| When looking for wood furniture, most people | | | | traffic areas, it also requires low to no |
| commonly compare pine, teak and mahogany | | | | maintenance. Regular stain treatments are |
| right off the bat. They look for style, sturdiness, | | | | completely unnecessary unlike other woods |
| color and price. They, however, are missing a | | | | typically used in construction. In fact, Ipe is so |
| major option to consider and that is an | | | | naturally dense that it doesn’t take |
| all-together different wood type: Ipe. Ipe is a next | | | | preservatives well. Also, even in an untreated |
| to perfect, high performance wood. It grows | | | | state, Ipe wood is quite fire resistant. Ipe is |
| abundantly in South-Central America and has a | | | | naturally resistant to rot as well as insect and |
| natural resiliency like no other wood on the | | | | fungal infestations. Splintering, warping and |
| commercial market. | | | | shrinkage are rare problems even with untreated |
| Also known as Ironwood, Brazilian Walnut or | | | | Ipe. Fasteners do not loosen, pull out or pop up. |
| Lapacho, Ipe wood has a teak-like appearance, | | | | The factors that make Ipe a favorite in decking |
| ranging from rich browns to light amber hues. It is | | | | also make it a superior choice for wood furniture. |
| remarkably hard and dense which makes for high | | | | Aside from the physical characteristics as a |
| dent resistance. Ipe wood can hold 3600 lbs | | | | product, choosing to use Ipe is a more |
| compared to the 690 lbs of pressure treated pine | | | | environmentally friendly option. The Ipe tree is not |
| and it is 368 % harder than teak. In simple terms, | | | | an endangered species and it may grow up to |
| this means furniture made from Ipe is going to | | | | 140 feet tall with a diameter of 6 feet. It is one |
| have considerable weight to it, be extremely | | | | of the tallest trees in the Amazon region and, |
| durable and wear incredibly well. In a 22 year | | | | therefore, results in more planks of wood |
| study, the US forest lab in Madison, Wisconsin | | | | compared other trees. Ipe trees also grow in |
| found the life expectancy of Ipe wood to be | | | | numerous environments from marshes to ridge |
| greater than 30 years. | | | | tops. The trees come from either sustainable |
| Commercial contractors have known about and | | | | forest management projects or agricultural |
| preferred Ipe for years. It’s their top choice | | | | conversion of forest land which is strictly |
| for decking material. Why would that be? Well, | | | | regulated. |
| aside from the durability of this wood in high | | | | |