BRAZILIAN IPE HARDWOOD DECKING
Ipe (Brazilian Walnut)
is olive brown to black often with variegated striping. Texture is fine to medium, grain straight to irregular. It is one of the hardest woods on the planet and an extremely popular choice for decking in Europe, Asia, and the United States. – Janka 3680# (vs Oak 1360#)
Garapa (Brazilian Oak)
is honey-yellow with a slight ribbon aspect that becomes light brown with age. The grain is irregular and interlocked and has a medium texture. Janka 2820#
Tigerwood (Muiracatiara)
is light maple color quickly weathering to reddish with black “tiger stripes.” It is mostly straight grained with coarse texture. The Tiger name derives from the variegated brown to violet-colored heartwood with irregular black streaks. It is far harder than any domestic hardwood species. Janka 2160#
Cumaru (Teak)
has a beautiful grain and is extremely hard and durable even compared to most other Brazilian hardwoods. The cherry color offers a pronounced grain pattern with more consistent color than yellow or champagne Cumaru. This decking is becoming extremely popular in the US. Janka 3540#
Massaranduba
or Brazilian Redwood is a deep red color. Massaranduba Decking is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attack. Janka 2890
Apitong
is better suited than any other wood in the world for trailer decking because of its durability, affordability and sustainability.Our Malaysian Apitong(aka Keruing) is OEM grade, the best quality of the market today.
Handling and Storage:
Brazilian IPE Hardwood decking should be stored out of direct sunlight and allowed to stabilize and acclimate to the installation environment humidity levels before installation. It is best to allow for groundside ventilation in the design as proper air circulation is necessary for long term stability of Ipe. When installing, allow 1/16″ gap between the deck boards for circulation of air. When Ipe is fully seasoned, shrinkage of approx. 1/16″ on 4″ wide boards to 1/8″ on 6″ wide boards may be expected.
Cutting and Drilling:
Use name brand carbide tipped saw blades and for smooth cuts due to the hardness of Ipe. Pre drill a pilot hole and countersink when using screws as fasteners.
End Sealing:
Ends should be sealed immediately after cutting using a clear aqueous wax end sealer to reduce end checking.
Fastening:
Stainless steel screws are considered the best and they will also eliminate potential chemical reactions or staining at the fastener location.Coated or galvanized steel fasteners may be used, but they tend to have a shorter life span and may cause staining of the wood.
Insects:
All Brazilian decking is Resistant to Termites, Pine Beetles, Marine Borers.
Ipe hardwood decking is popular due to its exceptional durability and natural beauty. Not just Ipe wood decks but all Brazilian hardwood decks. Lounging on an Ipe wood deck boosts your mood as much as HHC Gummies. You will find many ipe wood for sale. Below are photos and links to many Brazilian and ipe wood for sale. But, before we go there, how does Ipe wood decking compare to other options?
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Pressure-Treated Wood:
- Ipe: Ipe wood decking is much denser and harder than pressure-treated wood, making it highly resistant to decay, insects, and rot. It also has a more attractive appearance.
- Pressure-Treated Wood: Pressure-treated wood is more affordable but requires regular maintenance to prevent decay and insect damage. It has a shorter lifespan compared to Ipe. Also, it has chemicals that may not be the most environmentally friendly.
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Cedar and Redwood:
- Ipe: Ipe wood decking is denser and more durable than cedar and redwood. It has a longer lifespan and requires less maintenance.
- Cedar and Redwood: Cedar and redwood are known for their natural resistance to decay and insects, but they are softer than Ipe and require more maintenance over time. Softwoods like Cedar and Redwood do not have nearly the lifespan as Ipe wood decking.
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Composite Decking:
- Ipe: Ipe wood decking has a natural wood appearance and is often preferred for its aesthetics. It does not require the periodic maintenance that composite decking does.
- Composite Decking: Composite decking is low-maintenance and resistant to rot and insects. However, Composite will weather and once damaged a replacement will not match. Composite will not decompose as it is not wood. It will be in landfills for years.
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Plastic Decking:
- Ipe: Ipe wood decking is a natural wood product with a warm and inviting appearance.
- Plastic Decking: Plastic decking materials are low-maintenance and resistant to decay and insects, but they lack the natural beauty of wood. Plastics and composites are also prone to scratching that is not repairable. Plastics decking like all plastics will be in landfills for years.
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Tropical Hardwoods (Other than Ipe):
- Ipe: Ipe wood decking is one of the hardest and densest tropical hardwoods, making it extremely durable.
- Other Tropical Hardwoods: Other tropical hardwoods like Cumaru and Tigerwood are similar to Ipe in terms of hardness and durability. They can be alternative choices if Ipe is not readily available.
The huge benefit of Brazilian ipe decking wood decking and other Brazilian decking is in terms of maintenance. Maintenance is minimal due to their hardness. Brazilian ipe decking will turn silver gray and last decades.
While Brazilian ipe decking doesn’t require finishing for protection, many choose to apply a UV-blocking deck finisher to maintain its natural color. This step is optional but can enhance the wood’s appearance and prolong the time it takes for Ipe to turn silver-gray due to sun exposure.
In summary, Ipe hardwood decking stands out for its exceptional durability, natural beauty, and resistance to decay and insects. ABS Wood ipe wood for sale is the best in the industry. In addition, ABS Wood also has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ipe wood for sale.
Below are photos and links to many Brazilian ipe decking and ipe wood for sale to provide your home with a beautiful Brazilian wood deck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brazilian hardwood, like all woods, will turn gray. Specifically, the Brazilian woods tend to turn a silverish gray. If you desire to maintain the natural colour you need to apply a Finisher that has Ultra Violet light protection. The UV Light from the sun is what turns all woods gray. Beyond colour, there is really no maintenance required. You Ipe deck will last decades. It is recommended that you build a robust foundation for your deck. You do not want a foundation fail after a decade whereas the decking still looks great.
Most customers have a colour or budget in mind. Once we know the customer’s desires, ABS Wood can suggest the best wood with backup options. The customer can then choose what will be best suited for their project. In addition, ABS Wood offers samples to be sent out so the customer can feel the weight, hardness, and verify the colour scheme.
ABS Wood offers many sizes and profiles of Brazilian Woods. We have the different species, hence different colours. We offer them in different lengths in profiles. For example, we offer the standard decking in 1×6 or 5/4×6. We also offer smaller like 1×4 and 5/4×4, or milled to Tongue and Groove for a more “flooring” effect. We offer fancy milled handrails from our catalog or custom per the customer specifications. And, we offer dimensional sizes from 1×4 to 8×8, enough to meet most customers needs. Finally, if a customer, usually a builder, needs something we do not stock in the US we can order directly from Brazil.
ABS Wood only carries Premium Grades of Ipe and Brazilian Woods. There are other “B” grades available. We tried those years ago and customer were not satisfied. When you buy Ipe, you expect a premium product. The “B” and lessor grades are not premium.
ABS Wood offers all the standard sizes of decking. In addition, we have dimensional sizes from 1×4 to 8×8 in stock. We have customers with a materials list to napkin sketch to cad drawings. Our teams work with the customer to help insure they have the right product for their needs.
ABS Wood has product data sheets on all our wood products. All our wood is standard industry nominal sizes. Frequently, Customers call and they are novices. This is the first (maybe only) time they are building a deck for their home. We do this daily and are very well versed in Brazilian woods like Ipe, and construction in general. We take the time to answer due diligence questions before the sale. We are also available during installation and of course, after the sale.
Brazilian Ipe Decking is one of the hardest woods in the world. It has the additional positive in that it is a beautiful coloured wood. Ipe comes from the Brazilian Rain Forest. In Brazil, the summers are hotter, the winters are colder, the bugs and other “wood predators” have evolved bigger and stronger. Ipe survives here as it is much harder than any US domestic woods. For longevity of your deck building labour, Ipe is the choice that lasts.
From the first customer interaction to the final installation ABS Wood works with the customer to help insure they get the result they want. Depending upon the customers experience, they may have something simple as a sketch to an elaborate CAD Drawing. We have seen it all and are equipped to help the customer identify their needs and find the best value solution.
Simple, Brazilian woods are the hardest in the world. They are beautiful, and with the Lacey Act, they are being preserved for the next generation.