The Hardest Wood On The Planet

 

Ipe’ (eepaay) is a member of the Ironwood family and a top choice among decking professionals. Hardwood decking is beautiful, durable, and sustainable when purchased from reliable vendors. Ipe has been called the hardest wood on the planet and Ipe decking can last up to 30 years without any stain or sealer. When properly maintained, Ipe can last up to 100 years. It carries a rich brown color with good variation when finished. Unfinished it weathers to a silvery grey color much like weathered teak.

As a company we have performed 100s of hardwood decking installations. We prefer Ipe to some other hardwood varieties because it does not have the tendency to bleed like many other south american species of hardwood.

Special tooling, fasteners, and techniques are required when working with hardwoods such as Ipe. Ventilation, finish, concealing end grain, spacing, and fastening methods are all necessary considerations for a successful hardwood decking installation. All of our hardwood decking projects start with material selection. All of the decking timbers we use are hand selected with the utmost care and a trained eye. 

As a company we prefer using hardwood decking to soft wood species and over the years we have installed in excess of 100,000 square feet of hardwood decking. We have also used Ipe for fencing and railings, planters, benches and gates. We have even constructed arbors and patio covers with this amazing natural material.

Ipe’ hardwood is one of the most durable and longest lasting building products available. Of any wood species, it is our first choice in combination with stainless cable for maintaining cable tension. Ipe hardwood railings actually behave like steel, and when it comes to hardwood installations, it pays to use a specialist. All woods are not created equal. Here are some examples of our hardwood projects: