For homeowners who don’t enjoy the annual maintenance that normally accompanies home ownership, decking made from Ipe wood is a smart choice. It means there’s one less thing in the house that doesn’t require expensive annual maintenance. Unlike other parts of the house, this tropical hardwood decking is something that can be installed and then simply enjoyed. There are very few things that can be called maintenance free, but decks built with this type of hardwood are one.

This wood is one that many may not be familiar with, but it is changing rapidly. Pronounced EE-pay, this wood comes from a tree native to Central and South America and parts of Asia. Its botanical name is Tavevuia spp. However, it is known by several other common names including: Brazilian nut, amapá, cortez, and green heart. The tree grows in a variety of environments and can be found from hilltops to riverbanks to swamp forests, making it a natural selection for growing in a managed forest environment. In fact, most Pie lumber that is available to purchase in the United States is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. FSC is one of the most respected forest practices in the world and encourages sustainable forest practices, which offer the best remedy to exploitative deforestation. This means that when buying Ipe wood one can be sure that the wood they are choosing is an ecologically responsible choice.

This exotic hardwood is incredibly resistant to water rot and insect infestation. In tests conducted by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, wood left in the ground for 15 years showed no signs of insect attack and received the laboratory’s highest rating. The heartwood of the tree is also extremely resistant to decay, fungus, and mold. The United States Forest Products Laboratory also gave Ipe its highest rating, classifying it as very durable after 25 years.

Even without any treatment, this exotic hardwood can be expected to maintain its integrity without warping or rotting for up to 40 years. With just one application of deck oil, that time span stretches to over 100 years. Now that is very low maintenance. In fact, when the city of Atlantic City had to replace the famous boardwalk there, Ipe was the wood of choice for the project.

Although more expensive up front than choosing treated pine, cedar, or California redwood, this tropical hardwood pays for itself several times over the life of the project because it requires little to no maintenance or replacement.

Ipe has established a reputation as a premium decking material, not just because it’s durable. The wood itself is a beautiful walnut color with a tight to medium grain pattern. Once a deck has been installed, you may choose to treat the wood with a light deck oil that offers UV protection. This allows the wood to maintain its natural color; however, if left untreated, the wood will weather to a beautiful silver patina while retaining all of its natural strength and resilience.