Iron Woods® Ipe
Discover the unique properties that make Iron Woods® Ipe an easy choice for any project. Iron Woods® brand Ipe, naturally resists wear, rot, splintering, termites, fire, chemicals, marine borers, and virtually every other threat imaginable. And it does it beautifully. Iron Woods® brand Ipe is the benchmark in residential and commercial wood products. Our residential decking is even covered by a 25 year warranty.
IPE (Tabebuia Spp-Lapacho group)
This Brazilian species is one of the most stable of all the durable timbers. It dries extremely well with little checking, twisting, or bow. It is widely recognized for its strength and natural resistance to decay. It can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. The timber has been tested by the US Navy in a Panama Canal study from 1962 showing Ipe to be one of the top performers in resistance to decay, termites, and borers. Of those tested it was one of the very few that is readily commercially available. Widely used in commercial exterior construction such as boardwalks, piers, and benches it has recently become the best choice for residential decks due to its low maintenance, attractive color, and extremely smooth surface that has stood the test of time. It is a heavy timber, approximately 64lbs. per cubic foot when dry, generally sinks in water, and has a fire resistance of class A/B (subject to tests) –the same as concrete or steel. Ipe has many commercial names and is sold as Brazilian Walnut, Bethabarra, and other trademark names.
Suitable Applications
Like all of our Iron Woods® brand products, our ipe is beautiful. It has a smooth, clean surface with a tight, interwoven grain. Its natural luster ranges from a rich russet to a classic reddish-brown hue. This beauty, combined with its unmatched strength and durability, make Iron Woods® Ipe a sure bet for your residential or commercial deck or any other project you have in mind, from bridges, boardwalks and piers to fencing, benches or pavers.
Projects made with Iron Woods® Ipe
Availability
Iron Woods® Ipe is available in a full range of decking profiles and dimensional lumber sizes to meet your design needs, including all US standard dimensions up to 4 x 12 and 6 x 6. They are also available rough sawn and at custom sizes for architectural millwork. For additional information on this species and our fabrication services, contact Timber Holdings Intl.
Strength & Durability
Iron Woods® Ipe is indeed tough. Iron Woods® Ipe earns the top durability rating of 25 plus years in commercial applications like the Atlantic City boardwalk. Just think how long they will last for you.
Iron Woods® Ipe’s amazing performance can be attributed to its incredible density. Ipe weighs as much as 69 pounds per cubic foot. Compare this to domestic woods like Southern Pine at 35 pounds and Redwood at 28 pounds! Timber Holdings Intl. Iron Woods® Ipe is five times harder. No other wood comes close to its superior strength.
How does Iron Woods® Ipe compare to other lumber and decking products?
| Ipe | CCA-Treated Pine | Composite Decking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Hardwood | Softwood | Plastic Wood |
| Maintenance | Low | High | Low |
| Decay Resistance | High | Varies | Varies |
| Termite Resistance | High | Varies | Varies |
| Strength | High | Medium | Low |
| Movement in Service | Low | High | High |
| Fire Rating Class | A | Varies | C |
| Weight per cu. ft. | 69lbs. | 35lbs. | 60 - 64lbs. |
| Bending Strength (in psi) | 25,400 | 9,900 - 14,500 | 1,423 - 4,500 |
| E-modulus | 3,140,000 | 1,170,000 - 1,510,000 | 175,000 - 480,000 |
| Shear Strength | 2,060 | 1,370 | 561 - 1,010 |
| Hardness | 3,680 | 690 | 940 - 1,390 |
See how it compares to the rest of our line
Residential Deck Installation & Maintainance
Storage & Handling
Iron Woods® Ipe decking is supplied as partially dried lumber. Store the wood out of direct sunlight and allow the wood to acclimate and stabilize to the installation area's humidity before installing.
Some air-dried boards may show marks from sticker or breather strips. Generally these marks and water marks blend in when the sealer is applied. If still visible, they will dissipate during the next year as the deck fades.
We recommend carbide-tipped saw blades and high-quality drills for smooth cuts.
Spans/Spacing
These spans are are designed for Ipe and to allow for minimal deflection of the deck surface. For maximum spans and engineering data, you can contact us.
| Load Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Size | 40psf | 60psf | 100psf |
| 1 x 4 | 32" | 28" | 24" |
| 5/4 x 6 | 42" | 38" | 32" |
| 2 x 4 | 62" | 56" | 48" |
Allow a 1/8" gap between deck boards for drainage and airflow. End-to-end butt joints are installed without a gap. Decking may shrink approximately 1/16" on 4" wide and 1/8" on 6" wide decking. In hot or dry areas you may experience additional shrinkage. End-to-end butt joints should be installed without a gap.
Deck Ventilation
Adequate ventilation of the deck is essential for long-term stability and to minimize cupping. Proper air ventilation allows air to flow in from outside the deck area, under the joists and up through the gaps between the deck boards. Allow a 1/8" gap between deck boards for drainage and airflow.
Fasteners
For screws, we recommend the high-quality, stainless steel "self-drilling" type, though coated screws may also be used. Using lower quality fasteners can cause black staining. To install Iron Woods® Ipe, you must pre-drill a pilot hole and countersink to avoid splitting, even when using self-drilling screws, and then fasten with high quality stainless steel trim head screws, which are available at Iron Woods® dealers.
Finishing
Seal Iron Woods® Ipe immediately after installation to reduce the potential for surface checking. If installing over a prolonged period or during hot weather sealing after each phase is recommended. Be sure to seal all ends immediately after cutting with Anchorseal clear wax end sealer (available from your Iron Woods® dealer) in order to reduce end checking.
To maintain a rich walnut color, use a transparent penetrating oil based sealer with UV inhibitors in a trans-oxide pigmented "cedar tone" and reapply annually or as needed.
If you prefer a silvery-gray appearance, use a clear oil-based sealer for the first coat and then simply let the wood weather to its natural gray color. If you want to return silver-gray wood to the original color, use a "wood brightener". Careful power washing and/or sanding can help to remove the grayed wood.
More Information
For further details on the installation of Iron Woods® Ipe, you can contact us at any time.
