Sage-Tips

Is ipe wood good for decking?

Ipe (pronounced EE-pay) is the finest quality wood decking material available. Ipe is an exotic hardwood that is naturally resistant to rot and decay, is 8 times harder than California Redwood, and is guaranteed for 20 years without preservatives!

Does ipe wood crack?

Ipe Decking dries and contracts, leaving tiny cracks in the face or at the ends of the boards. These tiny cracks are known as checks. Face checking is a very normal and is very difficult to see. It does not affect the durability, longevity or water-resistant benefits.

How long will an ipe deck last?

Ipe is more durable than other woods. Within ipe wood are natural oils that preserve it; combined with the wood’s exceptional density, you can expect an ipe deck or fence to last up to 50 years without replacement.

What does ipe stand for in lumber?

Brazilian walnut
Ipe is not an abbreviation. Rather, it’s the common name of Tabebuia serratifolia, a tropical hardwood lumber specie. The correct pronunciation is “EE-pay”. Other common names for ipe include Brazilian walnut and ironwood. The ipe tree is native to South America.

Can you power wash an Ipe deck?

You can leave your new Ipé decking with its original natural colour. If you decide to bring back the natural finish colour, you simply need to pressure wash your deck. We recommend the Saicos Wood Brightener (follow product instructions), followed by a light sanding to smooth the surface – and it’s done!

Is Ipe decking worth the cost?

Among hardwoods, ipe is considered the most prestigious and valued wood. It stands out for its strength, durability, and density. These properties make it rot resistant, mildew resistant, scratch resistant, and the density is the reason it has a class-A fire rating.

Does ipe expand and contract?

Ipe shrinks when dry, and expands when wet. Butting the boards tightly is BAD idea, unless the wood is totally green, not acclimated or dry whatsoever. Using green wood is not advisable.

Can you power wash an ipe deck?

How strong is ipe?

Hardness- Ipe is among the 10 hardest woods in the world with a Janka Hardness rating of 3,680; compare that to Oak, at about 1,200. Many compare Ipe’s hardness and density to concrete. This extreme hardness lends to its dimensional stability, long lifespan, and natural weatherproof properties.