Solid Wood IPÊ, Decking, Piers & Boardwalks
IPÊ Decking, the perfect blend of beauty and durability—naturally

More Information on Installing and Finishing Ipe Decking

IPÊ (pronounced ē-pay) – Tabebuia serratifolia, also known as Brazilian Walnut or Ironwood is an extremely dense South American hardwood with excellent durability and performance characteristics. IPÊ has been installed in some of the most exclusive and highly used applications in the US. IPÊ was the wood of choice for the Atlantic City Boardwalk and the Las Vegas Resort Hotel.

IPÊ has a rich, dark brown color, fine texture, medium luster, and a somewhat oily appearance. Left natural and unstained, IPÊ will gradually age to a lighter brown with gray overtones. However, it can be stained or oiled to retain its rich, dark brown color. IPÊ is dimensionally stable and resists twisting and warping. It will remain smooth, splinter-free and friendly to bare feet for years.

The perfect choice for any number of outdoor uses, IPÊ is as beautiful as it is durable. The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) gives IPÊ its highest durability rating, which means IPÊ will last exposed to weather for more than 25 years.

IPÊ is naturally resistant to attack by decay fungi and termites, making it safe to use near ponds and other wetland areas without fear of contamination. IPÊ wood also resists surface checking and is naturally resistant to molds, which are the two most destructive forces to an exterior deck face.

IPÊ has proven durability. It can be sealed to maintain its natural beauty or it can be allowed to weather to be a beautiful silver gray. In addition to being extremely durable, IPÊ also has a class "A" fire rating (the same as for concrete and steel!) and exceeds the ADA requirements for slip resistance when wet. You will find the strength characteristics of IPÊ wholly unique. An IPÊ 1x6 deck board can easily do the job of a 2x6 cedar or redwood deck board, is five times harder than pressure treated yellow southern pine and almost three times as hard as oak, rating 1260 on the Janka scale.

When compared to other decking materials such as redwood, cedar, or copper chromium arsenate (CCA) pressure treated materials, IPÊ gives lasts much longer, has a stronger resistance to fire, weather, insects and movement and is competitively priced with high grades of cedar and redwood. If you compare the one time cost of IPÊ to the 3-5 times you replace other materials over the life span of IPÊ, the value becomes very clear!

Due to extreme market demands on most imported exotic hardwoods, including Ipe; supplies are limited or may require exceptionally long leadtimes - exceeding 6 weeks. Please call us at 800-966-4415 to confirm current availability.