by Rosi Lehr

Created on: July 10, 2009   Last Updated: July 12, 2009

Ipe also known as Brazilian Walnut and Ironwood (botanical name Tabebuia Spp.) is commonly sold as decking, flooring and furniture. It is a beautiful and exotic hardwood with a Janka Hardness of 3640 compared to California Redwood at 420. This gives you an idea of how hard this wood is and why the lifespan of this wood is up to 100 years compared to the relatively short lifespan of its competitors. When looking for Ipe you want to consider several factors: the wood, the supplier and the accessories.

The Ipe wood is very durable and strong as noted above. It is also chemical/additive free. Not only that, Ipe is insect and rot resistant as well as mold and fungus resistant. This super wood is 100% natural and totally biodegradable with no chemical aftermath. When purchasing this wood you want to buy first grade clear material as natural and rustic grade will have some knots and color variation .

The supplier is just as important as the grade of the hardwood. You want to purchase from a reputable supplier that has an established relationship with the mills and can control the quality that gets shipped as Ipe comes from South America, Central America and the Caribbean. You want to be comfortable with the company. Call the sales department, ask questions and request a sample. A reputable supplier inspects the material as well as the mills. Check to see if the supplier is just a middle man who drop ships the hardwood or if he will actually receive the order and inspect it before it goes out. If the supplier doesn't do that there may be a chance you will get something you don't want. Ask about special handling especially for longer boards and whether it will change hands with many different trucks as this increase the likelihood of damage.Check out the websites and gather information. This is a big investment and you want to get it right the first time.

The accessories can also be very important for a custom look. Ipe can be milled for handrail systems, post caps, even plugs for your decking. You want to use a reputable mill and one that is experienced with Ipe as this hardwood requires special machinery for milling. These types of products will create a nice seamless flow from your deck to your front door. Don't forget the UV Plus finish and Wood& Deck Cleaner for the maintenance of your decking.

Ipe has a Janka hardness of 3640.What is Janka hardness? The Wikipedia definition states: The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It involves measuring the force required to embed a 11.28 millimeter (0.444 inch) steel ball into wood to half its diameter. This method was chosen so that the result would leave an indention 100 square millimeters in size. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. Ipe is also rated same as steel and concrete for flammability testing.

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