According to industry analysts, the residential market for tropical hardwood decking will account for the vast majority of a 7.0 percent growth in imported hardwoods. More homeowners are selecting tropical hardwoods such as such as Ipe, Tigerwood, Cumaru, Garapa and Massaranduba because of their long term durability, fungal and insect resistance, and imperviousness to damage caused by moisture. They also value the fact that decks made from tropical lumber require much less maintenance than other wood types.
Ipe Decking
Common Ipe Decking Problems
What to Expect When Working with Ipe
No material comes without its share of challenges, and Ipe is no exception. This includes drilling, cutting, and price. Addressing these problems individually will help you understand why they arise and how you can solve them
Ipe vs Pressure Treated Pine: A Knock Out
Doing a full comparison between Ipe and Pressure Treated Pine for decking is like comparing Kobe beef and a McDonald’s beef patty. Pressure treated pine works well as the frame of your decking but not as the decking itself. Pressure treated pine lasts only for about 5-10 years and must be constantly stained and finished. Ipe on the other hand, is an all-natural wood, proven to last over 75 years without any chemical treatment. The Coney Island boardwalk was in service since the 1940s! Boards from that landmark boardwalk have been reclaimed and reused for many applications from patio furniture to indoor flooring.
How to Maintain Your Hardwood Deck
Every piece of lumber is unique. No one tree is the same. Every board in your deck is going to have different characteristics. Once installed, you want to give your deck the proper maintenance it needs to increase its lifetime and your overall enjoyment. Be rest assured, even though a deck made of Brazilian hardwoods is proven to outlast and outperform softer materials, giving it a little attention once in a while is a good thing (After all, even a Lamborghini needs its oil changed and tires rotated!) Here are some guidelines to follow to maintain the lifetime and beauty of your hardwood deck.
Tigertail Beach Boardwalk
Advantage Lumber prides itself in supplying high quality, responsibly harvested material to builders and contractors of high-end projects. One such project was the Tigertail Beach boardwalk at Marco Island, FL. The previous boardwalk was an absolute mess, filled with cracks and a slip and fall safety hazard. Because the local government decided to change it, …
Incredible Patio Remodeling Project Using Advantage Ipe™ Siding & Tiles
A patio is your home away from home. It’s a place to escape where all the worries and stress of everyday life melt away. The perfect way to turn your patio into this get away is to use hardwood. Wood has a beautiful welcoming feel that relaxes and comforts. This characteristic is embedded into our …
Modern Advantage Ipe™ Deck
Designers and builders chose our Advantage Ipe™ to be the complementary material for a modern designed, 6 million dollar home. Aside from its already incredible qualities, Ipe brought a beautiful color, look, and exotic grain pattern that the home required. Placed around the pool in rectangular areas, Ipe gave a warm and inviting sensation to …