Sapele

Sapele wood is a premium African hardwood appreciated for its rich reddish-brown tones, elegant grain patterns and excellent durability. Widely used in furniture manufacturing, interior design, flooring, doors and decorative veneers, sapele wood combines refined aesthetics with strong mechanical performance, making it suitable for both residential and commercial applications.

Known for its stability and workability, sapele wood is easy to machine, finish and customize for a wide range of woodworking projects. Its distinctive appearance and resistance characteristics make it a preferred choice for architects, designers and manufacturers looking for a high-quality tropical hardwood solution with a sophisticated natural look.

At Groupe Sefac, we supply carefully selected sapele wood sourced from responsibly managed African forests, with a strong commitment to sustainability, traceability and international quality standards. Our expertise in tropical timber allows us to provide reliable wood solutions tailored to industrial and professional requirements.

Discover all the wood species and tropical hardwood solutions managed by Groupe Sefac.

END USES

Flooring / Furniture, components / Veneer for plywood / Interior joinery / Cabinetwork / Ship building / Interior panelling / Sliced veneer / Light carpentry / Stairs (inside)

WOOD DESCRIPTION

Color: Red brown
Sapwood: Clearly demarcated
Texture: Fine
Grain: Straight or interlocked

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

	Mean	Std dev
Specific gravity	0,69	0,04
Coeff. of volumetric shrinkage	0,47%	0,06%
Total tangential shrinkage (TS)	7,2%	0,9%
(normal moisture, at 12%)

NATURAL DURABILITY

Fungi: Moderately durable
Dry wood borers: Durable
Termites: Moderately durable
Use class: Class 2-3 – Inside or outside

DRYING

Drying rate: Normal
Risk of distortion: High risk
Risk of casehardening: No
Risk of cracking: Slight risk
Risk of collapse: No

SAWING AND MACHINING

Sawing: Easy
Peeling: Good
Slicing: Good

ASSEMBLING

Nailing/Screwing: Good
Gluing: Correct