J. Gibson Mcilvain Co. Pages - Hardwood Iroko

Milicia excelsa

AKA African Teak

Iroko is a West African hardwood often also called African Teak due to the similar yellow brown color of the two species. Iroko wood comes from Africa, whereas old growth Teak comes from Southeast Asia. Like Teak, Iroko wood is a water resistant species (not water proof) and ideal for exterior applications. Iroko wood is most often used for exterior cladding, pergolas, decking, and even trim. But it has a life for interiors as well. The wide widths make it a prime species for interior engineered flooring, but also wall panels and even some furniture. Its yellow brown look makes it an excellent candidate for the MidCentury style of design which has long been the domain of Teak. In some ways Iroko is a superior species compared with Teak due the extremely large size of the Iroko tree, which produces wide and long boards that are easier to use for millwork applications.

While a bit lighter than Teak, Iroko wood has many of the same properties such as hardness and grain structure. It is even rot and water resistant, making it a great species for exterior and even marine applications. Iroko is used primarily for exterior project like decking and cladding. Its Teak like color makes is an excellent substitute but its enormous sizes mean that it has many used both inside and out in furniture, interior panelling, flooring, trim and more. It is quite hard and holds details well and takes finish of all kinds with a closely packed pored structure.

Iroko Wood Characteristics

The grain of Iroko is interlocked like most African wood species. You will find a ribbon striped effect with quartersawn Iroko. African Teak has a very uniform striped look similar to Sapele, and the hardness between the grain stripes is quite consistent, making it much easier to mill than many other interlocked grain species. African Teak is an open pored wood that, while diffuse porous, features pores which are larger in size, making for a rougher texture than Teak or Sapele when freshly milled.