About Ipe Decks
Brazilian Ipe (pronounced "ee-pay") stands as the undisputed king of decking materials, renowned worldwide for its extraordinary hardness, exceptional durability, and stunning natural beauty. Harvested from the Tabebuia genus of trees native to Central and South American tropical forests, Ipe achieves a Janka hardness rating of 3,680 lbf—making it three times harder than oak and harder than many metals. This remarkable wood has graced the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, Coney Island Pier, and countless high-end residential installations where only the finest materials will suffice.
The secret to Ipe's legendary performance lies in its incredibly dense cellular structure, which contains natural oils and silica compounds throughout the wood fiber. This density exceeds 65 pounds per cubic foot, allowing Ipe to resist scratches, dents, and wear from the heaviest foot traffic. The same characteristics provide built-in protection against termites, carpenter ants, fungal decay, and even fire—Ipe achieves a Class A fire rating with flame spread index below 25, making it approved for use in wildfire-prone areas where other wood species are prohibited.
Our Ipe deck installations represent the pinnacle of our craftsmanship, requiring specialized techniques developed through years of experience with this demanding material. We use only premium FAS (First and Seconds) grade Ipe with verified sustainable sourcing, carbide-tipped tooling for precision cuts, pre-drilled pilot holes for every fastener, and marine-grade stainless steel hardware. The investment in an Ipe deck typically represents a once-in-a-lifetime purchase that will serve your family for 40+ years with minimal maintenance.
