Compare Ipe Wood Decking to Pine Decking

Ipe wood has been introduced into the market for use in outside decking, deck chairs, deck swings and outdoor playhouses. This is an exotic hardwood that is extremely hard and durable. It is also known by several other names as Cortez, Ironwood, Greenheart, Tahuari, Madera Negra and Ampa. Ipe is dark brown in color similar to a dark walnut. Pine decking material has a yellowish green tint to the wood. You can notice a distinctly green dust coming from the Ipe wood when cutting it and it is of a fine to medium grain.

Due to the hardness of the wood, a carbide saw blade must be used to cut it. Other types of blades will dull really quickly. Also, pilot holes must be drilled for the hardware to attach this wood. Whereas, treated pine lumber used for decking can be cut without the use of a carbide blade and does not necessitate the use of drilling pilot holes.

Pine decking is pressure treated with chemicals forced into the wood in order to make it more weather resistant and decay resistant. Even untreated Ipe wood is naturally resistant to mold, fungus, decay and termites because of the density of the wood.

Each of these decking products as said to last for 100 years, but the Ipe expands less each year out in the weather than pine. Less expansion in the joints means the longer the wood keeps its natural shape and doesn’t bow. Ipe wood does have a unique feature not seen in other woods. It is naturally slip-resistant even in the rain. This can be a very desirable trait for homeowners.

Ipe is a stronger more durable product than pine. It’s hardness is rated at 3600 lbs and it’s bending strength is an amazing 22,560 psi. Whereas, pine’s hardness is rated at 690 lbs and it’s bending strength is 14,500. There is quite a difference in this aspect.

Most people choose to stain and seal their pine outdoor decks and products to achieve a beautiful color of their choice. Ipe wood has such a pretty color naturally, that most consumers don’t even stain or seal it. This does save quite a bit of time on your project, especially if it is a large one.

Ronnie Tanner is a contributing writer at Everlasting Hardwoods. He writes about Ipe Decking and other industry specific topics.
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