IPE is an incredibly durable wood. Its dense cell structure serves as a natural deterrent to insects, decay, and molds. Because of this natural resilience IPE is often the first choice for decking because of its almost unparalleled ability to stand up to the elements. More than just durable, IPE is also very pleasing to the eye. Its heartwood is light to dark olive brown with contrasting yellowish-grey or grey brown tones accompanying it. With a Class A fire rating, IPE occupies the same class of fire-retardant materials as steel. For durability, safety, and beauty, IPE makes an excellent choice
- OTHER NAMES: Brazilian Walnut, Lapacho, Pau Lope
- SCIENTIFIC NAME: Handroanthus spp. (formerly placed in the Tabebuia genus)
- ORIGIN: Brazil, tropical South-America
- APPEARANCE: Heartwood ranges from olive brown to amber to near black, often with lighter and darker striping, sharply demarcated from the whitish or yellowish sapwood. Texture is fine to medium, low luster, with a straight to irregular wide grain pattern
- DENSITY: Janka scale hardness is 3684, making it extremely hard and durable
- WEIGHT: 71 lbs. / cu. ft., or approximately 5.9 lbs. per board foot
- DRYING: IPE dries extremely well with little checking, twisting or bowing
- WORKABILITY: IPE can be difficult to work with, without the proper tooling. It can have a blunting effect on cutting edges, so pre-drilling for screws is recommended. Carbide-tipped saw blades should be used, making it much easier to cut. IPE comes in long lengths, but planks do not bend well. It sands very smoothly with little or no splintering. Boards can be straight-line ripped and the edges can be eased, or rounded, using carbide tooling. Biscuit joiners work well for grooving hidden fastener systems. IPE is said to glue well with certain adhesives and it is advised to use caution if using a nail gun for fastening.
- DURABILITY: IPE can be used without preservatives or additional treatments. IPE is expected to last 25+ years with little to no degradation from rot, decay or termite infestation
- PRESERVATION: IPE heartwood is extremely resistant to attack by decay, fungi and termites, but not as resistant to marine borers. Due to its density, it is very resistant to preservation treatments
- FINISHING: If left unfinished, like any other natural wood, IPE will turn gray. Due to IPE’s density, it is difficult for any finish treatment to penetrate the wood. Outside in the elements on a horizontal surface, caretakers can expect to regularly re-coat
