Kempas is a beautiful exotic hardwood flooring material that comes from the forests of Malaysia and Indonesia. The species has been a staple in the U.S. wood flooring industry for well over two decades, both in an engineered and solid format. The color of the wood is orange-red to reddish-brown with subtle shades of yellow and tan. It has a medium to coarse texture with an interwoven and sometimes wavy grain. Kempas hardwood flooring has a hardness rating of 1710, which is 20% denser than Hard/Sugar Maple. From a stability standpoint, Kempas can be temperamental, but typically this is isolated to wider widths (such as 5”) and dry or arid climates. Nonetheless, care should be taken to properly acclimatize this species prior to installation.
Oddly enough, Kempas has never been fully embraced by the wood flooring community as a whole. It would appear that there are two camps out there. The first camp views Kempas as a unique, attractive, and affordable exotic hardwood. It is presented and sold on its own merits and seems to do quite well. The other camp views Kempas as a decent exotic hardwood, but generally it’s seen as an inferior or cheaper alternative to Brazilian Cherry and sold as such. Of course, it doesn’t sell as well in the second group.
What the people in the second group don’t realize is that in the current economic situation, Kempas can be an attractive and affordable alternative to Brazilian Cherry. Kempas offers a rare mix of beauty, durability, and value that is hard to find in most of the traditional exotics. Combine these factors with over 20 years of sustained market presence and familiarity and you’ve got a product that’s primed to be a best-seller given the chance.
Elemental currently stocks Kempas in Solid 11/16” thick x 2.8” & 3.6” wide x 1’-6’ long. The product is A grade material and only available prefinished.
Contact your Elemental hardwood flooring representative to learn more about the benefits of Kempas hardwood flooring.