For Toronto home & business owners who entertain outside, a well designed and professionally installed deck is one of the best investments that can be made. For the average homeowner, a deck adds more usable space and may even increase the value or sales potential of the residence; for a business owner, a deck may serve as an area to display merchandise, hold employee meetings, or entertain guests or conduct other company functions.
When it comes to durability and long lasting performance, there may be no better option than Ipe decking. Though an exotic and expensive species – upwards of $50 a linear foot — that is mostly sourced from forests in South and Central America, Ipe is growing in popularity because once milled, it can easily last for 25 years or longer – all without the benefit of painting or finishing.
At Toronto Decks and Fence Company, we’ve designed and built decks and patios for hundreds of customers in the Greater Toronto Area, and have seen increased interest in Ipe decking.
Ipe is a Brazilian Walnu tree also known as Tabebuia and has a Janka hardness ranking of 3640, much higher than other woods typically used for outdoor decks like pine or cedar. In fact, Ipe’s legendary hardness and durability has made it an ideal source for outdoor municipal projects, with officials in the city of New York selecting it as the building material for more than 10 miles of public boardwalks including the beaches at Coney Island.
Working with Ipe decking can be difficult for inexperienced deck contractors, and nearly impossible for private homeowners wishing to build a stylish, long lasting outdoor gathering or recreation area but here at Toronto Decks and Fence Company, we have years of experience designing and installing decks using IPE.
Here are some things we like to make consumers aware of before they decide to go with Ipe decking.
- Ipe decking is extremely strong, able to resist surface scratches, gouges, and other minor damage.
- Ipe decking is naturally resistant to mold, fire, bugs, fungus, and other detriments.
- No wood or composite is truly “maintenance free.” To maintain Ipe decking, simply brush away minor debris like leaves or dirt, or wash the surface as needed with warm water and dishwashing liquid.
- Over the last several decades, Ipe has become more commercially available thanks to government controlled, cultivated forests. If you purchase Ipe on your own, please make sure to verify its certification as some retailers sell other species that have been mislabeled as Ipe.
When it comes to an outdoor & deck building material, Ipe is without a doubt one of the strongest woods available. Contact the pros today at Toronto Decks and Fence Company to learn more about the benefits of Ipe decking. Our consultation policy is clear, we provide a one on one free consultation where we go through your plans, your backyard, your lifestyle needs and more. we will show you our book of project with some of our recent IPE decks and let you decide for yourself. Call 416-238-2589 today!