Mesquite is native to many parts of Texas and the southern United States. It has for many years been considered to be a nuisance to farmers and ranchers and only in the past few decades has the mesquite flooring industry begun to evolve. Texas A&M at Kingsville has studied mesquite in the past and has published information about the mesquite tree and its wood and working properties.
The most attractive feature of mesquite wood is its dimensional stability and hardness. From wet to dry mesquite loses less than 5% total of its volume while other woods can lose in excess of 15%. This means a mesquite floor is much less likely to move during extreme weather changes. Mesquite is harder than red oak and is much more stable.
Mesquite trees do not grow like pines or oak trees. They are often a twisted and gnarled tree with many bends. Straight lengths of 2 to 3 feet are common with longer pieces available but with less quantity.
Mesquite milling from log to lumber or flooring is a labor intensive process. Because of its short lengths much of the machinery that is used in the logging and milling industry in the northern states, will not work with short mesquite logs. In addition some of the cracks can be so wide that it renders some of the lumber useless and can only be used for BBQ wood.
The thorny jewel of the American Southwest in the eyes of Native Americans, the mesquite tree of the Southwest represented both shade and sustenance. The tree's sugar-rich bean pods furnished food and drink. Its sap became black dye, gum, and medicine. And sewing needles were made from its sharp thorns. The tribes relied on mesquite wood, too, for fuel, arrows, lodge frames, and even plowshares. Later, pioneer hands worked mesquite into timbers, railroad ties, fence posts, wagon wheels, and sturdy rustic furniture. In the late 1800s, citizens of San Antonio paved the streets leading to their Texas shrine, the Alamo, with mesquite slabs. In testament to mesquite's durability, remnants of the wood still surface from the activity of street maintenance. While most 20th-century craftsmen equate mesquite with only the barbecue grill, bands of aficionados promote the wood as furniture-class stock. Their efforts have lifted the wood's reputation out of its native land.
The most attractive feature of mesquite wood is its dimensional stability and hardness. From wet to dry mesquite loses less than 5% total of its volume while other woods can lose in excess of 15%. This means a mesquite floor is much less likely to move during extreme weather changes. Mesquite is harder than red oak and is much more stable.
Mesquite trees do not grow like pines or oak trees. They are often a twisted and gnarled tree with many bends. Straight lengths of 2 to 3 feet are common with longer pieces available but with less quantity.
Mesquite milling from log to lumber or flooring is a labor intensive process. Because of its short lengths much of the machinery that is used in the logging and milling industry in the northern states, will not work with short mesquite logs. In addition some of the cracks can be so wide that it renders some of the lumber useless and can only be used for BBQ wood.
The thorny jewel of the American Southwest in the eyes of Native Americans, the mesquite tree of the Southwest represented both shade and sustenance. The tree's sugar-rich bean pods furnished food and drink. Its sap became black dye, gum, and medicine. And sewing needles were made from its sharp thorns. The tribes relied on mesquite wood, too, for fuel, arrows, lodge frames, and even plowshares. Later, pioneer hands worked mesquite into timbers, railroad ties, fence posts, wagon wheels, and sturdy rustic furniture. In the late 1800s, citizens of San Antonio paved the streets leading to their Texas shrine, the Alamo, with mesquite slabs. In testament to mesquite's durability, remnants of the wood still surface from the activity of street maintenance. While most 20th-century craftsmen equate mesquite with only the barbecue grill, bands of aficionados promote the wood as furniture-class stock. Their efforts have lifted the wood's reputation out of its native land.