How to find opportunities when building a Brazilian Ipe Hardwood Deck

Ipe is a very low maintenance and long lasting wood. That in itself is an opportunity. However, that is long term. Here we want to discuss how to find opportunities that will pay dividends today.

Many Opportunities are obvious once you think about them. The problem is developing the idea before you commit. Here are just a few ideas to help you save money and still get the Deck of your Dreams.

Buy in winter. Believe it or not, Brazilian Hardwoods like Ipe have a season. The trees are only harvested for a few months of the year. They are then milled and shipped around the world. Wood starts to arrive in the September timeframe. Most people do not build decks until spring. The Ipe, Garapa, Tigerwood and so forth sit in inventory for six months or more. Dealers want to move this inventory during the winter but very few people buy. This is your opportunity if you can take advantage of it. If you have a hard winter with freezing temperature, you are not looking at building a deck. However, the Southern US is very temperate during winter. Actually, it is a great time to build as it is cooler outside. MANY PEOPLE just do not take advantage of this great time of year to do outside construction. Dealers are negotiable and the weather is great.

Shipping Sharing. We have neighbors doing decks together. They both will decide what they need and order together. The shipping saving can be hundreds of dollars. Neighbor does not have to be next door. We have had people who are a few blocks away use this strategy.

Look at Garapa or Tigerwood or other Brazilian Decking Products. If you are going to let you deck turn gray then look closely at Garapa Decking. Once Garapa and Ipe turn gray only an expert can tell the difference. You will read the blogs about how Ipe is so hard. But, Garapa is hard too. Garapa is 2 1/2x as hard as Oak. Remember there is “technical” hardness and a “practical” hardness. Yes Ipe is harder than Garapa but from a practical point of view they both work about the same.