Is Cumaru harder than Garapa?

Yes. Cumaru is roughly twice as hard (3,330 vs 1,650 lbf Janka).

Which weathers more attractively?

Both weather to silver-gray if untreated. Cumaru's gray is cooler and more uniform; Garapa's is warmer with golden undertones in early weathering.

Do they install the same way?

Yes — same fasteners, same furring strips, same end-grain sealing requirements.

Cumaru vs Garapa Cladding | Side-by-Side Comparison

Cumaru and Garapa are the two most popular Brazilian hardwood cladding species after Ipe. They look different, weather differently, and serve different design intents. Here's how to choose.

At a Glance

	Cumaru	Garapa
Color	Reddish-brown to mocha	Golden honey to pale amber
Janka hardness	3,330 lbf	1,650 lbf
Density	68 lbs/ft³	53 lbs/ft³
Durability class	Class 1	Class 1–2
Lifespan	30–50 yrs	25–40 yrs

Color & Aesthetics

Cumaru reads as a warm tropical hardwood — closer to Ipe in tone. Garapa is the only mainstream Brazilian species with a true golden palette, making it the go-to for projects that want hardwood durability without the dark cast.

Performance

Cumaru is denser and harder, so it tolerates more abuse and lasts longer in harsh exposures. Garapa is still rated Class 1 and easily outperforms cedar or thermally modified softwoods for cladding.

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Cost

Garapa typically runs 10–20% less than Cumaru per square foot, and both are significantly less expensive than Ipe.

How to Decide

Choose Cumaru when you want maximum life, an Ipe-like tone, and rugged exposure tolerance. Choose Garapa when the design calls for a light, golden facade or a brighter interior accent wall.