Brazilian Teak aka Cumaru – Ipe’s Little Brother Grows Up!

Brazilian Teak
Brazilian Teak aka Cumaru is one of nature's most durable and beautiful decking materials.

Not many people know this, but Brazilian Teak aka Cumaru has very similar properties to ipe. With a Janka hardness rating of 3540, Brazilian Teak is almost as strong as ipe and is a lot more affordable, too!

By far, the biggest reason why Cumaru is gaining in popularity is the cost.

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Green Decking Options – 5 Things You Need to Know

Tigerwood is a green decking option.
A Tigerwood deck highlights how wood decking is beautiful, versatile, & eco-friendly.

These days, being green and using eco-friendly products is more than a trend. Our whole economy is starting to recognize and value materials and items that have been manufactured and/or promote a healthy, green, and eco-savvy lifestyle. Even the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has shown us that there can be a heavy price to pay when we rely too much on environmentally problematic and damaging resources and materials.

What does this have to do with wood decking?

Well, there is a huge marketing push led by composite decking companies to cast all wood decking as non-eco-friendly. These companies want you to believe that all wood decking comes from illegal logging and that it decimates the world’s forests. Here’s the truth, as an FSC certified lumber supplier, the wood decking that we sell here at Advantage comes from eco-friendly forestry practices.

Here are 5 things you need to know about Green Decking:

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5 Simple Ways to Save When You Buy Decking

How to Buy Wood Decking
The research this homeowner did prior to buying Ipe has paid off.

It’s almost Summer and thousands of homeowners across the country are getting ready to start working on their deck. Some will be remodeling and many will be building a deck for the first time. But, before hammer goes to nail, the question you must answer is, “What kind of material is best for decking?”

Should you go with real wood decking, or composite “wood” decking? Regular readers of this blog already know the limitations and problems that plague composite deck materials. Let’s face it; if plastic decking were so good, wood decking would be obsolete. But, because of the documented issues that both composite and PVC decking face, many people are opting for real wood deck materials.

So, let’s say that you chose to buy wood decking. What material should you choose, and what pitfalls are to be avoided when buying decking?

Here are 5 Ways to Save Money When You Buy Decking:

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Wood Decking Options – Tigerwood

Covered Porch made with Tigerwood
This Tigerwood porch is a sunroom that can be enjoyed all year round.

This post is all about why Tigerwood should be on your short list of wood decking options.

We talk a lot about composite decking, and ipe on this blog. With good reason, both of those decking materials are known to most people and contractors alike.

But, is that all there is? Absolutely not.

In fact, Tigerwood is one  species that a lot of contractors like better than BOTH of those materials.

Why?

Here are some benefits that explain why  Tigerwood is preferred choice among builders and contractors:

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10 Things You Can Build with Ipe Wood

Pergola made of Ipe Wood
This Pergola made of ipe wood will last for decades and will stand up to the everyday stresses of a hot and humid tropical environment.

Ipe wood can be useful and dependable in many applications. Because this exotic hardwood is so durable it can be used in a wide variety of outdoor applications. With high strength characteristics such as mold, decay, and insect resistance, you can build with confidence and create a truly noteworthy structure of your very own.

Here are the 10 things you can build with Ipe (specifically ipe boards that run from 3′ to 7′):

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Top 5 Reasons Why Wood Patios are Naturally Beautiful & Dependable

Wood Patio
This wood patio made of ipe decking will last well over 100 years.

When you spend money to renovate and improve your home’s exterior by building a patio, what is on your short list of needs?

  1. A dependable patio building material?
  2. An eco-friendly wood?
  3. Wood that you won’t have to replace every few years?
  4. How about something that looks really, really good?
  5. Choosing the best wood patio material at the best price?

Those are pretty reasonable requests. There are many wood and composite patio materials in the market which say that they answer all those questions. However, since you’ve done your research, you already know that composite materials have way too many issues (let alone recalls) to even be a viable choice. This leaves solid hard wood decking. As a patio material a patio made of hardwood is going to provide you with:

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