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The materialHevea rubberwood and the other slab woods, side by side
Hevea is the wood behind every slab and countertop on this site. Here is what it is, how its grades read, what keeps it stable and how it compares with the species designers usually weigh it against.
A plantation hardwood between maple and oak
| Species | Hevea brasiliensis, the rubber tree, sold as rubberwood or Hevea |
|---|---|
| Origin | Plantations in Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai, southern Vietnam |
| Second life | Tapped for latex for about 25 years, then felled and replanted. The trunk goes to the sawmill instead of being burned. |
| Colour | Pale cream to light tan, warming toward honey under oil and with age |
| Grain | Mostly straight, medium texture, no clear line between sapwood and heartwood |
| Janka hardness | about 960 lbf (about 4,270 N) |
| Density (kiln dry) | about 610 kg/m³ |
| Moisture target | 8 to 12% at shipment |
| Natural durability | Not durable outdoors. An interior wood, treated against stain and insects before drying. |
Typical values for kiln-dried Hevea. Ask the matched workshop for its measured moisture content and timber origin papers for your order. Botany: Hevea brasiliensis.
Grade A, B and C: how the face is sorted
Grade describes appearance, not strength. Pick it from photos of real pieces and confirm it with a finished sample, because two workshops can read the same grade differently.
| Feature | Grade A, clear | Grade B, balanced | Grade C, rustic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knots | Minimal, very few small sound knots | Small sound knots | Larger sound knots, part of the look |
| Colour | Even, matched across the boards | Light variation | Colour shifts between boards accepted |
| Mineral streaks | None | Light | Allowed |
| Sap stain | None | Rare | Agreed with the workshop |
| Suits | Minimal kitchens, Japanese and Scandinavian interiors | Most homes, desks and shelves, easier on the budget | Live edge, cafe and farmhouse interiors |
Typical. Loose or dead knots and pin holes that show are filled in every grade. More detail: rubberwood grades AA, AB and BC.
Treatment and moisture, the two things to ask about
Hardness is not stability. How much a top moves depends on drying, grain direction and finish far more than on its Janka number.
- Treated soon after sawingRubberwood holds starch and sugar, so fresh boards stain or attract insects within days. Boron salts by dip, diffusion or vacuum pressure are the usual protection for interior wood. Guide: rubberwood boron treatment.
- Kiln dried to 8 to 12%Air drying alone stops at the moisture of outdoor air, often 12 to 18%, which is too wet for heated or air conditioned rooms. Ask for a meter reading on your actual piece.
- Glued and finished on every faceA top sealed on one face only takes up and loses moisture unevenly and cups. Wet areas such as vanities need every face and cut edge sealed.
- Acclimatised before fittingLet the top sit in the room it is going into before it is fixed, and fix it so it can move across its width.
Hevea against acacia, teak, walnut, oak and maple
Janka is the force to press a steel ball half way into the wood, in pounds-force. Density is the typical dried weight. Both vary board to board, and acacia varies most because the name covers many species.
| Species | Janka, lbf | Density, kg/m³ | Look | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hevea (rubberwood) | about 960 | about 610 | Pale cream to light tan, calm grain | Interior only. Even colour makes large tops easier to match. |
| Acacia (plantation) | about 1,000 to 1,700 | Varies by species | Golden to dark brown, light sapwood, livelier figure | Hundreds of species share the name. Ask for the botanical name. |
| Teak | about 1,000 to 1,150 | about 630 to 700 | Golden brown, oily feel | Very durable outdoors. Costs much more and needs legality papers in many markets. |
| Black walnut | about 1,010 | about 610 | Chocolate brown, pale sapwood | Similar hardness to Hevea. A colour choice more than a durability one. |
| Red oak | about 1,290 | about 700 | Light brown with a pink cast, open grain | Open pores hold dirt on an unsealed surface. |
| White oak | about 1,360 | about 755 | Light to medium tan, open grain | Harder and more water resistant than red oak. |
| Hard maple | about 1,450 | about 705 | Off-white, fine closed grain | The hardest here and the classic chopping block wood. |
Sources: the Wood Database and published Janka tables, typical values. Two species in depth: acacia vs rubberwood and teak vs rubberwood. What the hardness number means: rubberwood Janka hardness.
When Hevea is the right wood, and when it is not
Calm, light interiors
Pale kitchens, desks and Japanese or Scandinavian rooms, where an even colour across a large top matters and the budget is for trade, not for a species name.
Outdoors and wet duty
Rubberwood has no natural durability. For terraces and outdoor bars, teak or another durable species is the better material.
Statement tables
For a live-edge dining or boardroom slab, choose from photos of the actual piece. Grain and edge matter more than the species average.
Wood species FAQ
Is rubberwood a good wood for a slab table or countertop?
Yes, indoors. At about 960 lbf Janka it is a medium-hard wood, close to walnut and softer than oak and maple, so it takes light dents in daily use but wears well with a good finish. It is stable when kiln dried to 8 to 12% and treated before drying.
What is the difference between Grade A, B and C?
Grade describes the face, not the strength. Grade A is the clear, even look with minimal knots, Grade B allows small knots and light colour variation, and Grade C keeps larger knots, mineral streaks and colour shifts as character. Some workshops write grades as AA, AB and BC, so ask which system a quote uses and confirm with a sample.
Why is rubberwood treated with boron?
Rubberwood holds starch and sugar, so fresh boards can stain or be attacked by insects within days of sawing. Boron salts, applied by dip, diffusion or pressure, are the usual protection for interior wood. Ask the workshop which product it uses, and for its data sheet if the top is for a kitchen.
Can I request a species other than Hevea?
Yes. Choose "Other species" on the request form and describe it. SlabHome only matches it with workshops that work that species, and if we cannot find a good fit we tell you within 24 business hours.
Free for buyers. We reply within 24 business hours.