Ipe Hardwood Flooring Spotlight - Exotic Hardwood Leader / Stone Wood Design Center

Welcome back to Stone Wood Design Center, Portland's leading retailer for Tile, Porcelain, Marble, Travertine, Mosaics, Hardwood Flooring and Exterior Decking. Today's blog is a product spotlight on Ipe Hardwood.

Ipe is one of the most popular, and familiar, exotic hardwood species that comes out of South America; it is also one of the most diverse. Ipe is part of the Tabebuia genus, which includes approximately 100 different species of trees. These different varieties of Tabebuia can be found throughout Central & South America, the Lesser Antilles, and even in parts of southern Florida. Many of the species are used for timber, however, many others are considered decorative trees which are commonly found throughout neighborhoods, parks, city centers, etc, due to their beautiful flowers which are typically white, yellow, pink, or red.

Ipe Tree

As a timber product Tabebuia is sold & marketed under many different names depending on what type of product you’re buying and from which country you’re buying it from. In the flooring industry Tabebuia is typically exported from South America as either Ipe (Brazil), Lapacho (Paraguay), or Tajibo (Bolivia). To complicate things even more, trade names have been developed, such as, Brazilian Walnut & Ironwood; all of which represent the same thing….Tabebuia.

Ipe Hardwood

One of the main characteristics of Ipe/Lapacho/Tajibo flooring is its strikingly wide array of color variation. Customers should always be clearly informed that this wood includes shades of brown, green, red, orange, black, yellow, & tan. You may see subtle color differences between the three depending on what region/country the trees are harvested from, but overall they are very similar in appearance. The grain of the wood is straight to irregular with a fine to medium texture. The woods hardness rating of 3680 (almost 3 times harder than Red Oak) is commonly used as a benchmark against which all other hardwoods are compared. Regarding stability, it has a very similar rating to Cumaru, meaning it can be a little temperamental in wider widths if proper installation procedures are not followed.

Unique Style of Ipe Hardwood

Additionally, if working with unfinished Ipe/Lapacho/Tajibo care should be taken to seal the floor immediately after the final sanding. This wood contains natural oils which, if left unsealed, will leach to the surface potentially causing adhesion & curing issues with the finish.

Stone Wood Design Center imports Ipe/Lapacho/Tajibo in 3/4" x 3”, 3-1/4”, 4”, & 5” widths. The product is typically Clear grade with 1’-7’ lengths and is available both Prefinished & Unfinished.

If you have any questions regarding this species, or any of our other products, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The Stone Wood Outlet Top 5 Hardwood Decking Materials

Interested in exterior hardwood decking but unsure about which material is best? You’re in luck! The professionals at Stone Wood Outlet have years of experience helping customers choose the right hardwood decking material for their needs. When it comes to decking, there are only a few species of wood that are durable and beautiful enough to get the Stone Wood stamp of approval. Here are our top five favorite exterior decking choices and a little about each species. Enjoy!

1. Ipe
Ipe is one of the most popular exotic decking species available in the country today, and for good reason. It features rich, striking tones and an intriguing grain pattern. It is also one of the most durable, with extremely high hardness rating and density and a Class A fire rating. This species of exterior decking will certainly last a lifetime.

2. Cumaru
A little lighter in color and with a more visually interesting grain pattern, Cumaru hardwood decking is perfect for someone looking for a very exotic natural decking material. Like Ipe, Cumaru has a very high hardness rating and density, which makes the wood naturally resistant to decay and wood boring insects. Cumaru is also often used for finer applications such as flooring, making it easy to coordinate indoor and outdoor design schemes.

3. Tigerwood
Tigerwood decking features soft brown and yellow tones and incredibly eye-catching black striping that gives the wood its name. This unique decking material is of medium density and easily absorbs stains and oils. Tigerwood is also quite resistant to fungi and termites. If you want to Wow! your guests with one of the most unique exterior decking materials they’ve ever seen, Tigerwood is the choice for you.

Tigerwood Hardwood Decking
from Stone Wood Outlet

4. Angelim Pedra
This species of hardwood decking is known not only for its rugged good looks but also its coarse texture and straight, interlocked grain. Beyond decking, Angelim Pedra is also used for truck trailer decking, flooring, furniture, and heavy construction.

5. Massaranduba
Also known as Brazilian Redwood, Massaranduba hardwood decking is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after decking materials around. It features warm reds and browns, a varying interlocked grain pattern, and a very fine texture. If left untreated, Massaranduba will age to a distinctive silver-gray color, though you can easily retain its redness with a sealant or stain.

Still unsure about what kind of exterior decking material is right for you? Visit one of the three Stone Wood Outlet locations, or give us a call at 503-222-9663!

Cumaru Decks are coming to Portland Oregon

1x6 Cumaru Hardwood Decking | 5/4x6 Cumaru Hardwood Decking

Stone+Wood Outlet will be stocking Cumaru decking beginning July 15th. We have lengths ranging from 8' to 20' with prices starting at $2.49/LF for 1x6-8' and 1x6-10' and $3.09/LF for 5/4x6-8' and 5/4x6-10'.

Our Cumaru is First Export Grade, top of the line quality, and kiln dried down to 10% MC for maximum stability.

Stone+Wood Outlet also carries high quality SuperDeck Duckback Exotic Hardwood Oil Sealer in Clear and Walnut stain.