up and retain its look even under harsh use conditions.
That is why acacia wood is preferred for use as a flooring material. Plus, it never disappoints but serves its services. However, you’ll still need to provide the necessary care.
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Sustainable
Regarding sustainability, most acacia tree species are known for their fast growth.
This means despite the massive demand for this wood, it’s quickly replenished without permanently depopulating the trees. As such, acacia wood is always available for use.
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Low Maintenance
If you’re seeking a wood that retains its original look for a long time without you putting too much effort into maintenance, then acacia wood will be the perfect pick.
Furniture items made from this wood are known to require little to no maintenance.
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Workable
Are you looking for a pliable material for your DIY project?
Fresh acacia wood will perfectly fit such functions and more. It’s known to be workable when freshly cut. Plus, they retain such shapes when dry.
You’ll find this put to a variety of uses.
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Have a Smooth Finish
This is one of the features that make acacia wood highly desirable. Its smooth finish adds to the appeal of whatever it’s used for.
Unlike many wood types, acacia wood does not require much polishing. This is one of several reasons why it’s considered low maintenance.
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Visually Appealing Grain Pattern
Acacia wood can be visually appealing with different grain patterns and cutting styles.
The patterns or designs easily fit with their surroundings. You’ll need to be creative when installing or adding this wood to your surroundings to enhance its appeal.
ii. Acacia Wood Cons
Acacia wood, though complicated to scratch, is equally challenging to fix when scratches appear across the grain. Areas with excess heat might negatively impact the wood.
What more? Proper drying is needed to avoid causing significant defects. The darkening effect is another condition you might notice
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Fixing Scratches Across the Grain is Difficult
We’ve said acacia wood is complicated to scratch.
However, when scratched across the grain, it also becomes challenging to fix. You’ll have to be more cautious to avoid scratches to the wood.
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Too Much Heat Affects the Wood
The durability of acacia wood is limited to certain conditions (primarily temperate).
When there’s too much heat, the wood is observed to become warped quickly. To preserve your acacia wood furniture, keep such away from heat sources like furnaces, vents, and fireplaces.
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Defects may Result when not Dried Properly.
Some people wonder why their wood (acacia) crumbles and buckles.
One of the likely reasons is that acacia wood isn’t properly dried. To prevent this from happening, ensure the timber is specially dried to achieve the proper condition.
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Darkening Effect
If you’ve used or have furniture made of acacia wood, these will have to be uniformly exposed to light and air to prevent the darkening effect.
If you’ve not done that before, you’re likely to discover one or more areas of the furniture turning dark.
Acacia Wood is Expensive
One thing you should know about acacia wood is its cost. Although it’s pretty expensive compared to other wood types, it’s not the most costly.
That’s as far as we’ll go on acacia wood. Here, we’ve looked at its pros and cons and cons.