Outdoor Decks & Patios

In the midst of this economy, many people are opting to stay in their homes. Nesting is taking on a new meaning. Remodeling has increased and families are now staying home for vacations and entertaining. This has helped the economy in terms of outdoor products for clients looking to expand their back and front yards. The coastal areas as well as areas with temperate weather can make the most of their outdoor area for a longer period of time. People are willing to invest back into their home for comfort and entertaining. Green and recycling are becoming the norm. Educated consumers are willing to investing into quality products instead of a quick fix.

Unemployment is at an all time new high of 9.5%. Foreclosures don’t seem to be letting up and the future is uncertain. People are responding with less outings, vacation and spending. Keeping up with the Jones is no longer viewed as a status quo. Keeping your home and job are the reality of life for the majority of people nationwide. Many homeowners who were looking to upgrade to a new home are now re-evaluating their existing lifestyle and current homes. Many are looking to extend their living space and re-create a home to entertain in and enjoy coming home to.

The backyard is an easy addition without having to go into replacing roof and mortar. Some opt for a wraparound or front porch. Many homes that have a porch will include a deck and outdoor kitchen. This creates a totally new entertaining area and cooking environment, opening up more space for more people. Enjoying the outdoor air and ambiance is good for you. Finding a place to relax in a natural environment is the oasis that many people desire and love sharing it with family and friends. The project can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Whether simply a deck for a couple of chairs or a outdoor kitchen and entertainment area complete with tv, refrigerator, ice machine oven and fireplace, the value of the addition is definitely worth the cost.

There are many options for outdoor decking and patio material. The preferred material for many high quality homes is ipe. Ipe decking has seen increases in sales in the last decade due to it’s many outstanding properties. This super wood is one of the strongest woods available with a janka hardness of 3600 and a fire rating same as concrete and steel. Ipe requires no chemicals as it is naturally resistant to insects, mold, rot and fungus. The longevity of Ipe is minimum 40 years with no treatment to over 100 years with a UV inhibitor oil. There is no other decking material that will perform the way this wood does. Man made decking is still experiencing problems with delaminating, staining, warping and mold/fungus growth.

When investing into your outdoors, go with the proven leader for durability, beauty and longevity. Ipe hardwood decking will last years beyond your life and you won’t have to worry about it. Pay for the product not the marketing behind the product and if your concern is purchasing a green product than look at the FSC certified Ipe decking. This ensures you are purchasing lumber from a responsibly harvested forest with a future.

The fire rating for this species is the same as steel and concrete. The co-efficiency of friction exceeds above and beyond that required by the Americans with Disabilities Act requirement for slip resistance in a wet area. Ipe also requires no pesticides as it is naturally resistant to insects, mold and fungus. This hardwood is strictly regulated by IBAMA and now also available with FSC™ certification, this encourages responsible harvesting and forest management with strict penalties for forestry abuse. Besides the strength and natural characteristics that make Ipe a super wood is its physical look. It is a warm rich and heavy wood with an olive brown to red tones that left untreated will patina to a beautiful silver-ish grey. This hardwood’s natural habitat has extreme weather conditions that range from blistering hot Amazon weather to the endless rainy season with torrid floods. This must contribute to the characteristics of this “ironwood”.

Ipe Wood and Its Uses

Ipe wood, also know as Ironwood and Brazilian Walnut is a hardwood native to South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. This species of wood is the best choice for outdoor applications but is also used anywhere durability and strength is necessary. It is commonly seen on decks, boardwalks, furniture, piers, and docks.

Ipe’s botanical name is Tabebuia Serratifolia.

The most common use found for Ipe is decking and for good reason. Decking is exposed to the weather year round. There is no protection from the elements. Decking is not usually maintained on a regular basis thus may be untreated and/or cleaned for months. Parties and groups gather there in large numbers for entertaining. This creates the need for a strong material. Decking that will not need replacing in 5-10 years, who want to reinstall a deck? When researching the market for the right deck and the pro’s and con’s, the superior material has always been Ipe. The lifespan of Ipe will vary from 50 years up to 100 years with sealer. Commercial projects that require decking like the boardwalk in Atlantic City will chose Ipe with good reason. Imagine the volume of traffic that will walk the boardwalk, the elements that the deck is exposed to and the aesthetic value of natural wood in its environment. Many piers and docks are made with Ipe because of its density and durability. Who wants to replace something when they don’t have to?

Ipe is also commonly used in outdoor and indoor furniture. It is used for outdoor furniture because of its durability and beauty. The rich brown tones complement any design. Most furniture when left to the weather will last maybe a year where Ipe furniture can last for years without ever being replaced. Tables, chairs, loungers and planters are popular items but there are other ideas such as pergolas, screens, fences and siding are now being used. It just makes sense. Who wants to dispose of furniture on a yearly basis and have to shop for more furniture not to mention having to deliver furniture every time the old stuff falls apart. Not only is it bad for the environment but it makes bad business sense to not invest into good long lasting furniture now. Who needs the headache?

Thus when you are out shopping for decking or furniture remember Ipe the super wood.

Ipe decking and composite decking have been the newest rage in decking materials for different reasons. Ipe wood is now less expensive and less labor intensive with new technology and machinery. This hardwood is so dense and strong that previous to the advancement of some milling machinery, it was not cost effective to use Ipe. In the last 20 years, Ipe has come a long way and is now available as a permanent fixture on your backyard. Composite decking has also evolved due to demand for decks and companies that want to seize the opportunity for a market share and to make some money. Composites are a combination of two or more materials, usually sawdust or wood fibers and plastic. Some big companies decided to put waste sawdust and recycled plastics together to create a product. The use of recycled products is great. We are all looking to be green but for outdoor exposure where plastic and sawdust will have direct contact with moisture, UV rays, freeze and thaw environment as well as standard wear and tear, the combination is most definitely not green nor is it durable. This in the long run will cause more products to be used (due to replacement), an unsatisfied consumer and more products in the landfills (not environmentally friendly).

Ipe decking has been used in several large commercial projects and for good reason. Ipe aka Brazilian Walnut has a Janka hardness of 3640.What is Janka hardness? The Wikipedia definition states: The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It involves measuring the force required to embed a 11.28 millimeter (0.444 inch) steel ball into wood to half its diameter. This method was chosen so that the result would leave an indention 100 square millimeters in size. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. Ipe is also rated same as steel and concrete for flammability testing. This hardwood is so dense that it is resistant to mold, fungus even insects. No chemicals are required and no treatments are needed unless you want to keep the warm brown tones of the wood. If no treatment is used it will patina a silverish grey tone, otherwise use a UV oil inhibitor. The lifespan for Ipe decking is over 40 years old without treatment and over 100 years with treatment. This decking will be there for your grandchildren to enjoy. Ipe is also available FSC certified with select approved companies. This certification guarantees the hardwood is harvested from a responsibly managed forest. Ipe is truly a renewable, recyclable, durable, biodegradable, energy efficient and versatile product and its beauty can not be duplicated.

Composite decking has also grown in demand. This product is heavily marketed by big corporations. Numerous lawsuits have ensued as consumers in as little as a few months have come to realize their dream decking has delaminated, warped and/or become discolored. The application for this material may have a market where extreme temperatures and direct exposure are not present. The products that have delaminated have exposed saw dust or wood fibers and deteriorate rather quickly without the outer protection. Some composite decks may take 3-4 years before they begin to delaminate or have issues. The warranty on many if not all of these companies will not cover labor for removal and re-installation. People who are reassured with a 20-50 year warranty and name of a big corporation should take a careful look at the stipulations and replacement policies. Many warrantees won’t cover discolorations and they no longer state maintenance or sealer free. Labor is not free and who wants to replace a deck in their lifetime. Ironically, composite deck manufacturers push the green envelope to the limit. They claim environmental reasons for their products but the fact remains, recycled plastic that is not chemically designed to withstand exterior exposure for extended time and sawdust are cheap alternatives. What isn’t cheap is replacing the deck when it delaminates or warps and has to be discarded and where would that be discarded???