Ipe Wood For the Great decking

Ipe Wood For the Great decking A lot of people that are thinking about purchasing outdoor furniture know that in many years they will be doing this yet again because most products simply don't fare well when exposed to the elements. That's why choosing furniture created using Ipe wood makes such good sense. Ipe products are long-lasting and wear extremely well. The first investment manufactured in Ipe products pays for itself because this can be a purchase that truly only must be made once in a lifetime. That is simply something that can not be said for some outdoor products.

Ipe wood products are so durable as a result of wood where they're constructed. Ipe is really a tropical hardwood with properties which are much like Teak wood but at a portion of the cost. The botanical name for Ipe (pronounced EE-pay) is Tabebuia spp. (Lapacho group). Other common names for this include Brazilian Walnut, Amapa, Cortex, and Ironwood. It is located primarily in Central and South America along with some areas of Asia. This exotic hardwood is naturally resistant to rot and insects. The trees themselves generally grow to about 100 feet in height, with a naturally straight grain. The grain is also extremely tight, giving the wood incredible density. Ipe wood is really dense ipe that it actually sinks in water. Tests conducted by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory give it the highest rating for insect resistance - 15 years in the floor without attack by termites. Left untreated Ipe wood is recognized to last 40+ years, the lifespan, when treated with deck oil put on the outer lining, is up to 100 years. This really is one sort of patio furniture that you won't need to bother about replacing anytime soon.

Although Ipe is found in outdoor furniture construction, that's not its only use. Ipe wood is used for decking as well. When Atlantic City needed to displace its famous boardwalk, 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 distributed by the National Fire Protection Code, Ipe received a ranking of 0, that's the same rating as concrete. Another asset when utilizing 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 damp environment. This is very important when used around swimming pools and other areas that tend to stay wet.

Ipe wood is also a renewable resource. Reputable companies working with Ipe wood harvest the trees from managed forests to ensure a small impact on the environment. Aggressive replanting programs exist to make sure that Ipe wood is truly a renewable resource and harvesting is performed within an ecologically responsible manner. Ipe wood is no endangered species and a lot of the Ipe wood available in the United States is harvested through sustainable forestry practices, which provide the best solution for exploitative deforestation.

So whether you are looking for outdoor furniture that'll hold its looks and value for decades or decking for that new patio so that the family can enjoy the fantastic outdoors for several summers in the future, products produced from Ipe wood really are a great value. It's an investment that you could 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