Olive - Olea europea

Janka Hardness = 2,700

Photosensitivity = Yes (Darkens)

Olive wood is one of the hardest of all woods. Tests rank it 3 times as hard as oak. Due to the olive tree’s slow growth, olive wood is also tightly grained and extremely dense. This makes it very slow to absorb damaging moisture. These two characteristics give olive wood its heroic resistance to typical sources of household abuse, and make it appropriate for “light” commercial settings.

Olive wood’s natural resistance to damage is further enhanced by the manufacturing technology we use to produce our flooring. Each plank of Tuscany Olive Wood flooring is 5/8 inches thick and “engineered.” This means each plank is constructed with a thick, top layer or “lamella” of natural olive wood on top of a premium hardwood core. This core consists of multiple layers “cross-grained” to each other. The “lamella” or top layer of many other floors is almost paper-thin, reducing the floor’s ability to withstand normal household traffic and use. The natural olive wood lamella on Tuscany Olive Wood flooring is three times thicker than most lamellas. It is also “sawn” making it the most sought after type for both its appearance and strong performance characteristics. The end result is an extraordinarily durable floor – with maximum dimensional stability, highly resistant to wear and moisture damage, including warping and buckling.

Brenco Exotic Woods, when the ordinary will not do!!!

Scientific Name = Olea europea
Trade Name =
Family Name = Oleaceae
Synonyms =
Common Names = Olive
Regions of Distribution = Mediterranean Sea Region
Countries of Distribution = Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Greece, Iran, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, United States

Numerical Strength Properties and Data:
Bending Strength =  psi or  kg/cm2
Density =  Lbs/Ft3 or  kg/m3
Janka Hardness = 2,700
Hardness =  lbs. or  kg
Impact Strength =  inches or cm
Maximum Crushing Strength =  psi or  kg/cm2
Shearing Strength =  psi or  kg/cm2
Stiffness =  psi or  kg/cm2
Specific Gravity = 0.72
Work to Maximum Load =  inch-lb/in3 or  cm-kg/cm3
Weight = 62 Lbs/Ft3 or 990 kg/m3
Fiber Saturation Point = %
Radial Shrinkage = 5.4%
Tangential Shrinkage = 8.8%
Volumetric Shrinkage = 14.4%
T/R Ration = 1.6

General Characteristics = The dark brown streaks and yellowish sapwood are reported to contrast to give the wood a very attractive appearance
Grain = Grain may be straight, interlocked, or wild. Fine uniform texture with moderate natural luster.
Texture =
Movement in Service =
Photosensitivity =
Color = Heartwood is a cream or yellowish brown, with darker brown or black contrasting streaks. Color tends to deepen with age. Olive is somtimes figured with curly or wavy grain, burl, or wild grain.