Tigerwood Decking – Shock Resistance and Dimensionally Stable Decking

Do you want the beauty of Ipe hardwood on your decking but at a lower price point? Tigerwood decking can be a great alternative. It’s a Brazilian hardwood that is naturally biodegradable, durable, and long-lasting, making it suitable for exterior applications like your deck. Tigerwood and Ipe also complement each other, as the former features a brown graining pattern that goes well with the latter’s natural texture and grain.

Another reason to choose tigerwood is to become more sustainable without sacrificing looks. It’s the greener choice over composite products, and it provides a lovely finish to your deck with its light golden-brown or reddish-brown hues, with exotic brown and black stripes. Over time, the material dries to reddish brown.

The benefits of tigerwood decking go beyond its environmentally friendly and aesthetic qualities. It's the best material for a stable, shock-resistant deck.

A durable decking material

Tigerwood is the most exotic Brazilian hardwood in terms of materials, with natural resistance to decay and rot. Therefore, it has the potential to last for many years, possibly a lifetime. Also known as Brazilian Muirarcatiara, it is a very hard material with tight grain, making it resistant to termites and other wood-destroying organisms. Mold won’t have room to grow on your deck, even when the area is constantly wet or soaked in water.

It’s in the hardness.

Did you know that tigerwood is harder than oak or maple? It scores 2016 lbf on the Janka Hardness Scale versus the 1450 lbf of maple and the 1360 lbf of oak. That means your tigerwood decking is harder than a maple baseball bat or an oak floor. This hardness helps deter wood-boring insects, making them move on to softer woods. That makes the material better for outdoor applications than cedar or pine.

Preserve its colors

Tigerwood is low-maintenance but requires a high-quality finisher to prevent UV damage. Otherwise, the wood can turn gray. You don’t need to apply protective coatings and stains to keep it looking great for years.

 

IPE Brazilian Hardwood Decking Installation – Choosing the Right Stain Makes All The Difference

Staining Ipe Brazilian hardwood after installation will help preserve its beautiful color while protecting it from the elements and UV exposure. Without staining, UV exposure can speed up the transformation of the wood from its natural color to a silver-gray patina.

The right stain can make a big difference in the look and feel of the material for your deck and preserve your material’s aesthetics. It’s important to choose the right product that provides those benefits, so here are some tips to help you pick wood stains for your ipe decking.

Make sure it’s suitable for hardwoods.

Look for a high-quality, pigmented wood stain formulated for dense hardwoods like ipe. It will effectively penetrate the material and offer reliable protection against the elements. The pigment should enhance the reddish brown hues of Ipe Brazilian wood and prevent your deck from looking dry.

Refer to your home’s exterior

Choose an ipe wood decking stain that complements your home’s exterior. A darker stain can make the area stand out if the rest of your home is light-colored. On the other hand, a light stain can provide an attractive contrast to a dark-colored property.

Ensure sufficient protection levels

Consider the weather conditions in your area and the amount of rain and sun your deck receives every season. A solid or semi-transparent stain is a great choice if you want maximum protection for Ipe Brazilian wood against the elements. Keep in mind, however, that it will alter the color of the deck.

It’s okay to splurge.

Invest in a high-quality product that can last for many years to reduce your maintenance work and the need to re-stain every couple of years.

Stain your deck properly

It’s not enough to choose a high-quality stain for your deck. Be sure to do it at an appropriate time, preferably in the morning or evening, as the sun is not intense during those periods. That should prevent the stain from drying too fast, which can create streaks on Ipe Brazilian wood.