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Ipe Decking Technical Info           

Note:  There are aprox. 20 subspecies of Ipe.  We do not mix species like much of the competition.  The Technical info listed is for the Lapacho group of Ipe.  Do not be tricked by competitors that lower their cost by mixing species as other types of Ipe do not have the same durability or beautiful color as our material.

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Botanical Name:  Tabebuia spp. (Lapacho group)

Common Name:  Ipe

Other Common Names:  Brazilian Walnut, Amapa, Cortez, Guayacan polvillo, Flor Amarillo, Greenheart, Madera negra, Tahuari, Lapacho negro

Common Trade Names:   Pau Lope, Diamond Decking, Ironwood, and many others.

Distribution:  Throughout the continental tropical America and some of the lesser Antilles.  The tree grows on a variety of sites from ridge tops to riverbanks and marsh forest.  Our Ipe is responsible harvested from managed forest.  We also support extensive replanting programs.  Ipe is as widespread in tropical America as Yellow Pine is in the United States.

General Characteristics:  Dark brown walnut color.  Gives a green dust when cut.  The texture is fine to medium.  The tree may grow to 150 feet in height with trunk diameters of 6 ft.   Frequently to heights of 100 ft an diameters of 2 to 3 ft.  Boles are clear to 60 ft and more.

Weight:  Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.85 to 0.97, air dry density 66 to 75 pounds per cubic foot.  A 3/4" thick finish material weights aprox 4.5 pounds per square foot.

Moisture Content of Decking:  Air dried to aprox 12% for use on exterior projects. (We also sell Kiln dried material for interior use, do not use kiln dried for exterior use as it will expand.  Air dried inside will shrink.)

Bending Strength:   22,560 psi

Max. Crushing strength:  10,350 psi

Janka side hardness:   3,060 lb for green material and 3,680 lb at 12" moisture content. 

 Forest Products Laboratory toughness average for green and dry material = 404 in.-lb (5/8" specimen.)

Drying and shrinkage (green to ovendry):  Radial 6.6%, tangential 8.0%, volumetric 13.2%.   Movement after manufacture is rated as small.  Typical movement for a air dried decking board 6" wide board is 1/16" in between seasons.

Working Poperties:  Has a blunting effect on cutters, use of carbide tipped saw blades is necessary.  Routs nicely.  Must be predrilled for fastening.

Durability:  Heartwood is very resistant to attack by decay fungi, mod, and termites.  Last 40+ years left untreated, up to 100 years with deck oil applied to surface.  U.S. FOREST PRODUCTS LABORATORY - Class ( Very Durable - 25 years ) This is the highest rating available from the forest laboratory.

Uses:  Exterior Decking, Benches, Adirondack furniture, Truck and Fishing vessel flooring, fine interior cabinetry and flooring, Archery Bows, Heavy marine dock construction.

TERMITE RESISTANCE - U.S. NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY - ( 15 years in ground without attack by termites ) Highest Rating.  

FIRE RESISTANCE - ASTM-E84 tested to National Fire Protection Code, Class A, Uniform Building Code, Class 1; Highest Rating.

HARDNESS - ASTM-D143 tested; Approximately seven times harder than Cedar, our Ipe decking stands up to the harshest conditions imaginable.

SLIP RESISTANCE - ASTM-C1028-89 tested; Our Ipe Decking exceeds the  Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient of friction in a wet environment

STRENGTH - ASTM-D143 tested; Three times stronger than Cedar, our Ipe Decking exceeds all existing code requirements for exterior constructions.

Note:  Ipe Is a very strong material.  The joist spacing shown is very conservative and designed to pass most area building codes and to have nearly zero deflection under standard loads.  The joist spacing shown is also valid if the decking is laid in a diagonal patern to the joist.  The spans shown are typically used even with heavy loads such as hot tubs.