Parawood is usually compared to maple. It has been marketed as “Tropical Maple”. Most of its characteristics, density, hardness, color, ease to stain and work with are the same as maple
This is something we take great pride in. It is a surgical procedure. We do not just blanket say plow down that field. We select trees that for one reason or another have stopped producing Natural Rubber. By in large the trees we harvest are 25-30 years old.
That is our “Pacaya Series”. That is cause by the uniqueness of the Parawood and the way we process it. As the tree gets tapped for its sap a small scar is produced, as the tree grows it heals itself. So unlike a knot that is a weak point in a board, the tapping marks just give Parawood character
Parawood tends to take stain very well and uniformly, much like other hard woods such as maple and cherry. Always pick a top coat that is compatible with your stain. Some customers like the natural look and just give it a coat of polyurethane.