Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) Decking Boards Smooth 21x145mm

Jatoba — widely known as Brazilian Cherry — is one of the hardest and most visually striking tropical hardwood decking timbers available in the UK. These smooth-face boards at 21x145mm bring a rich, deep reddish-brown colour to the deck surface that deepens further with exposure to light, creating an appearance that becomes more distinctive over time rather than fading. With a Janka hardness of approximately 2,350 lbf and a natural durability class of 1–2, Jatoba hardwood decking is built for the long term — equally suited to luxury residential gardens, commercial terraces, poolside areas, and high-traffic outdoor spaces.

At 21x145mm, these boards cover ground efficiently with a wide, confident face that suits both contemporary and traditional deck layouts. The smooth profile gives a refined, clean finish that allows the exceptional natural colour and grain character of the Jatoba to take centre stage.

Product Specifications

About Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry)

Jatoba and Brazilian Cherry are the same species — Hymenaea courbaril, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, primarily Brazil. Brazilian Cherry is the trade name used widely in the UK and North American timber markets, referring to the distinctive deep reddish-brown heartwood colour that intensifies with light exposure. Jatoba is the Portuguese and European botanical trade name for the same wood.

Fresh-sawn Jatoba boards range from salmon-pink to orange-brown tones, but the heartwood darkens rapidly — often within hours of light exposure — to the rich reddish-brown to russet colour that gives Brazilian Cherry decking its premium visual appeal. Over time the colour deepens further, developing a warm, characterful patina that distinguishes it immediately from other hardwood decking species.

Jatoba has a Janka hardness of approximately 2,350 lbf — making it one of the hardest commercially available decking timbers in the UK, significantly harder than Yellow Balau (approx. 1,600 lbf) and more than twice the hardness of European oak. This exceptional hardness translates directly into outstanding wear resistance, making Brazilian Cherry decking the premium choice for high-traffic commercial decking, poolside areas, hospitality terraces, and any application where the deck surface needs to withstand intensive daily use.

Durability and Lifespan

Jatoba achieves a natural durability class of 1–2, the highest classification for timber in above-ground outdoor conditions. It is very resistant to brown-rot and white-rot fungi, dry-rot termites, and general insect attack — all without chemical preservative treatment. In standard above-ground residential and commercial decking applications, Brazilian Cherry decking has an expected service life of 25 years or more. Its density and natural resistance to the wet-dry cycles of the UK climate help boards stay flat and stable year after year.

Colour and Appearance

The colour journey of Jatoba is one of its most distinctive characteristics. New boards arrive with varying tones from pale salmon-pink to orange-brown — this variation is natural and part of the species' character. Within hours of light exposure the heartwood begins darkening to the rich reddish-brown tones that give Brazilian Cherry its name, and the colour continues to deepen and unify over the first few weeks after installation.

The smooth 21x145mm profile allows this exceptional colour and grain to be fully appreciated — no texture interrupts the visual flow of the board face, making it the right choice where the natural beauty of the Jatoba is the design statement.

Installation

These Jatoba decking boards are face fixed. Pre-drilling pilot holes before driving screws is not optional — Jatoba is exceptionally hard and dense, and attempting to drive fixings without pilot holes will split boards and shear screw heads. Use stainless steel A2 or A4 screws throughout; the natural tannins in Jatoba react with lower-grade metals and cause surface staining. Carbide-tipped saw blades are recommended for cutting.

Leave a 5–6 mm gap between boards for drainage and seasonal movement. Acclimate boards on site for a minimum of 48–72 hours before installation to allow moisture content to stabilise. Install on a level, well-ventilated subframe with joists at maximum 400mm centres for residential use, reducing to 300mm for commercial or high-traffic applications. Seal all cut ends immediately after cutting with a hardwood end-grain sealer or decking oil.

We stock stainless steel screws and hardwood decking oils and stains suitable for Jatoba and Brazilian Cherry decking.

Finishing and Maintenance

Brazilian Cherry decking does not require treatment to maintain its structural performance. Left untreated the boards will weather from reddish-brown to silver-grey over approximately 12–18 months. To preserve the rich colour, apply a UV-stable penetrating hardwood decking oil before installation — this also helps unify the initial colour variation across boards. Reapply annually or as the surface demands.

Keep the deck clear of leaf debris and organic matter which can accelerate surface staining. Clean with a stiff brush and warm water — avoid pressure washing on hardwood decking. We stock Remmers and Koopmans hardwood oils and stains that are well suited to dense tropical hardwoods including Jatoba.

Jatoba vs Yellow Balau Decking

Both Jatoba and Yellow Balau are premium tropical hardwood decking timbers with a natural durability class of 1–2 and long service lives. The key differences are hardness, colour, and origin. Jatoba is significantly harder (2,350 lbf vs 1,600 lbf Janka), making it the better choice for the most demanding high-traffic applications. Its rich reddish-brown colour is also more dramatic and distinctive than the golden-brown of Balau. Yellow Balau is a well-established, cost-effective hardwood decking choice for residential and commercial projects where maximum hardness is less critical. View our full hardwood decking range to compare both species.

Frequently Asked Questions