What is hardwood decking?

Hardwood decking refers to the use of premium hardwood species, such as Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Massaranduba, Tigerwood, Purpleheart, Balau, and more, to construct durable and aesthetically pleasing outdoor decking structures.

What are the advantages of hardwood decking?

Hardwood decking offers numerous advantages. It is known for its exceptional strength, resistance to rot and decay, low maintenance requirements, natural beauty, and longevity. Hardwood decking enhances the value of your property and provides a long-lasting solution for your outdoor living space.

What types of hardwood decking are available?

At Brazilian Wood Depot, we offer a variety of hardwood decking options, including Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Massaranduba, Tigerwood, Purpleheart, Balau, T&G Porch Decking, and Deck Tiles. Each hardwood species has its unique characteristics, providing different aesthetics and performance qualities.

Is hardwood decking suitable for my outdoor project?

Hardwood decking is highly versatile and suitable for various outdoor projects. Whether you're building a deck, porch, patio, or any other outdoor structure, hardwood decking provides durability, resistance to weather elements, and an elegant appearance, making it an excellent choice for most applications.

How can I maintain hardwood decking?

Maintaining hardwood decking is relatively simple. Regularly sweep off debris, clean with a mild soap and water solution, and rinse thoroughly. Avoid using harsh chemicals or pressure washers. Applying a hardwood deck oil or sealer can help protect the wood and maintain its natural color.

Decking Wizard

What Is the BWD Decking Wizard?

The Decking Wizard is a free, interactive tool designed to help homeowners, contractors, and designers choose the right hardwood decking, fasteners, and installation approach for their specific project conditions. It functions as a project-analysis tool that evaluates the specific environmental and structural conditions of your deck build. In under 3 minutes, it analyzes key details about your build — including airflow, sun exposure, joist spacing, coverage, climate, and fastener preferences — and then produces a personalized, downloadable multi-page PDF report.

Brazilian Wood Depot Decking Wizard welcome screen showing team members and hardwood decking selection tool.

Try the Decking Wizard Now!

You can try it here:
👉 Decking Wizard
https://www.bwdepot.com/DeckingWizard/

Whether you’re comparing Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, or other premium hardwoods, the Decking Wizard gives you a project-specific roadmap — making it one of the most accurate decision-making tools available for Brazilian hardwood decking.

Each custom PDF report includes:

Recommended hardwood species based on airflow, sunlight, and climate
Fastener system guidance matched to your project’s structural needs
Installation tips and best practices for long-term performance
Airflow and sunlight analysis explaining how conditions affect stability
Relevant resources for installation, maintenance, and planning next steps

Who is the Decking Wizard For?

Because hardwood performance changes dramatically with airflow, sunlight, and fastening method, the Decking Wizard helps users avoid mistakes and choose materials that will perform correctly for their specific environment.

The Decking Wizard is designed for anyone looking for the right species based on specific installation conditions because each species has different performance characteristics and limitations based on the installation conditions:

Homeowners

Contractors & Builders

Architects & Designers

Try the Decking Wizard Now!

Want a Sneak Preview of an Example Report?

Report 101

Low Air-Flow + Moderate to Heavy Sunlight

Previous Next

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

See All Reports Here

About the Author

I’m Sam, and I’ve been working with Ipe Decking and Brazilian hardwoods since I was a pre-teen, learning the trade directly under my father — the founder of Brazilian Wood Depot and a long-time leader in the hardwood industry. Today, I lead our sales and marketing efforts, but I’m equally passionate about creating high-quality educational resources that help homeowners and professionals understand everything they need to know about Ipe and exterior hardwood systems.

Over the years, I’ve taught thousands of architects, landscape architects, builders, and industry experts through live presentations and accredited online courses. My mission is to make hardwood design, installation, and long-term performance simpler, clearer, and more reliable for everyone.

If you want a deeper dive into Ipe and hardwood best practices, check out my free certification course here:
👉 Ipe Certified Course: https://www.bwdepot.com/ipecertified/

My YouTube channel, Brazilian Wood Depot, is also one of the most comprehensive online resources for exterior hardwood education, with a global audience tuning in to learn more:
https://www.youtube.com/@brazilianwooddepot

Text-Based Hardwood Decking Wizard Instructions

## Text-Based Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard Instructions

This text-based reference provides an accessibility-friendly version of the full Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard resource.

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

### Overview of the Decking Wizard

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard is an interactive decision-making tool designed to help homeowners, contractors, architects, designers, and installers identify the best-performing Brazilian hardwood decking system for their specific jobsite conditions.
It evaluates:

Air-flow conditions
Sunlight exposure
Proximity to ground
Coverage by roof or structure
Drainage system presence
Material performance factors
Compatibility with fasteners and installation styles

The wizard uses a guided question flow to recommend the ideal hardwood species, deck tiles, tongue-and-groove systems, and performance-optimizing treatments such as bottom grooving.

## Airflow Categories

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

The Wizard categorizes airflow into the following installation conditions:

Very Near to the Ground

Decks directly over concrete slabs, rooftop membranes, or any solid surface.
Minimal airflow increases moisture exposure.
Typically requires ventilation-conscious solutions such as Deck Tiles.

3–5 ft Above Grade with Good Air Flow

Deck is moderately elevated.
Sides are open for natural ventilation.
Most hardwood species and profiles are compatible.

3–5 ft Above Grade with Obstructed Air Flow

Elevated deck but with sides enclosed by brick, concrete, framing, or membranes.
Air cannot circulate properly beneath the boards.
Higher risk of cupping due to moisture imbalance.

+5 ft Above Grade with Good Air Flow

Best-case airflow scenario.
Supports all species, fastener types, and decking profiles.

Above-Grade Deck WITH Drainage System

Under-deck drainage introduces additional moisture retention.
Bottom grooving is often required to reduce stress and cupping risk.

## Sunlight Exposure Categories

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

The wizard identifies sunlight exposure as a significant driver of board behavior:

All-Day Sunlight

Full UV exposure leads to faster drying of the board surface.
In poor airflow conditions, this dramatically increases cupping risk.

Half-Day or Better, but Not Full Sun

Balanced exposure still allows for hardwood performance but increases the importance of dimensional stability.

Less Than Half-Day Sunlight

Low-light conditions favor species with high stability.
Appropriate for shaded decks, north-facing installations, and tight lots.

Partially Covered (Roof) Deck

Covered but not fully enclosed.
Option to transition between different decking styles such as T&G under roof and standard decking beyond.

Fully Covered (Porch/Patio)

Minimal direct sunlight.
More interior-like conditions allow use of T&G porch decking or standard decking.

## Deck Tiles Recommendation Logic

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Deck Tiles are recommended when:

Airflow is low or obstructed
Decking is installed over concrete, membranes, or rooftops
Moisture imbalance is likely
The user wants the simplest installation methodology

Key performance attributes:

Fast installation
High durability
Strong resistance to cupping
Modular, easily replaced sections
Ideal for patios, balconies, and roof decks

## Tongue & Groove Porch Decking Conditions

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

T&G Porch Decking is suggested for:

Fully or partially covered porches
Users seeking an interior-like extension
Designs requiring a tighter, seamless board-to-board aesthetic

Notes:

Standard decking remains acceptable on covered porches.
T&G creates a more refined, finished appearance.

## Bottom Grooving (Bottom Kerf) Guidance

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Bottom Grooving is recommended when:

Deck tiles are not suitable
Standard decking is installed in restricted airflow environments
Boards rest on solid surfaces or frequent contact points
Using under-deck drainage systems
Moisture exposure is uneven between top and bottom faces
Sunlight contributes to moisture imbalance (“reaching sunlight”)

Purpose of Bottom Grooves:

Reduce stress caused by moisture expansion
Allow top and bottom board faces to move more uniformly
Minimize the severity of cupping
Improve dimensional stability in challenging conditions

## Cupping Demonstration Summary

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Cupping occurs when:

The air-moisture-content (AMC) underneath the boards exceeds that above.
Sunlight dries the board surface while moisture increases below, causing differential expansion.
Poor airflow traps humidity under the deck, intensifying cupping forces.

Illustrated in the resource:

Page 26: Example of poor airflow deck blocked by CMU walls, showing cupping risk.

Relief:

Improving airflow around decking can cause cupped boards to “un-cup” naturally over time.

## Good Airflow Demonstration Summary

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Increasing airflow:

Reduces AMC disparity
Decreases cupping risk
Supports the longevity and performance of hardwood

The resource visually demonstrates improved airflow scenarios on page 27.

## Species Recommendations Based on Conditions

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Depending on user selections, the Wizard may recommend:

For Low Airflow with Moderate–Heavy Sunlight

Best: Deck Tiles
Standard Decking (with Bottom Grooves):
- Ipe
- Garapa
- (Page 9 expands to include Massaranduba)

For Low Airflow with Minimal–Moderate Sunlight

Deck Tiles
Standard Decking (Bottom Grooved):
- Ipe
- Garapa
- Massaranduba

For Good Airflow with Heavy Sunlight

Standard Decking
Deck Tiles
Species options may include: Ipe, Massaranduba, Garapa, Purpleheart

For Good or Poor Airflow with Partial Roof Coverage

Mixed solutions recommended:

T&G Porch Decking under the roof
Standard Decking in exposed zones
Deck Tiles as an alternative
Bottom Grooving if airflow is restricted

For Fully Covered Spaces

T&G Porch Decking
Standard Decking
Deck Tiles
In limited-airflow covered conditions: consider Bottom Grooving

## Species Information Modules

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Each species page includes:

Species included:

## Fasteners & Optimizing Performance

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

The Wizard contains a fastener training segment with video including:

Best combinations of hardwood species and fastening systems
Conditions that favor face-screwing vs. hidden fasteners (e.g., CAMO, starter clips)
How airflow and sunlight interact with fastener choice
Emphasis on fastening as one of the most important elements of a fully optimized deck

## Conclusion Page Summary

Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

The Wizard concludes with links to:

Comprehensive installation guides by fastener type
Cleaning & maintenance information
Architect & design library
Sustainability & forest management
YouTube tutorials
IPEcertified training course

It thanks the user and invites them to explore the rest of the BWD Education Center for continued learning.

Interactive Multimedia Resources

Decking Wizard – Interactive Recommendation Resource for personalized hardwood and fastener guidance.
IPEcertified – Certification Course for Ipe and Hardwoods covering decking, siding, and installation best practices.
MessmerCertified– Interactive Cleaning & Oiling Guide for maintaining hardwood decks and siding.
ClipCertified – Step-by-step Installation Guide for BWD Deck Clips and hidden fastening systems.

SurfaceScrewCertified – Installation Guide for proper stainless-steel surface fastening on hardwood decks.
CamoCertified – Interactive Guide for installing Brazilian hardwoods with the Camo Edge hidden fastener system.
DeckMasterCertified – Multimedia Guide for mastering the Deck Master undermount hidden fastening method.
ProPlugCertified – Complete Guide for using the Pro Plug hidden fastening system with hardwood decking.

Decking Wizard

What Is the BWD Decking Wizard?

Try the Decking Wizard Now!

Who is the Decking Wizard For?

Try the Decking Wizard Now!

Want a Sneak Preview of an Example Report?

Report 101

Low Air-Flow + Moderate to Heavy Sunlight

See All Reports Here

About the Author

## Text-Based Sam’s Hardwood Decking Wizard Instructions

### Overview of the Decking Wizard

## Airflow Categories

Very Near to the Ground

3–5 ft Above Grade with Good Air Flow

3–5 ft Above Grade with Obstructed Air Flow

+5 ft Above Grade with Good Air Flow

Above-Grade Deck WITH Drainage System

## Sunlight Exposure Categories

All-Day Sunlight

Half-Day or Better, but Not Full Sun

Less Than Half-Day Sunlight

Partially Covered (Roof) Deck

Fully Covered (Porch/Patio)

## Deck Tiles Recommendation Logic

## Tongue & Groove Porch Decking Conditions

## Bottom Grooving (Bottom Kerf) Guidance

## Cupping Demonstration Summary

## Good Airflow Demonstration Summary

## Species Recommendations Based on Conditions

For Low Airflow with Moderate–Heavy Sunlight

For Low Airflow with Minimal–Moderate Sunlight

For Good Airflow with Heavy Sunlight

For Good or Poor Airflow with Partial Roof Coverage

For Fully Covered Spaces

## Species Information Modules

Species included:

## Fasteners & Optimizing Performance

## Conclusion Page Summary

Interactive Multimedia Resources

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