For starters, let’s go over what is wood grain. Wood grain is the alignment of wood fibers; it’s the lines and swirls you see in a piece of wood.There are two types of grain, face/edge/long grain, and end grain. Face/end/long grain is when you see long strokes of lines. The wood was cut longwise so […]
Before installation begins it’s important to take some precautionary steps that will make the work are and your home safer. Removing All Furniture There will be a lot of wood cutting and a lot of movement. Dust will come in and out your home. The number one issue is that dust will find its way […]
Mesquite floors are one of the mosts stable and durable hardwood floors you could add to your home. It is very resistant and thus it requires little to no effort to maintain. Essential Care Just like any other floor, vacuuming or sweeping is a desired to keep regular maintenance and care. A soft-bristled broom keeps […]
There are many options when choosing what kind of hardwood floor you want for your home. One may wonder how to decide. Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Ultimately, you want to use what best suits your likes and needs. Faifer & Co. recommends mesquite wood for homeowners who value both beauty […]
In today’s market, real and durable materials like steel, granite concrete or wood are becoming more commonly used. They’re must-haves as they will bring up and keep up your house value. For example, stainless steel is durable and resists oxide. It can give your home the industrial look of high-end kitchens. Granite countertops are the accent […]
Summer is already upon us in central Texas, and naturally the warm weather is only going to continue to get warmer. For those of us with wood installations in our homes, whether that is in the form of wood flooring, walls, or furniture, the increase in heat should be paid special attention to. Because wood is […]
We’ve all at least heard of mesquite wood. But what actually makes the wood unique? Here we will dive a bit deeper into the unique aspects of the lumber, from where it is found to what differentiates it from the rest of the forest (or rather… the desert). The Tree Mesquite trees are found in […]
The right kind of wood can bring a living space together. Used in the right places, in the right amounts, with the right finish, mesquite wood can add a rich tone to any room in the house. But how much should be used? And for which elements, flooring, furniture, or other accents such as countertops? […]
If you are considering installing hardwood floors in your home, one of the best types of wood to use is mesquite. Mesquite is known for being beautiful, tough and able to stand up to just about anything. You will absolutely love the way that it looks when it is in your home, and you will […]
Now that winter has arrived, temperatures are at less than ideal highs. This will lead many homeowners to light up their fireplaces as a nice little way to keep warm on cooler nights. However, instead of having just a plain old mantel surround your fireplace this winter, upgrade it with help from Faifer & Co. […]
Mesquite wood displays rich character and color not found in other hardwoods. The handsome appearance, unparalleled strength and rustic Texas style complete a grand entrance for any stairway. Faifer and Company, Inc supplies a full range of artfully-crafted mesquite wood stair parts to complete simple and elaborate staircases of all varieties.
Faifer and Company’s mesquite wood selections are reclaimed pieces from Texas ranchlands, carefully chosen for their aged charm and inimitable detail. The individual pieces combine to create a striking impression and complementary Texas motif in your foyer, living room or basement. An extensive selection of sizes with nosings, risers and reducers allows you to create any staircase and fulfill your unique elevation, height and aesthetic requirements.
Browse the stair gallery to take a closer look at completed mesquite wood staircases. See the parts listed below to start building your staircase and contact Faifer and Company Inc. for distinctive wooden stair treads and risers in Texas.
Will have clear and possibly small knots, checks and other natural defects allowed, along with the natural varying color of the wood. Sapwood is not allowed on finished surfaces. Lengths vary from 9 inches to 48 inches with tongue and groove. Ends are square cut. On average the lengths will vary between 16″ – 22″.
Will have semi clear, small to large knots, checks and other natural defects allowed, along with the natural varying color of the wood. Sapwood is not allowed on finished surfaces. Lengths vary from 9 inches to 48 inches with tongue and groove. Ends are square cut. On average the lengths will vary between 16″ – 22″.
Wood Blocks – Only one grade available. Knots, checks and other natural defects are allowed. Partly filled with black epoxy. Width is 3 inches and lengths from 2 inches to 5 inches.
The Janka (or side) hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444 – inch steel wall to half its diameter in wood. It is one of the best measurements of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. By the same token, it is also a good indicator of how hard or easy a species is to saw or nail. Northern Red Oak, for example, has a Janka hardness rating of 1290. Brazilian Cherry, with a rating of 2350, is nearly twice as hard. If you’re accustomed to working with Red Oak and decide to tackle a job with Brazilian Cherry, you can expect it to be much harder to cut and nail.
| Wood Species | Rating |
| Ipe | 3680 |
| Brazilian Teak | 3540 |
| Brazilian Cherry (jatoba) | 2820 |
| Live Oak | 2680 |
| Purpleheart | 2520 |
| Spotted Gum | 2473 |
| Mesquite | 2345 |
| Santos Mahogany | 2200 |
| Sydney Blue Gum | 2023 |
| Merbau | 1925 |
| Jarrah | 1910 |
| Hickory/Pecan | 1820 |
| Padauk | 1725 |
| Wenge | 1630 |
| Brazilian Maple | 1500 |
| Sapele | 1500 |
| Hard Maple | 1450 |
| Australian Cypress | 1375 |
| White Oak | 1360 |
| Tasmanian Oak | 1350 |
| White Ash | 1320 |
| Beech | 1300 |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 1290 |
| Birch | 1260 |
| Iroko | 1260 |
| Antique Heart Pine | 1225 |
| Thai/Burmese Teak | 1078 |
| American Black Walnut | 1010 |
| Black Cherry | 950 |
| Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf) | 870 |
| Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly & Shortleaf) | 690 |
| Douglas Fir | 660 |
.Source: Hardness ratings for most species taken from Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (Agriculture Handbook 72, Forest Product Laboratory, Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture; revised 1987). Except for Australian Cypress, Wenge, African Padauk, Merbau and Santos Mahogany, which were provided by International Hardwood Flooring; Heart Pine by Mountain Lumber and Mesquite by Mesquite Products of Texas.
Douglas Fir rating is an average of ratings for coast, Interior West and Interior North species.
(Ranked by percentage of tangential shrinkage from green to oven-dry moisture content)
The numbers in the chart reflect the dimensional change coefficient for the various species, measured as tangential shrinkage or swelling within normal moisture content limits of 6 – 14 percent. Tangential change values will normally reflect changes in plainsawn wood. Quartersawn wood will usually be more dimensionally stable than plainsawn.
The dimensional change coefficient can be used to calculate expected shrinkage or swelling. Simply multiply the change in moisture content by the change coefficient, than multiply by the width of the board.
Example: A mesquite (change coefficient – .00129) board 5 inches wide experiences a moisture content change from 6 to 9 percent – a change of 3 percentage points.
(Calculation: 3 x .00129 = .00387 x 5 = .019 inches).
In actual practice, however, change would be diminished in a complete floor, as the boards’ proximity to each other tends to restrain movement. The chart is best used for comparison.
* Although some tropical woods such as Australian Cypress, Brazilian Cherry, Merbau and Wenge appear in this chart to have excellent moisture stability compared to domestic oak, actual installations of many of these woods have demonstrated significant movement in use. To avoid problems later, extra care should be taken to inform potential users of these tendencies prior to purchase.
| Wood Species | Rating |
| Beech | 11.9 |
| Jarrah | 11.0 |
| White Oak | 10.5 |
| Hard Maple | 9.9 |
| Yellow Birch | 9.5 |
| Hickory/Pecan | 8.9 |
| Brazilian Maple | 8.8 |
| Northern Red Oak | 8.6 |
| Brazilian Cherry (jatoba) | 8.5 |
| Bubinga | 8.4 |
| Brazilian Walnut (Ipe) | 8.0 |
| White Ash | 7.8 |
| American Black Walnut | 7.8 |
| Brazilian Teak | 7.6 |
| Southern Yellow Pine | 7.5 |
| Sapele | 7.4 |
| Douglas Fir | 7.3 |
| Black Cherry | 7.1 |
| Santos Mahogany | 6.2 |
| Purpleheart | 6.1 |
| Thai/Burmese Teak | 5.8 |
| Wenge | 5.8 |
| Padauk | 5.2 |
| Merbau | 4.6 |
| Iroko | 3.8 |
| Mesquite | 3.2 |
| Australian Cypress | 2.8 |
.Source: stability ratings taken from Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (Agriculture Handbook 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; revised 1987).
