When considering what wood to utilize for outdoor decking Ipe wood cannot be beat for the durability and cost. Ipe wood is an exotic hardwood found throughout South America that is incredibly resistant to rot, insect infestation and has amazing fire resistance as well. Pronounced ee-PAY, this incredible hardwood has several common names, which include Brazilian Walnut, Amapa and Cortez.

 

When the famous boardwalk in Atlantic City must be replaced, Ipe wood was chosen. It was also useful for the boardwalk at the Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas

 

This wood is an incredibly dense, tight-grained wood, that is the source of its longevity. When tested by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory it received its highest rating. This was predicated on ipe decking left in the ground for 15 years without attack by termites. It is also resistant to mold and fungi. The wood can be anticipated to last 40+ years left untreated and a fantastic 100+ years with a treatment of deck oil. Not just could it be long-lasting, it is a fraction of the expense of Teak.


 

 

 

When comparing to more common woods used in outdoor projects, Ipe wood wins easily. Even against those woods long thought superior for out door use such as for example Cedar and Redwood. Studies done on recent Redwood use declare that while Redwoods used in the beginning of the twentieth century did indeed offer excellent quality when used outdoors, that is not the case today. The cause of this is quite simple. Redwood used a century ago was obtained from old growth forests and those no more exist. The Redwood used today is produced from new growth trees and the heartwood of younger trees provides much less resistance to rot and insects than that of old trees. Irresponsible logging practices of the past century depleted all old growth Redwood except those trees protected in National Forests.

 

Usage of Ipe wood is also an environmentally sound choice as well. Importers of Ipe wood to the United States usually purchase wood that is grown in managed forests which have been approved by the Forest Stewardship council. The practice of taking trees from managed forests implies that sustainable forestry practices come in use, thus Ipe wood produces one of the renewable wood products on the planet today. The utilization of Ipe as opposed to Teak or Mahogany results in environmentally responsible forestry practices in sensitive rain forest environments.

 

One of many reasons Ipe wood is so new to the marketplace for outdoor products is actually the exact same reason Ipe wood is also so durable. The wood is so incredibly dense that only recent technological machinery advances have caused it to be possible to process the timber at a reasonable price. Ipe wood must be drilled for fasteners and attachments; it's way too dense for the standard hammer and nail techniques. This wood nearly 400% harder than teak and is one of the only woods that sinks in water!

 

As it pertains to buying your homes beauty and functionality, Ipe wood is an all natural choice. Though it is more pricey initially to set up, the rewards definitely outweigh the first investment because once it's installed, Ipe wood is virtually maintenance free and will last a lifetime. Even pressure treated woods cannot boast the staying power of Ipe wood.

 

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at Everlasting Hardwoods. He writes about Ipe wood and other related industry specific topics for the company.