Shipping information
We can ship everything you see for sale on our website. Each piece is unique, and our slabs are often very large, so shipping logistics will vary depending on the item(s) being shipped.
For local customers, shipping will be easy – For purchases over $500, we offer complimentary delivery to addresses in the Gainesville area, including all of Alachua County. Customers are also welcome to visit our warehouse to pick up slabs in person. We have a forklift and a variety of other hoisting equipment available to help you load your purchase.
For customers located within our general area, but outside Alachua County, we offer personal delivery for a reasonable fee. The cost will vary depending on your location and the size of the shipment.
For customers located further away (within the USA and internationally), we will work with our freight shipping partners to arrange for transport. If you make your purchase through our website, the online checkout page has been set up to automatically provide uShip freight quotes based on your delivery address and the size of the slab.
If you make your purchase in person or over the phone, we will manually calculate freight costs using the same uShip platform.
We generally do everything we can to help keep shipping costs economical – we earn our money selling wood slabs, not on logistics. We do not pad our shipping costs.
Customers are also welcome to arrange for their own freight shipping. In these cases, we will provide you with the final weight and dimensions of the shipment, along with all the details you will need to book a freight shipment on your own.
If you have any questions regarding shipping, please give us a call at 352-218-2032
Wood Care
Our slabs are naturally durable, and with moderate care, they can be expected to survive a lifetime of use. That being said, there are a few important things to note:
Outdoor Use:
Both Monkeypod and Guanacaste are durable and rot resistant woods, and they can be used in an outdoor setting. That being said, we generally advise against placing our slabs outdoors. In particular, we strongly advise against exposure to rain or direct sunlight.
An outdoor environment is hard on ANY material, and an outdoor table will require regular maintenance, even in an accommodating outdoor setting. With a proper exterior grade finish (reapplied periodically, as needed), it is certainly possible to use them outside for many years. However, in many climates, naturally fluctuating outdoor humidity levels can negatively impact the dimensional stability of your wood slab.
In summary, you can use your wood slab table outdoors, but the wood may warp or crack over time. The severity of issues stemming from outdoor use will vary widely, and will depend on both how well you maintain the wood finish, and how much the slab is exposed to the elements.
Slab Cleaning:
When it comes to cleaning your slab, it is a good idea to use the least aggressive chemicals that can get the job done. Mildly soapy water and wood cleaning products are good place to start. Cleaning procedures will vary according to the wood finish you have applied, so please refer to documentation from the manufacturer of your chosen wood finish for further information.
Wood Characteristics / Technical Data
From USDA Forest Products Laboratory publication ‘Tropical Timbers Of The World’ (by Martin Chudnoff, 1980)
Monkey Pod (Samanea saman)
- Other Common Names: Dormilón (Puerto Rico), Algarrobo (Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala), Cenícero (El Salvador, Costa Rica), Samaguare (Colombia), Lara, Carabalí (Venezuela), Huacamayo-chico (Peru), Monkeypod (Hawaii)
Distribution: Native to Central and South America. It has been introduced to many tropical areas around the world, where it grows well. It is common in Hawaii. Our slabs are all imported directly from our partners in Costa Rica, where it is an abundant native species. - Sustainability: Good. Not CITES listed. IUCN ‘Species of least concern’
- Allergy concerns: None when finished. Sawdust can cause eye irritation.
- Rot resistance: Durable to Very Durable (15 – 25+ years of service life in rigorous outdoor rot testing)
- Shrinkage: Exceptionally low for a wood of this density
⁃ radial 2.0%
⁃ tangential 3.4%
⁃ volumetric 6.0% - Typical weight: 38 lb/ft3 (~3.2 lb/BF)
- Janka hardness: 900 lbf
- Bending strength: 8,860 psi
- Maximum crushing strength: 5,070 psi
- Modulus of Elasticity: 1,100,000 psi
Parota (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)
- Other Common Names: Conocaste, Orejó, Perota (Mexico), Genicero, Jarina, Guanacaste (Costa Rica), Corotú (Panama), Orejero, Caro (Colombia), Carocaro (Venezuela).
- Distribution: Mexico and southward through Central America to Venezuela, Trinidad, Guyana, and Brazil; often planted as an ornamental. Our slabs are all imported directly from our partners in Costa Rica, where it is an abundant native species.
- Sustainability: Good. Not CITES listed. IUCN ‘Species of least concern’
- Allergy concerns: None when finished. Dry dust is an irritant.
- Rot resistance: Durable – The heartwood is reported to have good resistance to attack by decay fungi; also resistant to dry-wood termite attack.
- Shrinkage:
⁃ radial 2.2%
⁃ tangential 4.9%
⁃ volumetric 7.1% - Typical weight: 27 lb/ft3 (~2.25 lb/BF)
- Janka hardness: 520 lbf
- Bending strength: 8,500 psi
- Maximum crushing strength: 4,900 psi
- Modulus of Elasticity: 1,050,000 psi
Responsible Forestry & Sustainability
‘Healthy forest industries and healthy forests are interdependent – higher quality lumber comes from healthy forests, and the desire for quality lumber can motivate owners to develop and nurture healthy forests.’
Dr. Bruce Hansen – Forest Service Research Economist 2005
The over-exploitation of forests has been the historical norm around the world, but with the benefit of hindsight, there is no reason to perpetuate this destructive pattern. The responsible sourcing of timber is something we take seriously.
In order to ensure that our products are sustainably harvested, we source our slabs exclusively from Costa Rica, a country well-known for sustainably managing their natural resources. Each tree that is harvested in Costa Rica must be individually permitted by a forestry engineer, acting on behalf of the national conservation authorities (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación). Before issuing a permit, the forestry engineer will consider the impact on the local ecosystem, and the abundance of a given species in the area. If removal of trees is deemed sustainable, the engineer can issue permits for up to ten trees on a given property.
As a general rule, our trees come from agricultural lands and ranches, rarely natural forests. By providing a forestry based income stream to Costa Rican farmers and ranchers, we encourage them to maintain healthy stands of trees on their land. Within the framework of the tightly managed permitting process, the more abundant their forested lands, the more trees they will be able to harvest in the future. This virtuous cycle leaves both the people and the environment of Costa Rica better off.
Furthermore, our suppliers in Costa Rica control the entire supply chain, from applying for permits, to felling trees, milling slabs, kiln drying lumber, and finally, exporting to us. This level of control over the process minimizes opportunities for illegally harvested lumber to enter the supply chain.
Wood Finishing and Epoxy Pours
- Expert slab finishing and epoxy pour tutorials: We highly recommend ‘Blacktail Studio’ as a resource for Epoxy filling, large pours, etc. His content can be found on Youtube (HERE).
- Slab flattening / CNC services: If you need professional CNC work done in the Gainesville, FL area (slab flattening, inlays, sign making, etc.) we recommend Eclectic Electric LLC. Tyler’s 5 x 10 foot Shop Saber CNC can tackle anything that fits on the oversized bed. He has saved us many dusty hours of work on the router sled, and the finish quality is beyond compare. https://www.theeclecticelectric.com/
- Finishing products: We use a number of different finishing products to protect the wood and highlight the grain. Every project is a little different, so the choice of finish will depend on the slab you’re working with and the intended application. Here are some of our favorites:
- Rubio Monocoat – A ‘hard wax oil’ that is easy to apply and looks great. Unlike ‘film-building’ finishes like paint or varnish, it soaks into the wood for a more natural look and feel. We almost always apply two coats. Generally provides a satin sheen, though this can vary from matte to semi-gloss depending on surface preparation and application technique. We use the ‘Pure’ tone, which contains no colorants, but does slightly amber the finished piece.
Pros: Easy to apply / Looks great / Scratches and scuffs can be repaired with relative ease / Smells amazing during application (no smell when cured) / Zero VOC / Food safe when fully cured (7 days) / Available in a range of colors
Cons: Expensive / Tough enough in most cases, but not the most durable or scratch resistant finish
Rubio Monocoat product specifications: CLICK HERE
- General Finishes Enduro Conversion Varnish – A very durable ‘professional grade’ urethane finish. This is the toughest finish we offer, both in terms of wear resistance, and resistance to chemicals. Water based, so the finish is non-ambering.
Spray application requires a dedicated spray area, some special tools, and the right PPE to apply the finish safely. Before curing, the catalyst component of this finish is hazardous, so the finish is not very DIY friendly
Pros: Exceptional durability / Very good chemical resitance / Food safe when fully cured / Very fast dry and recoat times.
Cons: Much more difficult to apply than wipe-on or brush-on finishes / Very high VOC content makes indoor application unwise (zero VOC once fully cured) / Creates a hard polymer shell around the underlying wood, which is less attractive than a penetrating finish (this is subjective).
General Finishes product specifications: CLICK HERE
- General Finishes Arm-R-Seal – A wipe-on urethane finish that provides greater durability and resistance to chemicals than can typically be achieved with oil or wax based finishes. We apply four or more thin coats. Available in matte, satin, semi-gloss and gloss.
Pros: Looks great / excellent durability / food safe when fully cured (30 days)
Cons: Slightly more difficult to apply than Rubio Monocoat / High VOC content complicates indoor application (zero VOC once fully cured) / Long cure time
General Finishes product specifications: CLICK HERE
- General Finishes High Performance Topcoat – A water-based urethane/acrylic finish that keeps the tone of the finished wood lighter / more natural looking than can be achieved with oil based finishes. Somewhat less durable than Arm-R-Seal (above), but easier to apply, and with fewer VOCs. We apply four or more thin coats. Available in matte, satin, semi-gloss and gloss.
Pros: Looks good / Good durability / Food safe when fully cured (30 days) / Quick curing times allow for multiple coats to be applied in a single day / Low VOC
Cons: Slightly more difficult to apply than Rubio Monocoat / Less durable than Arm-R-Seal / The lighter tone of a water based finish reduces the richness of the finished piece (this is subjective)
General Finishes product specifications: CLICK HERE
- Epoxy: We use a number of different epoxy formulations in our slab table builds. We’ve had excellent results with the full lineup of Wisebond and West Systems products, and the customer support provided by both companies is exceptionally good. Give them a call, and their technical support people will help you out.
- Deep pours: Wisebond Deep Pour Epoxy
- Flood coats: Wisebond Bar & Tabletop Epoxy
- Crack & void filling: West Systems 105 resin with 205 (fast), 206 (slow), or 207 (special clear) hardener. Hardener selection is based on application thickness and ambient temperature. The warmer the weather, the more you will want to use a slow hardener. The ‘special clear’ 207 hardener is especially nice to work with, and seems to release entrapped air bubbles more readily than the other hardeners.
- Colorants: There are many options out there, but we have had great results with WiseDye opaque liquid pigment (made by Wisebond). Powdered colorants are useful for some applications, but they are more difficult measure out precisely than are liquid colorants. This makes mixing multiple batches with the same color density more dificult.
HOT TIP: Use our special promo code to save 10% on all Wisebond epoxy and epoxy accessories! Code can be applied at www.wisebond.com
SAVE10TAT
Wisebond products are available for purchase at our Gainesville showroom, or on the Wisebond site: https://www.wisebond.com/
West Systems specifications and application guides: https://www.westsystem.com/products/105-system/
Customer DIY projects: To see some of the projects our creative and talented customers have put together, follow the link below: https://tropicalamericantimber.com/diy-finished-projects/
Video Tutorials
- Finishing tutorial – Restoring or adding shine to your finished slab table with a fresh coat of Rubio Monocoat: This in-house production walks you through applying an additional coat of Rubio wood finish to your finished slab. This process applies to slabs tables that have lost some of their former luster, with light scratches, or those that could just use a little extra shine!
Slab Storage Guidelines
If you need to store your slab for a period of time before completing your slab project, you will want to take some care to ensure that your slab is stored properly. Improperly stored slabs can absorb moisture through adjacent surfaces, leading to uneven moisture content in the wood. Uneven moisture content in your wood slab leads to increased risk of warping, splitting, etc.
Your slab should be stored flat, and raised off the ground. We typically use a few small strips of wood (stickers)*. The slab should also be stored indoors, and ideally, at a humidity level similar to the humidity expected in the final installation location.
Do not cover your slab with plastic sheeting, tarps, or any other non-porous material. If your slab was plastic wrapped for transport, unwrap it as soon as possible. If you would like to cover your slab to protect it from dust, scratches, etc., a woven material such as a cotton sheet or moving blanket should be used.
*A special note on stickers for elevating your wood slab off the ground– Some materials (even certain lumber) can stain your slab, especially when left in contact for a prolonged period of time. We recommend AVOIDING the use of the following materials:
- Pressure treated wood
- Wood with lots of sap / resin (in our area, pine is a common sappy wood)
- Freshly milled / Green lumber
- Bare steel or iron (may cause black or brown rust stains)
Online Purchases
We do most of our business either in person at our Gainesville showroom, or over the phone. The following guidelines are presented in an effort to avoid potential frustrations or misunderstandings with online buyers with whom we have not otherwise communicated.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us! 352-218-2032 // info@tropicalamericantimber.com
– Freight shipping is optional for all online purchases:
Select ‘Customer Pick-up’ to reserve your slab for pick-up at our Gainesville, FL warehouse.
Select ‘uShip Delivery’ to have your slabbed shipped to you via freight carrier. Freight shipping cost is calculated automatically based on the weight and dimensions of the slab. Lead time for freight packaging is typically one week.
We can ship everything we have listed for sale. See ‘Shipping Information’.
We don’t want the cost of shipping to discourage would-be buyers, and we strive to keep shipping costs as low as possible. If you are unhappy with the price of shipping, you will be entitled to a full refund.
– Online purchases with ‘customer pick up’ will reserve your slab for pick-up at our Gainesville, FL warehouse. By default, we will reserve your slab for 30 days. Please contact us in order to make special arrangements for extended storage / reservation. Reasonable requests can generally be accommodated for no additional charge.
– Returns / refunds of online purchases. If the purchased slab or finished piece is found to be damaged, cracked, or otherwise not as described and pictured in the online listing, a refund or compensatory price adjustment may be made available to the buyer. Barring significant issues with the piece, items purchased online are not eligible for returns or refunds. Small scratches and scuffs are unavoidable on raw slabs, and do not constitute significant damage.
That being said, we want to make sure all of our customers are happy, and we try our best to be fair-minded and reasonable people. If you have any issues, please get in touch with us, and we will do our best to find an agreeable solution.
Deposits
The following policies apply to deposits made on slabs and finished tables.
– By making a deposit on a raw slab or finished piece, you are making a commitment to purchase a specific slab for an agreed upon price. We will reserve the chosen piece for a minimum of 30 days, unless a longer period has been agreed upon. Deposits are non-refundable.
– If the agreed upon reservation period has elapsed without the remainder having been paid, the chosen slab will no longer be reserved for you. So long as the slab is available for purchase, any deposits made will remain applicable toward the purchase of the chosen slab.
– If you make a deposit on a raw slab, and it suffers significant damage while in our possession, you will have the choice of receiving a full refund or applying your deposit toward another slab of your choosing. Small scratches and scuffs are present on all raw slabs, and do not constitute significant damage.