FAQ Hardwood Decking

Question and Answers: KAYU® Hardwood Decking

Q. Who is Kayu® International, Inc.?
A. Kayu ® International, Inc. is a Direct Importer of the finest Exotic Hardwood for the U.S. and Canadian markets and was founded in 1994; providing decades of High-Quality Hardwood, Dependable Service at Affordable Prices.

Throughout our history, our main emphasis has always been focused on providing the best quality hardwoods for our customers, when they want it. With business growing solidly every year, we can honestly say we have accomplished that and more. Our warehouses are stocked year round and are located on both the West Coast and East Coast.

Q. Where can I purchase KAYU® Hardwood products?
A. KAYU® has official KAYU® dealers strategically located throughout the US and Canadian markets. Please give us a call for your local distributor.

Toll Free :  (888) 558-5298 or Local (503) 557-7296

Q. Can I use Kayu® Hardwood decking indoors and outdoors?
A. Yes, our hardwood is made for outdoor or indoor use. The hardwoods that KAYU selects are from specially selected species which are extremely durable, dense, rot resistant, and tight grained; and, proven to withstand extreme temperatures and varied climates. KAYU® hardwood is insect, fire, temperature and weather resistant.

Q. Does Kayu® hardwood decking and lumber require a lot of maintenance?
A. No. One of the many benefits that KAYU® hardwood offers is that it is low maintenance. The species of wood that  KAYU® selects can be used for any type of outdoor industrial decking without having to worry about its after effects. If you are looking for resilience, then Kayu® hardwood is the right choice for you. Since it is also very strong and durable, many of our customers also use KAYU ® Hardwood for heavy construction and industrial decking, docks and warehouses. For more information, check out our Maintenance, Cleaning u0026amp; Refinishing Guidelines.

Q. Does Kayu® exotic hardwood have knots, checks or wane?
A. No. Kayu exotic hardwood is a 100% clear wood with no knots checks or wane.

Q. Does Kayu® hardwood need to be acclimated to my local climate?
A. No. There is no need to acclimate the wood to your local climate because all of KAYU’s wood is already 100% Kiln-dried (KD).

Kiln-Dried lumber uses a highly sophisticated process of computer and operator controlled heat and humidity to adjust and regulate the drying of the lumber. KD has an enormous advantage, not only is the wood dried uniformly to a precise 12-14% MC; the wood is stable and shrinkage is done, losing most its water during the drying process, resulting in far less weight. With true Kiln-dried wood, there will be no Kiln stick-marks or mold on the wood.

Our KAYU wood is carefully monitored by Kiln dryers that are highly technical and have the advantages of modern-day computerized programming. Proven drying cycles that are extremely accurate and consistent; load to load and board to board. KD is far superior to AD with highly consistent results.

Q. Will KAYU® Hardwood Decking hold up to both cold and hot weather conditions?
A. Yes, The wood is not affected by cold or heat. Able to withstand the rigors of harsh climates in tropical and frozen winters, making them a perfect choice for both outdoor and indoor use.

Q. Can I use Kayu® Hardwood Decking on stairs or steps?
A. Yes. We have many different examples of beautiful hardwood stairs and steps in our gallery of pictures.  For more information, check out our  “Gallery of Pictures.”

Q. How do I clean my Kayu ® deck?
A. You can clean your exotic hardwood deck as you would any traditional deck; with a broom, blower, garden hose or pressure washer. Like all wood product, routine long-term maintenance is ideal to maintain color richness.  Or if preferred, your deck can be left natural to a soft silver-grey patina color. Periodically power washing is advised. For more information, check out our Maintenance, Cleaning u0026amp; Refinishing Guidelines.

Q. Does the sun have any effect on the wood?
A. Over time, all hardwood decks and furniture will eventually fade and turn a soft silver-grey patina color. To keep the wood color as long as possible, it is recommended that you treat the deck with a high-quality hardwood decking oil approximately every 6-12 months depending on your climate conditions. Or if preferred, your deck can be left natural to a soft silver-grey patina color.

A natural and HUGE benefit of KAYU® International’s 100% real wood is that even if you choose to leave your deck a silver-grey patina color for years or even decades, you can restore the look of a treated deck at any time.  Clean, Wash and Oil, that’s it!  Brings your deck back to its original warm tone.  For more information, check out our Maintenance, Cleaning u0026amp; Refinishing Guidelines.

Q. What is hardwood lumber?
A. Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees. They are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics, mostly evergreen. Hardwoods have a more complex structure than softwoods. The dominant feature separating “hardwoods” from softwoods is the presence of pores, or vessels. As their name suggests, the wood from these trees is generally harder than that of softwoods.

Q. What is 4/4, 5/4, 8/4, etc.?
A. These fractions are the “nominal”  thickness of each board, standard to the lumber industry. A board that is 4/4 (1 inch) wide finishes out to 3/4″ net width. A 5/4 (1-1/4″) board finishes out to 1″ net width.   Think of it like this ( 8 divided by 4 is 2, so 8/4 is a nominal 2-inch thick board.

Q. What is meant by the term ‘rough sawn’ lumber?
A. Rough sawn lumber is a collective term for harvested wood that has been manufactured into boards and planks.

Q. What is meant by the term ‘finger-jointed’ products?
A. The finger-joint is by far the most commonly used joint to form long pieces of lumber. The finger joint has the advantage of giving you exactly the exact lengths you need. Moreover, the joining of several smaller pieces actually further spreads out the natural wood forces, creating a stable product.

Q. Is Kayu® hardwood earth friendly?
A. Yes. We do Green!

If you are looking for 100% Natural Wood, 100% Organic, with no preservative or additives, 100% Lacey Act compliant and selectively logged, sustainable exotic hardwood, look no further than KAYU ® International. At KAYU International, we are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council standard and control (FSC). Naturally resistant to rot, insect attack, fungus, decay, and class A’ fire rating. For more information, check out our Sustainable Forest Management document.

Q. Is the wood that Kayu® is logging, damaging the Rainforest?
A. At KAYU International, we are 100% Lacey Act compliant. Kayu works closely with government agencies, sawmills and foresters from all over the world to ensure that our Exotic Hardwood Decking is sustainably managed. All Exotic hardwood decking is regenerated either naturally or by seeding and replanting and is third-party certified as having been produced from legally harvested logs in compliance with all the international laws and regulations pertaining to the harvest and trade of both temperate and tropical forest products. KAYU International remains committed to the protection and preservation of the world’s valuable timber resources and is pleased to bring the benefits of these unique timber products to you. For more information, check out our Sustainable Forest Management document.

Q. How does the density of Kayu’s wood compare to other hardwood?
A. For more information on our density chart, check out the details Kayu Decking Density Comparison Guide.

Q. Are there any limited warranties on the purchase of specific species?
A. Yes. For more information on our limited warranty, check out the details 25-year limited warranty.

Q. Do you have any installation guidelines for installing Kayu® Decking?
A. Yes. For more information on installation guideline, check out the details Installation Essentials for Kayu® Hardwood Decking.

Q. Do you have any installation guidelines for installing Kayu® Hardwood Deck Tiles?
A. Yes. For more information on Deck Tile installation guideline, check out the details Deck Tile Installation Process.