Exotic Woods are Attractive, Low-Maintenance and Durable
Spotlight on: Ipé
When selecting wood for decking, consider both aesthetic and practical factors.
PERFORMANCE/DURABILITY: Tropical hardwoods offer natural resistance to wear, decay, insect attack and fire without the use of chemical treatments or coatings. With an annual application of penetrating oil, tropical hardwoods keep their rich red, purple, black, or golden brown hues and retain their unique grains and patterns. Left untreated, they weather to a pleasing silver gray. Tropical hardwoods also provide the comfort of lower heat retention.
Domestic hardwoods such as Oak, Birch, Maple and American Cherry don't weather as well as tropical species and usually require a finish or sealant to prevent them from oxidizing and discoloring. The only domestic hardwood with durability properties equal to exotics is Black Locust, but the grade and length structure is poor by comparison. Redwood and Cedar decking applications are prone to splintering, and prolonged moisture can cause Redwood to blacken.
HARDNESS: Exotic hardwoods are stronger, harder and denser than domestic species. However, the qualities that make woods such as Teak, Ipé, Garapa and Cumaru appealing, such as hardness and high silica content, can dull ordinary cutting tools and may necessitate the use of special carbide tipped blades and bits. Domestic hardwoods generally fall about mid-range on the Janka hardness scale. Thus, they are more workable than exotic species.
SCRATCH-RESISTANCE: Due to their inherent density, tropical hardwoods are naturally scratch resistant. When surface damage occurs to woods like Ipé, rosewood or mahogany it can be easily repaired with a plane or sander. The damage is then undetectable because the sap wood is clear.
Spotlight on: Ipé
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 lbf
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.
More and more homeowners are looking to revitalize and enhance the value of their outdoor living spaces with decks and other outdoor amenities. The latest trends in deck design and construction include larger decks, multi-level decks, roof decks, the use of pergolas and walls to add privacy, and built-ins for extra seating and storage.
In addition to traditional tropical hardwoods such as Ipé, Mahogany and Teak, other exotic species are finding favor among designers and architects, including Garapa, Dark Red Balau, Muiricatiara (aka Tigerwood), Cumaru, Massaranduba, and others.
Ipé continues to dominate the market by a very large margin, according to Brian Lotz, director of business development and environmental compliance for Concord, New Hampshire-based Timber Holdings. "Ipé is the king of decking hardwoods," he said. "With its warm walnut color, structural integrity, durability and performance, it is by far the most desirable hardwood for this application." Lotz estimates that Ipé currently dominates the hardwood decking market by as much as 90 percent.
For budget-conscious homeowners, Garapa may be the next best thing to Ipé. Its grain and color are similar to teak and it possesses all the benefits of Ipé at a lower price point. When left to weather, is indistinguishable from Ipé. Garapa is currently gaining market share, albeit growing from a relatively small base.
Dark Red Balau with its luscious red mahogany hue is also finding favor. Dark Red Balau is an economical decking material can last 30-plus years. Due to its open grain, it is not quite as sturdy
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Frequently asked questions
Why choose tropical hardwoods over domestic hardwoods for decking?+
Tropical hardwoods offer natural resistance to wear, decay, insect attack and fire without chemical treatments, and they retain rich colors with annual oil application or weather to a pleasing silver gray. Domestic hardwoods like Oak, Birch, Maple and American Cherry usually require finishes or sealants to prevent oxidizing and discoloring.
Is there a domestic hardwood that matches the durability of exotic decking species?+
Black Locust is the only domestic hardwood with durability properties equal to exotics, but its grade and length structure is poor by comparison.
What tools are needed to work with exotic hardwoods like Ipé and Cumaru?+
The hardness and high silica content of woods such as Teak, Ipé, Garapa and Cumaru can dull ordinary cutting tools, often necessitating the use of special carbide tipped blades and bits.
How hard is Ipé wood on the Janka hardness scale?+
Ipé has a Janka hardness rating of 3,510 lbf, making it extremely dense and durable but also difficult to work.
How long does Ipé decking last outdoors without treatment?+
Ipé can last over 20 years outside without preservatives or additional treatments, though graying of the wood will occur if left unfinished.
What is a budget-friendly alternative to Ipé decking?+
Garapa is considered the next best thing to Ipé for budget-conscious homeowners. Its grain and color are similar to teak, it shares many of Ipé's benefits at a lower price point, and when weathered it is indistinguishable from Ipé.