To put this into perspective, the hardness of wood is measured on the Janka hardness scale. Most of the exotic woods are toward the top of the scale, while traditional hardwoods, such as Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, and American Cherry are more toward the middle of the scale.

Many of the exotic woods have deep, darker natural colors. This does not leave room for too many color choices. Exotic woods are usually coated with a natural finish as this is the look people are usually going for.

If you are looking for something lighter in color or more versatile for different color ranges, the exotic woods are not necessarily the best option. Exotic hardwood, as with just about any hardwood, is available as a solid 3/4″ board or as an engineered floor. It is also available in pre-finished or onsite finished.