Ipe report

 

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        ipe decking herringbone pattern after rain

                           Deck Specialists, Inc. Report on Ipe (ee-pay)

Botanical Information

Trade or Common Name:  Ipe, lapacho, cortez, Pau Lope®, ironwood,
Local Name:  Corteza, corteza amarilla (Ipe is Portuguese for “Hard wood”)
Botanical Name:  Tabebuia spp
.
Family:  Bignoniaceae
Distribution: Central &
South America

The Tree: large ipe(ironwood) tree Ipe is a large canopy tree, growing to a height of 120 feet in the natural rain forest, with trunk diameter up to 3 feet and a clear bole of 60 feet. Some specimens grow to 150 feet with a 6 foot diameter trunk. Species is widely dispersed and abundant throughout Central and South America

The Wood:  Ipe heartwood is light to dark olive brown, often with attractive lighter or darker striping and a beautiful grain similar to American walnut. It has a fine texture, medium luster, and a somewhat oily appearance. Ipe is very hard (two to three times as hard as oak), very strong and very heavy. It weighs approximately 70 pounds per cubic foot and sinks in water. Ipe is rated as extremely durable.

Uses:  Ipe is prized for quality furniture and decorative veneers, and because of its strength and durability, is used in boardwalks, decking, porch floors, tool handles, turnery, industrial flooring, and textile mill items to name a few..

This fantastic and durable South American Hardwood is rated by the US Forest Products Lab for 25 years plus. It is resistant to fire naturally, has a rating of Class A by the NFPA or class 1 by the UBC, and resists insects, moisture, and movement. This wood is perfect for exterior residential and commercial applications such as boat docks, decking, boardwalks, outdoor furniture, etc. It can be sealed to maintain its natural color and beauty, or weathered to a beautiful splinter free silver gray patina.

It is available in various standard dimensions and can be cut with high quality carbide tipped blades. It does however require extensive pre-drilling and screwing with ceramic-coated steel screws. Hidden fastening systems are not recommended. Standard decking size is 4/4 material not 5/4 or 8/4. On 24" centers the 4/4 material will provide a 100 lb. load rating far better than any cedar, redwood, or CCA pressure treated material. It has a hardness rating of 3640 Janka, almost 3 times better than that of Red Oak. Ipe is also resistant to surface checking and naturally resistant to molds, insects and decay.

When compared to other woods such as redwood, cedar, or copper chromium arsenate pressure treated materials, Ipe lasts much longer (3-5 times the life span), a stronger resistance to fire, insects, weather and movement. By comparison, the value of Ipe is very clearly the best timber product for outdoor usage bar none.

Cutting and Drilling: Premium carbide tipped saw blades and high quality carbide drills are recommended for smooth cuts due to the hardness of Ipe. Pre drill a pilot hole and countersink when using screws as fasteners.

End Sealing: Ends should be sealed immediately after cutting using a clear aqueous wax end sealer to reduce end checking.

            Allowable Ipe Spans

Nominal Size

40psf

60psf

100psf

1 x 4

32"

28"

24"

5/4 x 6

42"

38"

32"

2 x 4

62"

56"

48"


These spans are designed for minimal deflection of the deck surface Finishing: Ipe may be sealed upon installation to reduce the potential of checking. Penetrating oil based finishes are used with Ipe by most installers. Excessive application of oil-based sealers may create a sticky surface and will not enhance or extend their performance
. To maintain and keep the rich natural walnut-like color of Ipe, use a pigmented, penetrating oil sealer with UV inhibitors. Reapply as needed, or, if you wish the natural weathering to a silver gray, apply a penetrating oil based sealer during installation and do not reseal... ever.

This South American species is a very stable and durable timber. It dries extremely well with little checking, twisting, or bow. It is widely known for its strength and natural resistance to decay and it can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. Testing by the US Navy in a Panama Canal study from 1962 showed Ipe to be one of the top performers in resistance to decay, termites, and borers. Of those hardwoods tested it was one of the very few that is commercially available. Extensively used in commercial exterior construction such as boardwalks, piers, and benches, it has recently become the top choice for residential decks due to its low maintenance, attractive color, and very smooth surface and the fact that is lasts over 25 years! It is a heavy timber, approximately 70 lbs. per cubic foot when dry,  sinks in water, and has a fire rating of Class A, (the same as concrete or steel).

Uses include: residential and commercial decking, boardwalks, piers, fencing, park benches, any outdoor structures receiving extreme duty.

One of the more famous commercial applications for Ipe has been the Atlantic City Boardwalk:

After 24 years of use, the planks used show almost no wear! Ironwoods in general remain smooth and splinter free due to their being one of the earth's most dense woods. They will not absorb water like softer wood do, twist, splinter, or bow like some woods do. This means that if you use Ipe for your deck, you will be able to walk on it barefoot for a lifetime.

 Comparison Chart

 Product

IPE Decking

Redwood and Cedar

Philippine Mahogany (Shorea Group)

Trex Wood polymer Lumber/ Fiberon

Pressure Treated Lumber

 

Description

The ultimate grade standard, your assurance of the world's premier decking. Richly figured, fine, elegant hardwood beauty

Sold in several grades. Quality and performance vary accordingly. Typical rustic softwood markings including significant knots and sapwood in most grades

Consists of several different woods, none of which are botanical related to true Mahogany (Swietenia).

Product uniformity dependent upon the manufacturing process and mix of raw materials utilized

Most common of all construction woods, available in several grades, lower grades contains knots and sapwood. Weathers poorly if left unsealed

Coloration

Warm russet brown tones with golden highlights

Varies. Light colored sapwood contrasts sharply with the darker heartwood

Varies greatly from dark red to much lighter pieces

Depends on the product's original hue and the effect of local exposure conditions

Takes on a greenish tinge after CCA treatment, some treatments artificially add other colors

Texture

Fine and even

Fine and even

Moderately coarse but even

porous

Smooth only when sanded

Grain

Closed and tight

Open and porous

Open and porous

none

Open and porous

Seasons to:

The classic "driftwood" silver gray

Silver gray with a tendency for pieces containing extractives and knots to blacken with exposure

Silver gray

Porous concrete like gray

In color

Gray

Dimensional Stability

Stable, weather resistant

Of all grades, "Clear Heart Vertical Grain" is the most stable

Moderate, varies by species

Dependent on both temperature and moisture conditions

Low stability. Shrinkage, cupping, twisting, and splitting are common if not sealed and fastened properly

Maintenance:

Low

High

Moderate to High

Low to moderate

Moderate to High

Fire Rating

(NFPA Class):

A

B-C

B-C

Not rated

C-D

Resistance to Insects and Decay

High

Medium

Medium

High

High

Movement in service

Low

Low-medium

Medium

Variable

Medium to High

Weight in lbs (/cubic foot)

70

19-25

28

60

37

Bending strength (psi)

26,300

5,200-10,000

11,300

Low

Below testing parameters

14,500

Modulus of Elasticity

3,310,000

940,000-1,340,000

1,630,000

100,000

1,980,000

Hardness (Janka)

3,670

260-480

680

Very soft

870

          Environmental Information

Diamond Hardwoods, Inc. is committed to the preservation and responsible utilization of the earth's resources. Our mills implement sound environmental practices by conforming to National Forest Law and International Tropical Timber Organization guidelines.  We source exclusively from managed forests and support the following meaningful environmental organizations:  

FSC- (Forest stewardship Council) All forest products have been independently certified as coming from forests that meet internationally recognized FSC principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship. The forest inspections are carried out by a number of FSC accredited certification bodies, which are evaluated and monitored to ensure their competence and credibility.

(Tropical Forest Foundation)   TFF's sustainable forest management brings together conservation and industry leaders in an effort to improve natural forest management by promoting the use of low impact logging (LIL) practices. Their primary focus is to demonstrate and teach sustainable forest management through Low-impact Logging 

silver ipe patina

Ipe decking weathered to a beautiful silver patina after only a couple seasons without any oilings 

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