Ipe Wood For the Great decking

Ipe Wood For the Great decking Many people which are thinking of purchasing outdoor furniture realize that in a few years they will be carrying this out yet again because most products simply don't fare well when exposed to the elements. This is exactly why choosing furniture made with Ipe wood makes such good sense. Ipe products are long-lasting and wear extremely well. The original investment made in Ipe products pays for itself because this can be a purchase that truly only has to be made once in a lifetime. That's simply a thing that can't be said for most outdoor products.

Ipe wood products are very durable because of the wood that they're constructed. Ipe is a tropical hardwood with properties which are much like Teak wood but at a fraction of the cost. The botanical name for Ipe (pronounced EE-pay) is Tabebuia spp. (Lapacho group). Other common names for it include Brazilian Walnut, Amapa, Cortex, and Ironwood. It is located primarily in Central and South America along with some parts of Asia. This exotic hardwood is naturally resistant to rot and insects.

The trees themselves generally grow to about 100 feet high, with a naturally straight grain. The grain can be extremely tight, giving the wood incredible density. Ipe wood is indeed dense so it actually sinks in water. Tests conducted by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory give it the greatest rating for insect resistance - 15 years in the bottom without attack by termites. Left untreated Ipe wood is known to last 40+ years, the lifespan, when treated with deck oil put on the outer lining, is around 100 years. That is one kind of patio furniture that you won't have to worry about replacing anytime soon.

Although Ipe is found in outdoor furniture construction, that's not its only use. Ipe wood is useful for decking as well. When Atlantic City needed to displace its famous boardwalk, Ipe wood ipe wood was chosen for the job. The Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas used Ipe as well for the boardwalk.

Beyond insect and rot resistance, Ipe wood can also be extremely fire resistant. For the Flame Spread (10 min) test written by the National Fire Protection Code, Ipe received a ranking of 0, that's the same rating as concrete. Another asset when using Ipe wood for decking is its natural slip resistance. Ipe decking exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient for friction in a wet environment. This is very important when used around swimming pools and areas that tend to remain wet.

Ipe wood can be a renewable resource. Reputable companies dealing with Ipe wood harvest the trees from managed forests to ensure a minimal affect the environment. Aggressive replanting programs exist to ensure that Ipe wood is actually a renewable resource and harvesting is performed within an ecologically responsible manner. Ipe wood is not an endangered species and a lot of the Ipe wood available in the United States is harvested through sustainable forestry practices, which offer the most effective remedy for exploitative deforestation.

So whether you are trying to find outdoor furniture that'll hold its looks and value for decades or decking for that new patio so your family can enjoy the fantastic outdoors for all summers to come, products created from Ipe wood certainly are a great value. It's an investment as possible feel great about making.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at Everlasting Hardwoods. He writes about Ipe decking and other related industry-specific topics for Everlasting Hardwoods