Beauty, Durability & Longevity — With Minimal Maintenance
Brazilian hardwood fencing works across today’s most popular fence styles—standard wood-post construction, fence-track systems, horizontal slat fences, privacy fences, and custom gates. Every one of these builds benefits from the strength and longevity of hardwoods, and most projects can be built using the same proven standard decking profiles customers already trust. Choose one of the species below to see more details:
Ipe fencing is known for its rich, natural variation and bold visual presence. Boards can range from light olive and brown tones to deep chocolate hues, with occasional reddish pieces appearing within a true Ipe mix. This wide color variation gives each fence a unique, high-end appearance that feels natural rather than uniform.
Ipe also features strong grain character and visual movement, which works especially well in modern horizontal slat fences, privacy fencing, and custom gate designs. The result is a fence that feels substantial, architectural, and visually dynamic—standing apart from typical softwood fence materials.
Common Ipe Fence Profiles
Ipe fencing is typically built using standard decking, allowing for flexible designs across a wide range of fence styles. These proven profiles offer excellent strength, stability, and long-term performance in exterior applications.
Common Ipe fence profiles include:
1×6 – the most popular choice for horizontal and vertical slat fencing
5/4×6 – often needed for best fit for fence “track” systems
1×4 – ideal for tighter spacing and detailed designs
5/4×4 – commonly used for accent slats, gates, and trim details; use with Fence “track” systems
1×8 – wider boards for bold, modern fence designs and alternating widths
2×4 – for high-performance support or fence framing
4×4 – fence posts your grandchildren won’t need to replace (optional)
These profiles can be mixed and matched to create everything from clean, modern horizontal slat fences to traditional privacy fences and custom architectural installations.
Brown Balau fencing offers a rich, warm brown color palette that closely resembles Ipe, making it an excellent alternative for projects where deep, natural tones are desired. Boards typically stay within a consistent range of medium to dark browns, without the wider swings into olive or red tones that are sometimes seen in Ipe.
While Brown Balau does not display the same level of bold grain movement or visual busyness as Ipe, this is often an advantage in fencing applications. The result is a calmer, more uniform appearance that still feels substantial and high-end—especially well suited for privacy fences, clean horizontal slat designs, and large fence runs where consistency is preferred.
One of the biggest advantages of Brown Balau is value. It delivers a look and performance profile very similar to Ipe at roughly half the cost, making it one of the strongest value options for hardwood fencing.
Common Brown Balau Fence Profiles
Brown Balau fencing is typically built using standard decking, providing excellent strength, stability, and long-term performance in exterior fence applications.
Common Brown Balau fence profiles include:
1×6 – the most common choice for horizontal and vertical slat fencing
5/4×6 – a thicker option often used for added rigidity or fence “track” systems Both 1×6 and 5/4×6 boards can be easily ripped down for narrower slats, trim pieces, or intermediate vertical supports as needed.
These profiles allow Brown Balau to be used across a wide range of fence styles—from simple, cost-conscious privacy fences to modern horizontal designs—while maintaining the durability and longevity expected from Brazilian hardwoods.
Cumaru fencing is known for its high degree of color variation from board to board, making it one of the most visually expressive hardwood options available. Boards commonly display a mix of warm gold, deep red, and medium brown tones, with red hues often appearing more prominently than in other Brazilian hardwoods.
This wide range of color variation creates a bold, dynamic appearance that feels natural and organic rather than uniform. Cumaru also features a slightly rougher texture and more pronounced grain character when compared to both Ipe and Brown Balau. The result is a fence with noticeable visual movement and strong character—well suited for homeowners and designers who want a dramatic, high-impact hardwood fence rather than a subdued or highly uniform look.
Cumaru Fence Profiles
Cumaru fencing is typically built using standard decking and Tongue & Groove profiles, providing excellent strength and long-term performance in exterior fence applications.
Common Cumaru fence profiles include:
1×6 – the most common choice for horizontal and vertical slat fencing
5/4×6– a thicker option often used for added rigidity or fence “track” systems Both 1×6 and 5/4×6 boards can be easily ripped down for narrower slats, trim pieces, or intermediate vertical supports as needed.
Due to Cumaru’s higher degree of natural color variation and grain movement, it can be slightly less stable than species like Ipe or Brown Balau in some fence applications. For best results—especially on longer runs or wider board spacing—adding intermediate vertical supports can help keep boards perfectly aligned over time. These supports do not need to reach the ground and can be easily ripped from standard fence planks and added during or after installation if needed.
This design approach allows Cumaru fencing to maintain its bold visual character while ensuring clean lines and long-term performance.
Garapa fencing is known for its blonde to golden color palette, ranging from light wheat and honey tones to slightly deeper light-brown shades. While some color variation occurs from board to board, it stays within the same warm, golden family—creating a cohesive, bright, and uplifting overall look.
Compared to other Brazilian hardwoods, Garapa displays less pronounced grain character. Instead of bold grain patterns, its visual interest comes primarily from the natural mix of lighter and darker boards throughout the installation. This results in a clean, natural appearance with subtle variation, making Garapa an excellent choice for customers who want warmth and brightness without heavy grain contrast or dramatic visual movement.
Garapa Fence Profiles
Garapa fencing is typically built using standard decking profiles, offering reliable strength and long-term performance while supporting clean, modern fence designs.
Common Garapa fence profiles include:
1×6 – the most common choice for horizontal and vertical slat fencing
5/4×6 – a thicker option often used for added rigidity or fence “track” systems
Both 1×6 and 5/4×6 boards can be easily ripped down for narrower slats, trim pieces, or intermediate vertical supports, making them well suited for varying-width designs or added alignment support where needed.
Garapa is also available in 5″ Tongue & Groove profiles for applications where a continuous, finished surface is desired. Tongue & Groove profiles are more commonly used for ceilings and cladding but can be incorporated into fence designs where appropriate. 👉 Learn more about Garapa Tongue & Groove and porch applications here →https://www.bwdepot.com/porch-decking/
Garapa’s combination of lighter color, subtle grain, and design flexibility makes it a popular choice for modern fencing projects that prioritize brightness, consistency, and a refined, understated aesthetic.
Tigerwood fencing is best known for its warm amber color palette, which ranges from lighter, pale amber tones to deeper, richer amber hues. What truly defines Tigerwood, however, are the striking black veins and striping that run through the boards—giving the species its name and unmistakable visual identity.
These dark veins contrast sharply against the lighter background, creating a bold, dynamic pattern with significant visual movement. Despite its dramatic appearance, Tigerwood typically features a smooth surface texture, which contributes to a refined, finished look. This combination of bold character and smooth feel makes Tigerwood a strong choice for fencing projects where visual impact and craftsmanship are equally important.
Tigerwood Fence Profiles
Tigerwood fencing is typically built using standard decking profiles, offering excellent strength and long-term performance while supporting a wide range of modern and architectural fence designs.
Common Tigerwood fence profiles include:
1×6 – the most common choice for horizontal and vertical slat fencing
1×6 boards can be easily ripped down for narrower slats, trim pieces, or intermediate vertical supports, allowing for flexibility in layout and alignment where needed.
Tigerwood is also available in 5″ Tongue & Groove profiles for applications where a continuous, finished surface is desired. While Tongue & Groove profiles are most commonly used for ceilings and cladding, they can be incorporated into fence designs where appropriate. 👉 Learn more about Tigerwood Tongue & Groove and porch applications here →https://www.bwdepot.com/porch-decking/
Tigerwood’s dramatic striping, warm amber tones, and smooth finish make it an excellent choice for fencing projects that aim to stand out while maintaining a polished, high-end appearance.
Massaranduba fencing is known for its exceptional color consistency and refined appearance. Boards typically fall within a reddish-brown to brick-red color range, with only subtle shifts in tone from board to board. Compared to species like Ipe or Cumaru, Massaranduba maintains a far more uniform look across an entire fence installation.
In addition to its consistent color, Massaranduba features an extremely tight, interlocking grain structure, resulting in a surface that is exceptionally smooth to the touch—often smoother than Ipe. Its grain character is subtle rather than busy, making Massaranduba an ideal choice for fencing projects where a clean, polished, and understated aesthetic is desired.
Massaranduba Fence Profiles
Massaranduba fencing is typically built using standard decking profiles, offering excellent strength, stability, and long-term performance in exterior fence applications.
Common Massaranduba fence profiles include:
1×6 – the primary and most common profile used for Massaranduba fencing
1×6 boards can be easily ripped down for narrower slats, trim pieces, or intermediate vertical supports as needed, allowing flexibility in design while maintaining visual consistency.
Because of its uniform color and smooth texture, Massaranduba performs especially well in clean horizontal or vertical slat fence designs where alignment, consistency, and finish quality are priorities.
Purpleheart fencing is one of the most visually distinctive hardwood options available. Freshly milled boards begin with a vibrant pink to deep purple coloration, making Purpleheart unlike any other fencing material. With exposure to sunlight, this color transition begins quickly—often within weeks or months—shifting from purple into medium brown tones, and eventually weathering toward gray over time.
As the color evolves, Purpleheart develops highly emphasized grain patterns, particularly along the sap lines. This creates exceptional visual character, especially once the boards have weathered. The result is a fence with strong contrast, dramatic grain definition, and a bold, natural appearance that continues to change with age.
Sunlight exposure plays a major role in this transformation. Fences with direct sun exposure will experience the full color transition more rapidly, while north-facing or shaded fences tend to retain their purple and reddish hues for a longer period. This natural color evolution is a defining feature of Purpleheart and should be considered part of its aesthetic appeal.
Common Purpleheart Fence Profiles
Purpleheart fencing is typically built using standard decking profiles, offering excellent strength and long-term performance in exterior fence applications.
Common Purpleheart fence profiles include:
1×6 – the primary and most common profile used for Purpleheart fencing
1×6 boards can be easily ripped down for narrower slats, trim pieces, or intermediate vertical supports as needed, allowing flexibility in design while maintaining visual consistency.
Because of its bold grain patterns and evolving color, Purpleheart performs especially well in fence designs where character and contrast are desired, and where natural aging is embraced as part of the overall design.
Brazilian hardwood fencing isn’t just a visual upgrade—it’s a fundamentally better building material for long-term exterior applications. From durability and lifespan to minimal maintenance and natural beauty, hardwood fencing outperforms traditional softwood options in nearly every meaningful way.
Built-In Rot & Moisture Resistance
Brazilian hardwoods are naturally dense and contain oils and extractives that make them highly resistant to rot, decay, and moisture intrusion. Unlike pine or cedar, which rely on chemical treatments or surface coatings for protection, hardwood fencing performs at a high level without preservatives.
This natural resistance makes hardwood fencing especially well suited for ground-adjacent applications, shaded environments, and climates where moisture is a constant concern.
Exceptional Lifespan (30–70 Years)
A properly built hardwood fence can last 30 to 70 years, depending on species, climate, and installation details. In contrast, many softwood fences require replacement every 7–15 years.
Over the lifespan of a single hardwood fence, a homeowner may install three to five softwood fences, making hardwood the more economical choice long-term—even before factoring in maintenance and labor costs.
Natural Insect Resistance
The same density that gives Brazilian hardwoods their strength also makes them highly resistant to insects, including termites and other wood-boring pests. This resistance is inherent to the wood itself, not dependent on surface treatments that wear away over time.
For fence systems that remain outdoors year-round, this is a critical advantage.
Maintenance-Free Performance
Brazilian hardwood fences require no maintenance for structural performance or longevity. While optional finishes can be applied to preserve or enhance color, the fence will remain strong and functional even if left completely unfinished.
This is why hardwood fencing is often described as maintenance-free or maintenance-optional—a major advantage over softwood fences that require regular staining, sealing, or replacement of failed boards.
Unmatched Beauty & Character
Hardwood fencing offers a level of visual richness that simply can’t be replicated with softwoods or composite alternatives. Each species brings its own color palette, grain pattern, and character—from the bold variation of Ipe and Tigerwood to the smooth, uniform look of Massaranduba or the bright warmth of Garapa.
No two hardwood fences look the same. The result is a fence that feels architectural, natural, and intentional, rather than utilitarian.
Proven Profiles & Flexible Design
Hardwood fences are typically built using standard decking profiles, which are already proven in demanding exterior environments. This allows for flexible designs including horizontal slat fencing, privacy fences, custom gates, and modern architectural layouts—all without the need for proprietary systems.
The strength of hardwoods allows for longer spans, cleaner lines, and fewer structural compromises.
A Long-Term Investment, Not a Temporary Fix
Hardwood fencing isn’t about cutting initial cost—it’s about building once and building right. When viewed over decades instead of years, hardwood fencing delivers superior performance, fewer repairs, and a significantly longer service life than traditional alternatives.
For homeowners and builders who value longevity, aesthetics, and reduced upkeep, hardwood fencing stands apart as a true long-term solution.
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Fence Design Tips
Thoughtful design makes a hardwood fence more than just a boundary—it turns it into an architectural feature. Species selection, layout, fastening methods, and structural planning all play a role in how the finished fence looks, performs, and ages over time.
Choosing the Right Species
Different Brazilian hardwood species offer different visual and design possibilities.
Some species, like Ipe, are available in multiple widths (such as 3.5″, 5.5″, and wider profiles), making them ideal for modern or contemporary fence designs that use alternating board widths for visual interest. Other species, like Garapa, are typically offered in a single width but provide a more consistent color palette, resulting in a cleaner, more understated appearance.
Beyond aesthetics, species choice also affects project cost. Garapa, Tigerwood, Cumaru, Massaranduba, Brown Balau and Purpleheart are more affordable than Ipe, while still offering excellent durability and performance.
Vertical, Horizontal, or Beyond
Hardwood fence pickets can be installed vertically, horizontally, or even diagonally depending on the desired look and site conditions.
Horizontal fencing works best on flatter terrain and delivers a clean, modern aesthetic.
Vertical fencing adapts better to sloped ground and traditional layouts and can benefit from horizontal trim pieces at the top and bottom.
Diagonal or chevron patterns create a bold, custom look for statement projects.
Varying Board Widths provides a modern, attractive appearance and can be easily implemented by ripping certain boards in half.
Each orientation has its strengths, and the right choice often depends on both the property’s topography and the overall design goal.
To See the Fasteners—or Not
Fastening strategy has a major impact on the finished appearance of a fence.
Some customers are perfectly comfortable with exposed stainless steel fasteners, especially when using discrete brown-headed screws that blend naturally with hardwoods. Others prefer a completely concealed look, which can be achieved in several ways:
Plug systems
CAMO edge fastening
Hidden clips
Trim boards applied over fastener lines
In many designs, trim boards are used strategically to hide fasteners altogether, delivering a clean, uninterrupted surface without complex hardware systems.
Designing for Beauty on Both Sides
By default, many fences look clean from the outside but expose structural elements on the inside. If a fence needs to look equally good from both sides, this can be accomplished with thoughtful planning.
One approach is to use a post-and-track system, where boards are captured in routed grooves or metal channels. When posts are spaced up to about 8 feet apart, hardwood boards can span the distance without sagging. However, adding a mid-span vertical support—which does not need to touch the ground—helps keep boards perfectly aligned and prevents subtle movement over time.
This intermediate support can be:
Ripped from standard fence planks
Installed after the fence is built if needed
Matched visually so it blends into the design
Similar results can also be achieved using aluminum or steel U-channel or J-channel track systems.
Managing Cost Without Sacrificing Design
Fence design choices can significantly affect material cost.
In general, longer boards cost less per linear foot than shorter lengths. Designing fence layouts that efficiently use 6′, 7′, 8′, 9′, or 10′ boards—rather than relying heavily on specialty lengths—can help control overall project cost.
Species selection also plays a role. As a general guideline:
Ipe is the most premium option
Cumaru and Massaranduba typically fall below Ipe
Tigerwood, Garapa, Brown Balau and Purpleheart are often the most cost-effective
Smart design can balance aesthetics, performance, and budget without compromising longevity.
Pro Tip: Let the Material Do the Work
Brazilian hardwoods are exceptionally strong and stable. In many cases, simpler designs outperform over-engineered ones. Clean lines, proper spacing, and thoughtful support placement allow the natural strength and beauty of the wood to shine—without unnecessary complexity.
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