WESTERN CANADA – It’s beautiful, it’s long lasting, its low maintenance, it adds value and charm to any project, and It’s real – it’s tropical hardwood lumber and that’s what Kayu Canada is all about. “We import hardwood lumber mainly from Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru and Brazil,” explained company owner and founder Jim Labelle.
“Hardwoods last much longer than the softwoods we’re used to. They’re clearer with fewer knots and are ideal for decking and in high end homes and commercial projects, including rooftops, condo balconies, any place that is exposed to the elements. It’s also the perfect product to build commercial on-site furnishings such as benches. There’s really nothing to compare them to,” he said.
Generically referred to as Philippine mahogany, Labelle discovered the wood and fell in love with the product’s potential in 1991 while on a cruise ship vacation. An experienced contractor and journeyman carpenter he noticed the ship’s hardwood decking was not merely beautiful to look at, but luxurious to the touch and obviously made to endure the sort of inclement conditions a ship at sea might experience. He correctly determined this same wood would be an ideal product when faced with Canada’s extreme conditions.
One of the key benefits of hardwood is its longevity. Compared to other products hardwood lumber can last 30 or 40 years before needing replacement (Kayu guarantees its products against rot for 25 years). “We stock products like IPE, Bangkirai, Merbau and Batu to name a few – all proven performers,” Labelle explained.
Gorgeous, elegant and long lasting, tropical hardwoods are well suited to outdoor projects such as sundecks
Hardwoods are flame and termite resistant, harder, scratch resistant, low maintenance and can resist moisture and temperature fluctuations from season to season far better than other woods. Kayu’s lumber is comparably priced against cedar and even composite plastics. Being clear and virtually knot free, the wood provides a gorgeous surface that will last for decades.
Based in Calgary Kayu Canada (Kayu is the Malaysian word for wood) the firm imports and then ships containers of product across the country to clients from coast to coast, with sales to commercial and residential users roughly split 50/50. “Over the years we’ve evolved into a distributer, selling hardwood across Canada, with inventories in place in Calgary, the Vancouver area and Toronto. Kayu doesn’t sell direct but through our extensive network of preferred dealers, just check the dealer page on our website to find one near you,” he said.
A general contactor and builder Labelle made the switch to tropical hardwoods from the wood he had been using in 1995, importing his first containers that year. “I never liked cedar, so I would import redwood from California,” a situation that would change following his cruise ship epiphany.
“While on the cruise I would sit with the ship’s chief engineer at dinner and eventually we talked about the wood on the boat which was all Philippine mahogany, that knowledge stuck with me,” he remembered.
Kayu’s hardwood lumber was the product of choice when this Vancouver penthouse deck was being constructed
“So, I began looking around for suitable wood, with that ship’s decking at the back of my mind, and by a fluke found some in the States,” Labelle recalled.
For a time Kayu continued to import his wood from American suppliers before striking up a relationship with an agent in Indonesia, allowing him to purchase wood directly from local sawmills, buying lumber cut to his specifications. This change helped to energize his business and to dramatically increase his sales.
A key part of Labelle’s corporate messaging is that tropical hardwoods are not plastic, with composite materials often being used as a substitute for wood, especially in outdoor settings. “Everyone wants maintenance free so they’re buying composite plastic products, which is impacting our sales. What we sell is real, it’s durable and it will be far more attractive to the eye and comfortable to your feet than any plastic panels. It’s an investment in the legacy of your home, something that will add value and distinctiveness to any project,” he said.
“My motto these days is simple: ‘Life’s too short to live on plastic!’
That’s the word we want to get out – hardwood is the answer, it’s available, it’s cost-effective and it will stand the test of time!”
