Highly resistant to rot, moisture absorption, insects, fungi and fire, Brazilian Hardwoods are an excellent choice for exterior installation. Ipe, for instance, has the same fire-rating as cement and iron and was used to build the Panama Canal. Not only is it the most beautiful decking product available, but Brazilian Hardwood decking is also the most durable natural decking product on the market.
| SPECIE |
AVAILABLE |
PRICE PER LFT |
| IPE |
1 X 4 *AD |
Call for pricing |
| IPE |
1 X 6 *AD |
$2.49 |
| IPE |
5/4 X 6 *AD |
$3.15 |
| CUMARU |
1 X 4, 1 X 6, 5/4 X 6 |
Call for pricing |
| TIGERWOOD |
1 X 4 |
$1.19 |
| TIGERWOOD |
1 X 6 |
$1.69 |
| BRAZILIAN REDWOOD |
1 X 4 |
Call for pricing |
| BRAZILIAN REDWOOD |
1 X 6 |
$1.99 |
| BRAZILIAN REDWOOD |
5/4 X 6 |
Call for pricing |
| IPE |
1 X 4 |
Call for pricing & availability |
All decking is S4S, E4E, Premium Grade, KD, 8’ to 20’ lengths, FOB Jacksonville, Florida, unless otherwise stated. Truckload/volume pricing, Please call (904) 389-7553 for a quote!
Ask about custom pre-grooving for decking clip systems.
NOTICE TO INSTALLERS:
We recommend sealing all exposed ends with Anchorseal ™ to prevent checking/splitting.
*Ipe Decking and all other tropical hardwood decking general guidelines to installers:
Ipe, Massaranduba, Tigerwood and Cumaru are extremely dense and durable tropical hardwoods. With excellent durability and other performance characteristics, such as its beauty, fire rating and natural resistance to rot.
Cutting and Drilling- Due to the density of tropical hardwood decking, carbide-tipped saw blades and drill bits of the highest quality must be used to ensure proper cutting and your tool’s life.
Pre-drilling boards when using all types of screws and fasteners will help to avoid splits. Pre-drill pilot holes and counter sink when using standard screws. Before finishing, we recommend using 3/8” Ipe plugs to cover screw holes.
End-Sealing- Seal ends immediately after cutting with Anchorseal ™, a liquid paraffin that prevents checking and splitting. Global Forest, LLC is an area representative for UC Coating’s Anchorseal ™. Please call for ordering information. (www.uccoatings.com)
Fastening- A high-end stainless steel fastening system is recommended, but plastic and coated or galvanized steel fasteners can also be used. We carry a deck clip. 1 box covers 100 sqft. of decking on 16” centers and contains 175 clips and screws per box. Home Depot carries a similar system with 100 clips per box for roughly the same price. The hidden fastening system eliminates nail/screw holes, but is the most difficult method of installation and the most labor intensive. If using fasteners, it is important to use the screws that come with the kit or that come recommended. A biscuit jointer and bow-wrench are your most important tools when using a fastener system. We do offer pre-grooved decking at an additional cost of $0.30 a linear foot. You will still need to have a biscuit jointer on the job, but only for occasional use.
Screws, Nails and Glue- Many installers call after their projects and give tips on different and more effective ways to install tropical hardwood decking. Everyone has an opinion, but the method that appears to have the most success is the uses of a power-nailer with stainless steel finish nails. First, use a wood glue (www.titebond.com) where the deck boards and floor joist “runners” meet. This seals it and keeps moisture from ever getting underneath. Then finish nails go down clean, 7 x 2-1/4” head screws. Pre-drill and test some sample boards before getting started. If you have a screw gun and find during your test run that your screw gun is counter sinking and not smoking from being over-worked, you may not have to pre-drill. This can save you much time and money. If you are a home-owner, try to find an installer that is willing to work with different methods to find the one that best suits your project and is most cost and time effective.
Handling and Storage- All hardwood decking is Air Dried (AD) or Kiln Dried (KD) for outdoor use. It should be stored out of direct sunlight and be allowed to acclimate and stabilize to the installation environment humidity levels before installation begins. Also allow for ground side ventilation in your design and storage, as proper air circulation is necessary for long-term stability of your deck’s life. When installing, there should be a gap between the boards to add to the circulation and allow for shrinkage, 1/16” on 4” wide boards to 1/8” on 6”.
Finishing- Because of the durability of tropical hardwoods, they do not require a sealer; however, we do recommend that you do add a sealer to your deck as the final step of installation. We do not recommend using a water-based sealer, but some will insist on it. Sealer will need to be reapplied more often over time. Left unfinished, the structural integrity of your deck will not suffer, but the color may fade and turn to a silver/gray. We recommend Penofin-Messmers UV Plus (www.messmers.com (801) 569-2426).
Comparative Strength of Ipe vs. Pressure Treated Pine
| |
IPE |
PINE |
| Weight per cubic foot |
75 lbs |
35 lbs |
| PSI (fiber stress-test) |
14,220 to 16,600 |
5,800 to 7,700 |
| Modulus of Rupture PSI |
22,600 to 25,400 |
8,500 to 14,500 |
| PSI-Max Crushing Strength |
10,350 to 13,010 |
4,320 to 8,470 |
| Hardness-Ends |
2,630 to 3,180 |
590 to 750 |
| Hardness-Sides |
3,060 to 3,680 |
590 to 690 |
| Shear Strength |
2,048 PSI |
1,390 PSI |
Ipe, along with most other tropical hardwood decking like Massaranduba and Tigerwood have an A-Rating for fire retarding. (NFPA Code Class A and UBC Code Class 1). This means like concrete and steel, surface burning can take up to 30 minutes. One can hold a flame to the surface of Ipe, for instance, for ten to thirty minutes before the fire can or will start to spread, or even make smoke! Arguably the best decking product on the market in the United States, tropical hardwoods bring beauty to your home or community for a lifetime.
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