Trending In Design (and Durability): ipe Wood

By June 10, 2020Uncategorized

Ipe is a hardwood from Brazil that’s very hard. It’s strength has been compared to that of steel, and most often it needs to be pre-drilled before pieces are connected.

Similar in appearance to rich, warm mahogany, ipe is popular for its beauty and durability. Ipe is FSC certified, making it a smart environmental choice for your outdoor living environment.

Other attributes of ipe wood include:

  • It can last more than 25 years outdoors.
  • Eco-friendly; 100 percent natural wood
  • Mold, fire, weather, and pest-resistant
  • Resists surface scratches
  • Three times harder than cedar
  • One of the densest hardwoods, it sinks in water.
  • It has the same fire rating as steel and concrete, making it a more fire-resistant choice than softwoods.
  • It has high concentrations of tannic acid, which makes it resistant to rot, insects, and fungi. Because of this, stainless fasteners are recommended.

Chicago Flameproof recently worked on a Chicago Riverwalk project that utilized ipe: