Purple Heart wood, also called Peltogyne spp, is a tropical hardwood that grows in Central and South America. It gets its name from the deep violet colour it turns when cut, but it can also be purple-brown or pink-brown. Purple Heart is used for a wide range of things, including decking, because of its unique, eye-catching colour and high strength and durability. People use Purple Heart Decking all over New Zealand, including in Christchurch and Auckland.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about the history, physical properties, and common uses of Purple Heart wood, as well as things to think about when deciding whether or not to use it. Contact our professional deck builders right away if you have any questions or want to know more. If you are after a deck builder in Auckland give us a call for a chat.
Purple Heart Decking’s History
Because it is strong and beautiful, Purple Heart wood has been used for a long time in Central and South America. People in these areas have been using Purple Heart for hundreds of years to make tools, weapons, and decorative items.
Purple Heart is a high-quality wood that is becoming more popular in other parts of the world. It can be used for many things. It is often used to make things like furniture, decorations, and outdoor structures like decks.
Purple Heart Decking’s Look And Feel
Purple Heart wood is known for being strong and durable, which makes it a good choice for use outside. It is considered very durable because it doesn’t rot and termites and other bugs can’t eat it.
Purple Heart wood is known for its unusual colour, which can be deep violet, purple-brown, or even pink-brown. The colour tends to get darker over time and in the sun, making it a rich and vivid shade.
Purple Heart wood is also pretty heavy, with a specific gravity of about 1.0. This means that it is heavy and strong, which makes it a good choice for building.
Purple Heart wood is usually easy to work with. It is easy to cut, drill, and sand. It does, however, tend to dull cutting edges faster than some other woods, so it’s important to use sharp tools when working with it.
When it comes to maintenance, Purple Heart wood can be checked on the surface (the formation of small cracks on the surface of the wood). But this can be kept to a minimum by giving the wood a good finish and not letting it dry out too much.
Purple Heart Decking’s Primary Uses
Purple Heart wood is used for many useful and beautiful things. Here are a few common ways to use it:
Decks and other buildings outside
Purple Heart wood is good for decking because it doesn’t rot and lasts for a long time. It is also used for outdoor structures like pergolas, gazebos, and fences.
Furniture
Because of its unique colour and natural beauty, Purple Heart wood is often used to make furniture and decorations like carvings, inlays, and turnings.
Other Uses
Purple Heart wood is also used, among other things, for flooring, veneers, and musical instruments.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Purple Heart Decking
Because of its unique colour and strength, Purple Heart wood is often used for decking. But like any other material, it has pros and cons that you should think about before deciding whether or not to use it for a deck.
Purple Heart Decking’s Advantages
Strength and Damage Resistance
Purple Heart wood is known for being very strong and resistant to rotting. This makes it a great choice for outdoor structures like decks. It can also keep bugs like termites away, which can make it last even longer.
Unique Colours
Purple Heart wood has a unique colour that ranges from deep violet to purple-brown and pink-brown. It tends to get darker over time and when it’s in the sun. This makes the deck look more beautiful and interesting by giving it a rich, bright colour.
Easy to take care of
Purple Heart wood doesn’t need as much care as some other types of wood. It doesn’t need to be stained or sealed often, and insects and rot don’t hurt it.
Environmental Friendliness
Most people think that Purple Heart wood is good for the environment because it is durable and lasts a long time. This means it can help reduce waste and the number of times things need to be replaced.
Purple Heart Decking Cost Pros and Cons
Purple Heart wood can cost more than other types of wood because of its unique colour and strength. People on a tight budget or who want to build a bigger deck might find this less appealing.
Availability
Purple Heart wood is not as common as other kinds of wood, which can make it harder to find and possibly raise the price.
Surface Checking
When small cracks show up on the surface of the wood, this is called surface checking. With Purple Heart wood, this can happen. This can be kept to a minimum by using a good finish and not letting the wood dry out too much, but it is still important to be aware of.
Color Loss
Purple Heart wood tends to get darker over time, but it can also lose some of its colour if it’s in the sun for a long time. Some people might not care about this, but it is something to think about if you want a consistent colour.
In conclusion, Purple Heart wood is a good choice for decking because it is strong, has natural beauty, needs little maintenance, and is good for the environment. But you should also think about what could go wrong with it, like how much it will cost and whether or not the surface will crack or the colour will fade. In the end, a homeowner will decide whether or not to use Purple Heart wood for a deck based on what he or she wants and needs.
Purple Heart decking Considerations
Purple Heart wood is beautiful and strong, and it can be used for a lot of different things, such as building decks and other outdoor structures. But there are a few things to keep in mind before using Purple Heart wood for a project.
Cost
Because of its unique colour and strength, Purple Heart wood can be more expensive than other types of wood. It’s also more difficult to find. Also, it’s not as common as some other species, which can make it harder to find. If the price or availability of Purple Heart wood is a problem, you may need to look for other options or use it sparingly with other materials.
What Happens to the Environment
You should also think about how Purple Heart wood affects the world around you. This includes how the source is made, moved, thrown away, and how long it will last. It’s important to make sure that the wood comes from well-managed forests and that making and transporting it doesn’t hurt the environment.
Maintenance And Care
Most of the time, it’s easy to take care of Purple Heart wood, but it does need some care and maintenance to stay in good shape. This includes making sure it doesn’t dry out too much and giving it a good finish to reduce the chance of cracking on the surface (the formation of small cracks on the surface of the wood). It’s also important to clean the wood often and get rid of any dust or dirt that builds up on the surface.
Using Purple Heart With Other Material
It is also important to think about how Purple Heart wood will work with other materials. For example, if it’s going to be used as decking, make sure that the screws, nails, and other hardware that will be used to hold it in place are compatible with it. Also, it’s a good idea to test any finishes or stains that will be used on the wood to make sure they don’t react badly with the Purple Heart.
Overall, Purple Heart wood is a beautiful and durable material that can be used for many different projects. But before you decide to use it, you should carefully consider the points above to make sure it’s the best choice for the project you’re working on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people think that Purple Heart wood is good for the environment because it is strong and lasts a long time. But it’s important to think about how making and moving the wood affects the environment and how long the source will last.
Purple Heart wood doesn’t need as much care as some other types of wood. Even so, surface checks can happen (the formation of small cracks on the surface of the wood). This is less likely to happen if you use a good finish and don’t let the wood dry out too much.
Purple Heart wood is usually easy to work with. It is easy to cut, drill, and sand. It does, however, tend to dull cutting edges faster than some other woods, so it’s important to use sharp tools when working with it.
Because of its unique colour and strength, Purple Heart wood can cost more than other types of wood. But in the long run, it may be worth it because it lasts for a long time and doesn’t need much care. In New Zealand, the average price for a square metre of Purple Heart decking wood is around $100.
Yes, Purple Heart wood is good for decking because it doesn’t rot and lasts a long time. It also doesn’t attract bugs like termites, which makes it easy to take care of. It’s also pretty to look at because it has a unique colour and is made of natural materials.
