Hardwood decking species
Ipe Decking
The world’s premier hardwood decking.
If the budget allows and you want a deck that outlasts everything around it, Ipe is what we’d build our own decks from. Just order early — CITES Appendix II paperwork makes supply and price move around.
Ipe (pronounced “ee-pay”) is the hardwood decking the rest of the market is measured against. Sold as Brazilian Walnut, Ironwood, Lapacho or Pau Lope, Ipe is a dense tropical hardwood from the genus Handroanthus (formerly Tabebuia) that combines a 3,680 lbf Janka hardness, a Class A fire rating, and a Class 1 — the highest — natural resistance to rot, decay, mold and termites. No other decking species checks all of those boxes at once.
Specified by architects and demanded by builders for marine boardwalks, rooftop decks, and high-end residential projects, an Ipe deck routinely lasts 40 to 75 years with no chemical treatment and minimal maintenance. The famous Atlantic City and Coney Island boardwalks were built from Ipe; so are countless decks that still look structurally perfect decades after installation. When a deck has to outlast its owner, the answer is almost always Ipe.
Ghent Wood Products supplies First-Clear, kiln-dried Ipe decking in 1x4, 1x6, 5/4x4 and 5/4x6 — S4S with eased edges — in even lengths from 8′ to 18′. Every board is sourced from legally harvested, well-managed forests and priced by the lineal foot so you pay for exactly what your deck needs.
Why Ipe is the benchmark
Hardest mainstream decking
At 3,680 lbf on the Janka scale, Ipe is roughly three times harder than red oak and about twice as hard as Golden Balau. It shrugs off foot traffic, dropped tools, dog claws and furniture without denting — the surface you walk on in 40 years is the surface you installed.
Class A fire rating
Ipe carries the same Class A flame-spread rating as concrete and steel with no fire-retardant treatment. That makes it one of the only natural wood decks approved for use in many wildland-urban-interface (WUI) and fire-code zones in California and beyond.
Naturally rot & insect proof
A Class 1 durability rating means Ipe resists rot, fungal decay, mold and termites without any pressure treatment or chemicals — the dense, oily heartwood simply doesn’t feed the organisms that destroy ordinary lumber.
Lasts 40–75 years
Independent testing and decades of real-world boardwalks put untreated Ipe’s service life at 40 years ground-contact and 75+ years above grade. Compare that to 10–15 years for pressure-treated pine or 25–30 for most composites.
Cooler & more slip-resistant
Dense hardwood holds less surface heat than dark composites and keeps better traction wet or dry, which is why it’s the standard for pool surrounds, docks and commercial boardwalks.
A finish that ages gracefully
Left bare, Ipe weathers to an elegant silver-gray patina. Finished with a penetrating oil such as ExoShield, it holds its deep brown-and-black heartwood color — your choice, reversible at any time.
Ipe vs. the alternatives
How Ipe compares to the alternatives buyers cross-shop — Cumaru, Golden Balau, composite decking, and pressure-treated pine. (Our candid take on each is on its species page — including why we steer customers away from Cumaru.)
| Ipe | Cumaru | Golden Balau | Composite | PT Pine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness | 3,680 lbf | ~3,330 lbf | ~1,800 lbf | n/a (plastic) | ~870 lbf |
| Lifespan (untreated) | 40–75 yrs | 30–40 yrs | 20–25 yrs | 25–30 yrs | 10–15 yrs |
| Stability in service | Excellent | Poor — moves, checks, cups | Good | Inert | Fair |
| Fire rating | Class A | Class A | Class B | Class B–C | Class C |
| Rot / insect resistance | Class 1 (highest) | Class 1–2 | Durable | Inert | Chemically treated |
| Relative cost | $$$$ | $$$ | $$ | $$$ | $ |
| Maintenance | Oil or leave gray | Oil or leave gray | Oil or leave gray | Wash; can’t refinish | Seal yearly |
Buying Ipe decking
- Profiles: 1x4 and 5/4x4 (3-1/2″ face) for tight, refined board lines; 1x6 and 5/4x6 (5-1/2″ face) for fewer seams and faster coverage. 5/4 (full 1″ net) is the most popular residential decking thickness.
- Grade: we stock First Clear (FAS) — the premium, virtually defect-free grade — kiln-dried for dimensional stability.
- Lengths: even lengths 8′ through 18′. Order a tally of mixed lengths to minimize waste and butt joints.
- Coverage: 1x6 / 5/4x6 cover 5-1/2″ (about 0.46 SF per lineal foot); 1x4 / 5/4x4 cover 3-1/2″ (about 0.29 SF per LF). Use our tally calculator on each product page to get total lineal feet and square feet instantly.
Installation
- Pre-drill and countersink every fastener — Ipe is too dense to drive screws without splitting. Use stainless-steel screws or a hidden-fastener system.
- Hidden clips (such as ExoDek QuickClips) sit in a side-groove for a fastener-free surface; face-screwing with plugs is the traditional alternative.
- Gap boards 3/16″–1/4″ for drainage and seasonal movement, and leave airflow beneath the deck — Ipe is stable but still a natural wood.
- Seal fresh end-cuts with a wax-based end sealer (such as Anchorseal) to prevent end-checking.
- Acclimate boards on site for several days before installation, and follow our Decking Installation Guide for spacing, joist spans and fastening detail.
Maintenance & finishing
- Do nothing and Ipe weathers to a silver-gray patina with no loss of strength or longevity.
- To keep the rich brown color, apply a penetrating UV-oil such as ExoShield — one coat covers 600–800 SF on dense hardwood like Ipe.
- Refresh the finish every 1–3 years depending on sun exposure; a light cleaning and re-oil is all it takes — no sanding or stripping.
- Already gone gray and want the color back? A deck cleaner/brightener restores the tone before re-oiling.
Sourcing & sustainability
- Ipe is listed on CITES Appendix II (effective 2022). Every international shipment legally requires export permits and source-country documentation — paperwork Ghent manages so you don’t have to.
- Ghent sources Ipe only from legally harvested, permitted, well-managed South American forests, in compliance with the U.S. Lacey Act. FSC®-certified Ipe is available on request for projects that require chain-of-custody documentation.
- Because an Ipe deck lasts two-to-five times longer than the alternatives, its lifetime environmental footprint per year of service is remarkably low — the greenest deck is the one you only build once.
Ipe decking — frequently asked questions
How long does an Ipe deck last?+
Untreated Ipe lasts about 40 years in ground contact and 75+ years above grade. It is the longest-lasting natural wood decking available, which is why it was chosen for the Atlantic City and Coney Island boardwalks.
Is Ipe the same as Brazilian Walnut?+
Yes. Ipe is sold under several names — Brazilian Walnut, Ironwood, Lapacho, Pau Lope and Tajibo all refer to the same dense Handroanthus hardwood.
How much does Ipe decking cost?+
Ipe is a premium product and typically the most expensive mainstream decking, running several dollars per lineal foot depending on profile and length. Use the calculator on each product page for an exact, length-by-length price for your project.
Does Ipe need to be sealed or stained?+
No — sealing is optional. Ipe will not rot or decay if left bare; it simply weathers to a silver-gray. Owners who want to keep the brown heartwood color apply a penetrating UV-oil like ExoShield every 1–3 years.
Why do you have to pre-drill Ipe?+
Ipe is so dense (about 69 lb/ft³) that screws will split the board or snap if driven directly. Pre-drilling and countersinking — or using a hidden-clip system — is required for a clean, lasting installation.
Ipe vs Golden Balau — which should I choose?+
Both are durable tropical hardwoods we stock. Ipe is far harder (3,680 vs ~1,800 Janka), carries a Class A fire rating, and lasts 40–75 years; Golden Balau is roughly half the price with a warm golden-brown tone and a 20–25 year lifespan. Choose Ipe for maximum longevity and fire performance, Golden Balau for the best value in a genuine tropical hardwood.
What about Ipe vs Cumaru?+
Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) is hard and a little cheaper, but we don’t recommend it for decking: it’s prone to checking, warping, cupping and a lot of seasonal movement in service, and it carries the same CITES Appendix II paperwork and supply swings as Ipe without Ipe’s stability or lifespan. For a value hardwood we recommend Golden Balau; for the best deck, Ipe.
Why has Ipe gotten more expensive and harder to find?+
Ipe was added to CITES Appendix II, so every international shipment now requires export permits and source-country documentation. That regulation, combined with strong demand, has pushed wholesale Ipe from roughly $6–7 to $10–11 per board foot in just a few years and made availability come and go. Ordering early and reserving stock is the best way to lock in both price and supply — talk to us about availability before you plan your build.
Is Ipe slippery when wet?+
No more than other smooth hardwoods, and less than many composites. Its density keeps good traction, which is why Ipe is the standard for docks, pool decks and boardwalks. Grooved or textured profiles are available for extra grip.
Is Ipe fire-rated?+
Yes — Ipe carries a Class A flame-spread rating with no treatment, the same class as concrete and steel, making it suitable for many fire-code and wildland-urban-interface zones.
What sizes does Ipe decking come in?+
We stock 1x4, 1x6, 5/4x4 and 5/4x6 in S4S eased-edge profiles, kiln-dried, in even lengths from 8′ to 18′. 5/4x6 is the most popular residential decking size.
Is Ipe sustainably and legally harvested?+
Ghent sources Ipe only from legally harvested, well-managed forests under the U.S. Lacey Act, with FSC-certified stock available on request. Its multi-decade lifespan also makes it one of the lowest-footprint decks per year of service.
Can I install Ipe with hidden fasteners?+
Yes. Grooved Ipe accepts hidden-clip systems like ExoDek QuickClips for a clean, fastener-free surface, or it can be face-screwed and plugged in the traditional way.
How do I figure out how much Ipe I need?+
Enter your board lengths and counts (a “tally”) in the calculator on any Ipe product page — it instantly totals lineal feet, square feet of coverage and price, so you can order the exact mix of lengths for your deck.