How Much Snow Can Ipe Decking Handle?

Ipe Deck and Snow Load
This hot tub and Japanese style pagoda were made of Ipe because of its high strength capabilities.

With Winter right around the corner, many people are asking us about ipe decking’s capacity for snow load.

Since no two decks are the same, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how much snow per square feet it would take to actually distress a deck to the point of breaking. BUT, what we can say for sure is that ipe decking has been ASTM-D143 tested. Ipe wood decking has a maximum bending strength of 22,560 psi (Pounds per square inch)!  your ipe deck might even be stronger  than the frame that supports it!

Or, to put it more simply: The result of these tests reveal that ipe decking is 3 times more durable than cedar decking.

If you already own an ipe deck, you’re probably not even sweating the upcoming winter. And, for good reason. With ipe wood’s high density, tight, interlocking grain, and natural oils, it dries fast and weathers well. Also, when you follow the recommended finishing schedule, (using a deck finish product like Ipe Oil™) you can also have peace of mind knowing that your deck surface will be able to repel water even better than it already does!

When you buy ipe decking from us, you will also get premium grade ipe from the Lapacho species. What does this mean for you? Well, it’s simple:

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How To Install Ipe Decking

If you’re just starting to think about building an ipe deck, Advantage Lumber has a very handy “How To Install Ipe Decking” guide. This guide is simple, easy to follow, and will make your ipe deck installation a smooth and successful one. If you’ve done your research, you may have come across some true horror …

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The AdvantageLumber.com Customer Service Commitment

As a national importer of lumber and hardwood, Advantage Lumber is committed to providing exceptional customer service. Here’s what you can expect from the nation’s leading ipe decking distributor: Low ipe decking prices Great decking sales Convenient office hours Knowledgeable staff An extensive inventory of: Hardwood decking Hardwood flooring Hardwood Siding You can contact us …

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Looking to Build a Deck? Now is the time!

Now more than ever, homeowners are looking at their home and thinking,“With the housing market the way it is, we may be at this home for much longer than we thought. Is now the time to build a deck or do a room addition?” In short, the answer may be “Yes!” After all, if you …

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Ipe Decking Costs Less than Composite Decking

GREAT NEWS! Ipe decking is now more affordable than most composite decking. For a while, this was not the case. However, since the price of oil is so volatile, the cost of composite decking materials have risen substantially. Why is this the case? Because composite decking uses polyethylene and polyethylene is made from oil. So, …

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What is Ipe?

Ipe (pronounced EE-pay) is an exotic hardwood that is used for decking, flooring, and a host of many other applications. Ipe has many names and is also known as Brazilian Walnut, Amapa, Cortez, Guayacan polvillo, and many others. Ipe also gets misspelled in various different ways such as epi, epay, and eepay. Regardless of the …

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Ipe Decking is Safer than Composite Decking

Many people settle for composite decking due to the fact that composite wood and materials are cheaper than more high-quality exotic hardwoods like ipe. However, while the cost may be appealing, the long term viability of the materials is suspect at best. If you do a simple Google search for “composite decking complaints” or “composite decking lawsuit” you will see that, while people and businesses may have saved some money initially, they took a great risk in choosing an inferior product.

Here’s a simple ipe decking versus composite decking comparison chart:

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