If you are looking for the ideal material to construct your new deck, a few options can top Brazilian Ipe wood. This type of hardwood is one of the most popular materials used in outdoor decks and is renowned for its extraordinary resilience and classic elegance.
The advantages of Brazilian Ipe wood over other decking materials
- Design
The unique thing about using hardwood for your deck is that no design ends up the same. These wood decking materials are a product of nature, and as a result, there are always variations in color, texture, and grain.
For example, Brazilian Ipe wood is loved for its stunning olive brown to black color accented by various stripes. This hardwood has a fine to medium texture with grain ranging from straight to irregular. It is also much darker than its hardwood siblings. For instance, Garapa features a honey-yellow hue that can turn light brown with age, while Tigerwood is mostly light maple with some streaks of black “tiger” stripes.
- Durability
Ipe wood is one of the hardest hardwood decking materials on the market. It has a rating of 3680 on the Janka Hardness Scale, far above other wood materials like teak, red oak, and mahogany.
Ipe wood can withstand even the toughest of elements thanks to its hardness. It has a natural resistance to moisture, insects, and denting and can last 50 years or more with proper care.
Moreover, Ipe wood has a Class A fire rating, which means it can take longer for your deck to spread fire in case of an accident.
- Maintenance
Many people choose Ipe as a decking material because of its majestic color and unique grain. However, if you want to maintain this look, you will need to stain the deck every few years.
Other than that, Ipe wood requires very little maintenance. You should only clean it when the seasons change, removing debris such as dirt and leaves to prevent stains and scratches.
Does the design and durability of Brazilian Ipe wood suit your requirements? Make sure to purchase your decking materials from a reputable supplier with exceptional standards for quality control and customer support.
About the Author:
Bruce Master is the general manager at Advanced Building Supplies. Advanced Building Supplies, aka ABSWood, specializes in a full line of Brazilian Hardwood products, including Ipe, Garapa, Cumaru, and Tigerwood. Exotic woods is a natural outgrowth for Bruce as he comes from a long line of woodworkers. His Grandfather and Father were both respected wood craftsmen and cabinet makers. In addition to managing ABS, Bruce designs, plans, and installs his own decks. Before selling Brazilian Hardwoods, Bruce worked as a generalist at a huge Ace Hardware in Miami, Florida, that catered to an almost exclusive clientele of contractors working on Miami Beach.
