You can never go wrong with ipe wood if you are looking for something durable, long-lasting, and naturally beautiful for your deck. Ipe is also known as Brazilian walnut or ‘ironwood’—and it is easy to see why. One of its most remarkable characteristics is its hardness, which is about three times harder than a baseball bat. Dock builders have been relying on ipe for years due to its strength and ability to withstand most extreme outdoor conditions. With ipe wood decking, you can be sure that your outdoor living space can last for decades as it holds up to outdoor elements. Ipe wood is popular in Asia and Europe where the material has been in high demand for decades.
Ipe wood decking has a luxurious brown hue and grain that can last indefinitely when preserved with a UV finisher. You do not have to worry about wood-destroying organisms like termites damaging your deck because ipe is simply too tough, so the little critters move on to softer wood. Ipe is known to be three times harder than oak, and its density makes its fire rating to be just like concrete at A1. You do not need to use any chemicals or pesticides to treat it.
The hardness of ipe wood decking makes it scratch resistant, too. However, that does not mean that your deck will be scratchproof. In case something drags on it and causes a scratch, don’t worry—you can smoothen it again using an 80 grit on an orbital sander. There is no need to preserve ipe, but if you want to maintain its lovely brown color, you must apply a UV blocker or finisher periodically on your deck. If you want it to age gracefully, ipe wood decking will transform into a silver gray color.
In the Janka hardness scale, ipe is at 3680lb. Due to its hardness and density, you need carbide-tipped tools to work ipe wood decking. Consider using brand name saws, and make sure that they are sharp. An 80 teeth saw can nicely and cleanly cut ipe. If you need to put screws, make sure to pre-drill and have some extra bits on hand. You can purchase ipe wood decking from reputable Brazilian hardwood decking suppliers. Make sure that they harvest ipe responsibly and that they comply to the Lacey Act. Ipe wood can be prepared as decking material and then shipped directly to your home or jobsite.
About the Author:
This article is written by Bruce Master. He gained an interest in woodworking at an early age. Bruce Master started working with contractors in the 1970s as a salesman at Ace Hardware in Miami. Over the years, he discovered and fell in love with Brazilian woods. He has built decks, docks and specialty items using many of the Brazilian woods. Today, Bruce loves his job as Operations Manager for ABS Wood, a Brazilian wood retailer.
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