When choosing a wood product to use on outdoor projects many people today are turning to Ipe wood.
Ipe wood is an exotic hardwood that has only recently been placed into wide scale use.
The reason many are not familiar with Ipe wood is simple.
Only new technological advances have allowed this hardwood to be profitable on a wide scale commercial basis.
The wood is so dense that it has proven difficult to work with until recently.
The extreme density of the wood however is what gives it superior qualities over just about any other material used today for outdoor building projects.
Pronounced ee-Pay, this wood grows throughout South America and grows fairly rapidly making it an ideal wood for managed forestry.
It is not an endangered species and use of Ipe wood means that thousands of acres of delicate rainforest remain undisturbed.
By following the guidelines laid down by the Forest Stewardship Council, reputable companies in the United States are able to encourage sustainable forestry practices.
Best of all, Ipe is an excellent replacement where Teak or Mahogany would normally be used.
It is almost 400% stronger than Teak and is available at a fraction of the cost.
Ipe wood is as common in the tropics as yellow pine is in the United States and most companies importing the wood to the U.
S.
markets support extensive replanting programs.
Ipe wood also offers superior resistance to rot and insect infestations.
The U.
S.
Naval Research laboratory gave Ipe its highest rating against termites.
Ipe wood that was left in the ground for 15 years still showed no signs of attack by termites.
Ipe heartwood has been shown to be very resistant to fungi, mold and mildew as well also receiving the highest rating possible form the U.
S.
forest Products Laboratory.
Their tests showed wood left exposed to the elements lasted 40+ years and Ipe wood that had received one application of deck oil lasted 100+ years.
Now that is a durability that is difficult to find any other wood product used today.
Ipe wood also has no equal in regard to fire resistance.
According to the Nation Fire Protection Code, when Ipe decking was exposed to flame spread for 10 minutes is carried the same rating as concrete.
It also makes an ideal decking due to its exceeding high ratings for Slip Resistance.
Ipe Decking exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient of friction in a wet environment.
Using Ipe decking around pools, saunas and hot tubs means less worry about children sliding and injuring themselves due to a slippery surface.
The extreme density of the wood that gives it such durable properties is actually what had kept Ipe wood from being widely used until just recently.
New breakthroughs in milling techniques have cut some of the operating expenses that in the past had made Ipe wood impractical for wide spread use.
Because it has a blunting effect on cutters, carbide tipped saw blades are necessary.
It also must be predrilled for fasteners for the same reason.
When choosing a material for an outdoor product, Ipe wood simply has no equal when it comes to durability and longevity.