When it comes to choosing a wood for a special outdoor project, Ipe wood is difficult to beat in terms of beauty and endurance.
This tropical hardwood grows throughout regions of Central and South America and is fast becoming one of the top choices for decking and outdoor furniture.
Of a flowering variety, this tree reaches heights of up to 150 feet.
The trunk diameter for this tree can grow up to six feet at the base.
It is found in a variety of places, from ridge tops to riverbanks and is very prolific.
The tree has several common names and is often referred to as Ironwood, Brazilian Walnut, Pau Lope or Lapacho.
Because this species of tree is prolific throughout South American countries, it is easily grown in managed forests.
Managed forestry practices remain the best way to encourage responsible forestry practices.
By choosing to use Ipe wood grown in managed forests, exploitive deforestation is discouraged and negative impacts on rainforests is kept to a minimum level.
All ways check with the company from which you are obtaining Ipe, to ensure that the tropical lumbers they import carry the Forest Stewardship Council's certification.
This particular hardwood has several characteristics that make this an ideal choice for use outdoors.
The hardness of this wood is remarkable and carries a Janka rating of 3680.
Janka ratings measure the hardness of woods and per this rating, Ipe is 368 percent harder than Teak.
To put this in perspective, Hickory wood only carries a Janka rating 1820 making this hardwood a little more than twice as hard as hickory.
Whatever your family can dish out, this wood can handle.
If the project you have in mind is an outdoor deck for a pool or hot tub, you will want to consider how well the material chosen stands up to a wet environment.
Other factors to consider here are slip resistance and splintering.
In all three categories, the characteristics of this hardwood make it the ideal choice.
Ipe decking has been shown to exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient of friction in a wet environment and because of the dense cell structure within the wood, splintering is kept to a minimum.
The heartwood of this tree is extremely resistant to water damage and has been given the highest rating possible by the United States Forest Products Laboratory.
It can be expected to last up to 40 years if left untreated and up to 100 years with an application of deck oil applied to the surface.
It is has also shown extreme resistance to termite infestation by tests conducted by the United States Naval Research Laboratory.
Wood left in the ground for 15 years still showed no signs of termite attack.
When looking for material for an outdoor project that you would like to complete and then enjoy without major upkeep or replacement, this wood is an excellent choice.
Choosing Ipe wood is a sound investment in any home project and provides beauty and durability that can be expected to last a lifetime.