Spotlight On: Ipé
Kellogg Global Hub
SPECIES: Handroanthus spp. (formerly placed in the Tabebuia genus).
ORIGIN: Central and South America; also farmed commercially.
COMMON APPLICATIONS: Used heavily in outdoor applications, including decking, doors, windows, boat docks, boardwalks and furniture. Also used in fine furniture, flooring, turnings, and decorative veneers.
CHARACTERISTICS / APPEARANCE: Heartwood typically olive-brown, with variations in color from a reddish-brown to a dark blackish brown. Sapwood is yellowish-white and easily distinguished. Grain varies from straight to irregular and sometimes interlocked. Ipé is a difficult wood to work with high cutting resistance during sawing and machining. It planes smoothly with tearout in interlocked areas. Can be difficult to glue properly and surface preparation prior to gluing is recommended. All of the same qualities that make ipé a challenging wood to work with make it so desired – it is extremely hard and dense with high durability and shock resistance.
JANKA HARDNESS SCALE: 3,510 lb_f (see chart on page 57)
COMMENTS: Ipé is a wood of extremes – extremely dense and durable but as a result difficult to work. Its incredible hardness and strength make it well suited to exterior decking and siding. If left unfinished, graying of the wood will occur, but can last over 20 years outside without preservatives or additional treatments.
THE FIVE-STORY, 415,000-SQUARE-FOOT KELLOGG GLOBAL HUB, WHICH OPENED IN 2017, IS A SPATIALLY COMPLEX BUILDING CONSISTING OF FOUR WINGS THAT PINWHEEL AROUND STACKED ATRIUMS.
Frequently asked questions
What is the former genus name for Ipé, and what is its current scientific classification?+
Ipé is classified as Handroanthus spp., having formerly been placed in the Tabebuia genus.
What color variations can be found in Ipé heartwood versus its sapwood?+
Ipé heartwood is typically olive-brown, with variations ranging from reddish-brown to a dark blackish brown. The sapwood is yellowish-white and easily distinguished from the heartwood.
What challenges does Ipé present during gluing and machining?+
Ipé has high cutting resistance during sawing and machining, and while it planes smoothly, tearout can occur in interlocked grain areas. It can also be difficult to glue properly, so surface preparation prior to gluing is recommended.
Why is Ipé's difficulty to work with also what makes it desirable?+
The same qualities that make Ipé challenging to work—its extreme hardness and density—also give it high durability and shock resistance, making it well suited for demanding applications like exterior decking and siding.
What happens to Ipé's appearance if it is left unfinished outdoors?+
If left unfinished, Ipé will gray over time, but it can still last over 20 years outside without preservatives or additional treatments.
Beyond outdoor decking, what other applications is Ipé used for?+
In addition to heavy outdoor use in decking, doors, windows, boat docks, and boardwalks, Ipé is also used in fine furniture, flooring, turnings, and decorative veneers.