IpÉ
TABEBUIA SPP

Ipé (ipe), often called Brazilian walnut, is a beautiful exotic wood from South America. Typically used for decking and other outdoor applications, ipé (ipe) structures are hard, strong, and naturally resistant to rot, abrasion and weather. It is almost twice as dense as most woods and up to five times harder. It is dark brown in color, like a mahogany, so not only lasts a long time but has the beauty of a fine interior wood. If ipé (ipe) is allowed to age, color can be brought back to its original shade with the use of a pressure washer. Ipé (ipe) has become a very popular and inexpensive alternative to teak.

FAMILY
Bignoniaceae.

OTHER COMMON NAMES
Brazilian Walnut and Lapacho. Trade names include Ironwood™ and Pau Lope™.

ORIGIN
Brazil, tropical South-Central America.

APPEARANCE
Heartwood ranges from olive brown to blackish, often with lighter or darker striping, often covered with a yellow powder; sharply demarcated from the whitish or yellowish sapwood. Left to nature, traditional weathering will change the ipé (ipe) to a nice consistent light gray. Texture fine to medium; luster low to medium; grain straight to very irregular; rather oily looking; without distinctive odor or taste.

DENSITY AND BUOYANCY
Janka hardness is 3680, making it somewhat hard and durable, 185% harder than Red Oak (1210 Janka). Average weight is 72 lbs./cu. ft. Specific gravity is .92 so it barely floats.

DRYING AND SHRINKAGE
It dries extremely well with little checking, twisting, or bow.

WORKABILITY
Ipé (ipe) can be somewhat difficult to work with, especially with hand tools. It can have a blunting effect on cutting edges, so pre-drilling for nails and screws is recommended. It comes in good long lengths with limited warp. Planks do not bend well, but the wood finishes and sands quite smoothly, with no splintering.

DURABILITY
This Brazilian species is one of the most stable of all the durable timbers. It can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. Has a fire rating of Class A, the same as concrete or steel.

PRESERVATION
Heartwood is very resistant to attack by decay fungi and termites, but not resistant to marine borers, and has the durability and strength of teak. Ipé (ipe) wood is very dense, making it extremely resistant to preservation treatments.

USES
Residential and commercial decking, boardwalks, piers, fencing, park benches, patio tiles, bridges, porch flooring and industrial flooring.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Pronounced e-pay, ipé (ipe) is widely recognized as one of the hardest and most durable timberspecies in the world. The color ranges from dark brown to olive-brown and sometimes almost blackish tones, with wide variation in grains.

Sometimes called ironwood or pau lope, ipé (ipe) offers:

• high density, which results in a high fire-resistance rating
• natural resistance to rot and decay

LUMBER
Custom sizes available in flooring, decking and mouldings. Standard sizes available in decking.

• 4/4", 5/4" thickness
• 4" and wider
• 3' and longer

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