Products Made With Ipe With Stand The Test Of Time And Elements
When it comes to choosing products for the outdoor areas of your home, it would be difficult to find a product that combines beauty, durability and practicality quite the way that furniture and decking constructed from Ipe wood does. What exactly is Ipe you ask? Well for those who have not heard of this versatile nearly indestructible wood, here’s a crash course.
This is actually a tropical hardwood, pronounced ee-pay, which is found growing throughout Central America and South America as well as certain parts of Asia. Found growing on both ridge tops and riverbanks, Ironwood as it is also called, is also grown easily in managed forests in the parts of the world to which it is indigenous. Not an endangered species, this particular tree offers a good ecological alternative to other tropical hardwoods such as Teak and Mahogany. Since it does grow quite well in a managed environment, responsible American importers of this wood generally purchase their entire stock from harvesters that have been certified through the Forestry Stewardship Council. Certification with the FSC ensures that renewable sources for exotic hardwoods are utilized and is one of the best ways to end exploitive deforestation and encourage responsible forestry practices.
Going by different common names such as Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho, Amapa, Cortez, Guayacan polvillo and Madera negra and trades like Pau Lope, Diamond Decking and Ironwood, this species of tropical tree has a unique dense cell structure that makes it an ideal wood for use outdoors. It is eight times harder than California Redwood and 368% harder than Teak. It is also much less expensive than Teak. The unique cell structure mentioned previously makes this wood so dense that it actually sinks in water. This is also what makes the wood so impervious to infestation by termites and other insects. In tests conducted by the United States Naval Research Laboratory it was found that Ipe wood left in the ground untreated was still without termite infestation after 15 years! The heartwood is extremely resilient and is very resistant to attack by fungi and mold as well.
Because of its extreme resistance to splintering, again due to the tightly arrange cell structure, this wood is ideal for use in outdoor furniture and decking around pools and hot tubs. Another built in safety feature is its slip resistance when wet. Decking made from this tropical hardwood exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient of friction in a wet environment. That is a definite advantage when used in areas where small children frequently run and play.
Though the initial investment may be more than what would be expected if using products of lesser quality, because Ipe wood can be expected to provide a lifetime of use with minimal upkeep, the long term saves add up quickly since any outdoor project that uses this wood should never need to be replaced. Leaving you with not only extra money but also extra time to spend enjoying your outdoor furniture and decking rather than working on it.
