Many people invest over $10,000 on deck boards, fasteners, rails and accessories. This is the 2nd best home improvement for return on investment. Computers are aiding us in researching what to select and get the best product for our buck. Ipe decking has become more popular as consumers have begun doing their homework on what to use outside on decks, porches, patios, furniture etc.
Ipe also known as Ironwood (for good reason) is a very dense hardwood mainly originating from South America. This wood species is used for outdoor applications and anywhere durability is demanded. A fire rating same as concrete and steel, this wood also has a resistance to insects, decay, mold and fungus. No chemicals needed. As for slip resistance, Ipe has a coefficient of friction result above the requirement for commercial applications for restaurants and hotels. Ipe decking has been specified on boardwalks for Miami and Atlanta because it can handle that magnitude of traffic and hold up. Who wants to have to rip out broken and worn boards and reinstall new boards every few years. Ipe allows you to enjoy your time outside not maintaining the deck.
There will be consumers who are hesitant to purchase because of the environmental issues. This has been addressed with the governmental and private institutes through stringent regulations with rather severe penalties for removing trees not approved. The trees that are approved no longer bear seeds and are replaced by two or three young trees. The land is considered more valuable with demand for timber rather than being burnt down for agricultural cash cropping and cattle land. Selectively harvesting a few trees per acre can assure that the forest will be able to be re-harvested in as little as 10 years. The indigenous people have are able to maintain a living using their natural resources rather than looking for other ways to use the land. This helps insure the forest are not destroyed for other land uses. Responsible forest management and practices will help save the forest and supply us with a truly renewable resource. FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and is a private non profit international organization whose main purpose is exactly that, supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world forests.
Other consumers may feel that the price between pressure treated decking and Ipe is too great. If you plan to stay in your home under 5 years than that may be the case but if not do you really want to remove and replace your deck once you have installed it? The one thing many consumers fail to calculate when accessing a new project it the actual lifetime of the product and the disruption and headache of replacing that product. If you have ever had to install a deck before than you know it is not a project you want to undertake again if possible. Investing in to the deck in itself is an undertaking so when considering the deck consider using material that will outlast yourself. Ipe is the perfect wood for outdoor applications. The labor may be more intensive at install but that shows it is built to last.
About the Author:
Chloe Madeiras is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co. Ipe Decking
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