What Do You Mean by Ipe Wood Decking?

When a builder, designer or enterprising do-it-yourself suggests Ipe wood decking for outdoor use, some property owners may find themselves scratching their heads. Although growing rapidly in popularity across the United States, this Brazilian hardwood isn’t known by everyone. Discerning property owners, however, are likely to find that Ipe wood decking is an exceptional investment that can pay off with an anticipated lifespan that goes well beyond other popular decking woods.

Ipe decking may be more commonly recognized by Americans as “Ironwood” or “Brazilian walnut.” This wood has the distinction of being among the hardest on the planet. It is, in fact, three times harder than a typical baseball bat, which means its durability is exceptional. This material is used in both indoor and outdoor applications and is known for these characteristics that make it such a discerning choice:

·         Its beauty – Ipe wood boards are generally medium brown in color, but do have variations that lend character to installations. Decking may, for example, have boards that are darker or lighter in color, which combine with a beautiful grain pattern to create an aesthetically pleasing finished looked.

·         Its durability – Ipe is one of the most durable woods known to man. Decking made from Ipe has an estimated lifespan of decades. Adding to its attractiveness on this front, the wood is fire resistant, insect resistant, and water resistant. Due to its natural hardness, Ipe also resists scratching. After all, this material is so hard it requires carbide-tipped tools to work.

·         Its ease of maintenance – Ipe wood decking isn’t completely maintenance free, but it is almost. Thanks to its hardness and natural resistances, there is no need to apply timber preservatives. UV blockers may be used to help maintain the appearance of docks. Unless a UV blocker used, Ipe will turn a silver-gray color after years of sun exposure. Beyond the color consideration, Ipe wood decking only requires basic sweeping and cleaning to maintain.

When Ipe wood decking is recommended for a project, quality goes along with the suggestion. This Brazilian hardwood is one of the world’s most naturally durable wood. If a deck installation is intended to stand the test of time, Ipe will deliver.

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Garapa Decking and its Various Advantages

Brazilian hardwoods are fast becoming a popular decking option for homeowners and contractors across the United States. Favored for the distinct advantages they offer over traditional deck materials, this classification of decking does come in several varieties. One of the most popular happens to be Garapa or Brazilian Oak. Garapa is preferred by those with a taste for light-colored woods.

Harvested from the Amazon rainforest, Garapa wood decking features a fine grain and a light-yellow color. The material is highly sought after for decking because of the many advantages it delivers. They include:

·         Its superior hardness – Brazilian woods, such as Garapa, are selected by many builders because of their sheer hardness and strength. Garapa is considered harder than both standard maple and oak, making it an excellent choice.

·         Its extreme durability – Garapa decking is noted for its ability to hold up to use and the elements for years. This decking has a serviceable lifespan of 25 years or more. This is because it is naturally water, termite, and fungus resistant. Builders prefer Garapa because it offers a sound return on investment given its practical lifespan. Its natural resistances lend themselves perfectly to durability even in harsher climates.

·         Its relative low maintenance – Garapa decking does not require the use of wood preservatives like many other decking materials do. Thanks to its natural resistances, this time-consuming maintenance step is taken out of the routine when Garapa decking is selected. Some homeowners may choose to use UV blocking finishes to preserve the wood’s lighter color. When left in its natural state, Garapa will turn a grayish color over time. Besides using a UV-blocker, the only routine maintenance required for this type of decking is basic cleaning and sweeping.

·         Its environmental friendliness – Unlike some decking materials that contain synthetic components, Garapa wood decking is all natural. That means these boards are naturally biodegradable and environment-friendly.

Homeowners who choose Garapa decking will find this Brazilian hardwood offers many advantages other woods cannot. From natural resistances to enduring beauty, this style of decking is meant to deliver lasting beauty and performance both.

Blog Source URL: http://www.abswood.com/blog/garapa-decking-various-advantages/

Important Qualities of Brazilian Teak Wood Decking

Brazilian teak wood decking has gone from a relative unknown in the United States to one of the most popular choices for property owners. Its rapid rise to fame is attributed to a number of characteristics that combine to make Brazilian teak wood decking a sound investment in beauty and performance.

Like other popular Brazilian wood types, Brazilian teak (cumaru) is favored for its strength. This wood, also known as Cumaru, is considered one of the densest known to man. Inasmuch, it is lauded for its durability, which naturally lends itself to outdoor applications.

Brazilian teak wood decking stands out as an excellent choice over many other commonly used decking materials due to these qualities:

·         Its beautiful appearance – Brazilian Teak (cumaru) wood decking offers an aesthetic quality that is hard to top. It is distinct due to its tan to deep reddish-brown color. This wood also has a rather pronounced grain that lends character and beauty to each board.

·         Its tremendous hardness – When a durable wood meant to withstand the elements is desired for an outdoor installation, teak delivers. Brazilian teak is significantly stronger than other woods commonly called “hard.” For example, Cumaru is harder than oak and hard maple. As a result, wood decking made from Brazilian teak is extremely difficult to damage or scratch.

·         Its durability – Brazilian Teak (cumaru) wood decking can perform for decades without losing its viability. This is because Brazilian teak is mold, fungi, insect, and water resistant. That means it is also highly resistant to rotting and decay. These factors help ensure lasting performance that spans decades not just years.

·         Its ease of maintenance – Brazilian Teak wood decking does not require special preservatives to ensure longevity. Its natural resistances take care of this concern. A UV blocking agent, however, may be desired to ensure color retention as the years pass. Beyond routine cleaning though, no intensive maintenance is required to keep teak decks looking beautiful and performing well.

Brazilian Teak (Cumaru) wood decking is a discerning choice for a diversity of applications. This material is ideal for creating pool decks, backyard recreation areas, docks, and more. When selecting teak wood decking, be sure to work with a reputable supplier that offers quality products and expert advice for clients.

Blog Source URL: http://www.abswood.com/blog/important-qualities-brazilian-teak-wood-decking/