Tropical Hardwood

Dabema

Dabema (Piptadeniastrum africanum) is a tropical hardwood from West Africa, valued for its robustness, stability and durability. Its heartwood ranges from yellow‑brown to reddish‑brown and gradually deepens into a warmer, darker tone over time. Thanks to its natural resistance to moisture, fungi and insects, Dabema is suitable for both interior and exterior use — including flooring, façade cladding, joinery and light construction applications.

With its homogeneous texture and good workability, Dabema is an attractive alternative to heavier tropical hardwoods in sustainable building projects. It offers a stable and visually appealing solution for architectural applications that demand a balance of price, durability and natural appearance.

Delivery subject to stock availability.
Free pick up in our warehouse at Zottegem.
Shipping within Europe possible.

Qualities
Dabema has a relatively uniform structure with a fine to moderately coarse texture and predominantly straight grain, though interlocked grain can occur. Its natural colour variation and calm grain pattern make it suitable for both decorative and functional applications.
Key Characteristics
- Heartwood: yellow‑brown to reddish‑brown, darkens with age
- Grain: fine to moderately coarse, generally straight (interlocked possible)
- Natural resistance: moderate resistance to fungi; durable to dry‑wood borers & termites
- Workability: good — saws and planes well; pre‑drilling recommended
- Strength: strong wood with good structural performance
Applications
Exterior Applications
- Façade cladding
- Light exterior joinery
- Outdoor furniture
- Shelters, pergolas & decorative exterior elements
- Light structural work above ground level
Interior Applications
- Parquet & flooring
- Stair components
- Bespoke joinery & furniture
- Panels, wall cladding & decorative interior elements
Dabema is also commonly used in West Africa as an alternative to heavier hardwoods due to its favourable mechanical properties and stability.
Technical specifications
Durability Class (Use Class)
- Class 3 – moderately durable against fungi
- Durable against dry‑wood borers and termites (class D)
Workability
- Good machining behaviour
- Pre‑drilling recommended for screws and fixings
- Interlocked areas may cause minor tear‑out
Colour
- Yellow‑brown to reddish‑brown; darkens with exposure
Density
- Approx. 695–780 kg/m³ @ 12% MC
  (CIRAD lists 0.70 g/cm³ ≈ 700 kg/m³)
Mechanical Properties
- Modulus of Elasticity (MOE): 11,000–13,000 N/mm² (validated range: 12.9 GPa)
- Radial shrinkage: ~3.8%
- Tangential shrinkage: ~8.5%
Dimensional Stability
- Moderately stable
- Proper drying reduces distortion