In the US, Ipe hardwood is called many names, including Brazilian walnut and ironwood. It is one of the most reliable decking materials there is mainly because of its high Janka rating. A deck made of Ipe hardwood will be more than just strong and durable—it can also add sheen of luxury to your property. Do you want to construct a deck and are thinking of using Ipe as your material? Here are just some of the many reasons why you should:
- Incredibly hard – Ipe is one of the world’s hardest woods. In fact, it is three times stronger than oak. With its Janka rating of 3680lb, Ipe is about three times harder than a regular baseball bat made out of maple and will last for many years with proper care.
- Excellent fire rating – Did you know that the fire rating of Ipe is comparable to that of cement?
- Resists bugs – Due to its excellent density, Ipe cannot be bitten into by bugs and other insects. There’s no need to use chemicals to ward off bugs from your Ipe decking.
- Scratch resistant – Ipe is so hard that it is technically scratch resistant. If you do find markings appear on your Ipe hardwood decking, you can use an 80 grit paper and penetrating oil to remove them.
- Rot resistant – Pine beetles and fungus will not be a problem with Ipe. This hardwood can be used for a roofless deck. You can even set up a hot tub on your Ipe hardwood decking.
- Easy maintenance – The only trouble with Ipe hardwood is that its warm brown color tends to fade and turn to gray when it is left out in the sun. But don’t worry—that’s easy to remedy. You can maintain your deck’s original rich brown hue with a UV finisher.
It might not be ideal for creating furniture with fine details because of its hardness, but Ipe is perfect for decking. Ipe is reliably strong and beautiful. What’s more, it is 100% green. When the time comes to replace your deck, you don’t have to worry about how to recycle your Ipe timber. It will simply decompose and go back to the earth, unlike composite woods that stay in landfills for over a century.
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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