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.

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Available Decking Species

Ipe

Ipe Decking (Brazilian Walnut) is olive-brown to dark-brown in color. Ipe is one of the hardest and most durable woods found anywhere in the world. A fantastic choice for residential decking and siding, as well as commercial applications due to its strength and longevity.

Cumaru

Cumaru hardwood is a reddish brown to deep, cherry red, with beautiful grain patterns. Strength is nearly comparable to Ipe’s legendary hardness rating.

Tigerwood

Tigerwood decking is orange-brown, but will darken and display deeper, reddish hues over time when used outdoors. That unique orange tint makes Tigerwood hardwood a one-of-a-kind choice for exterior AND interior projects

Garapa

Garapa is a blonde or wheat-brown which will also darken and become an amber-tinted brown over time. Garapa wood is used for everything from flooring to decking to cabinet work and heavy carpentry applications — even ship building.

Massaranduba

Massaranduba is a beautiful plum red tinted to reddish-brown color. It’s known for a lack of visible knots, and a consistent grain with subtle demarcation partially due to the dark, deep color.

Purpleheart

Purpleheart lumber is resistant to insect attack and decay. It is one of the densest woods on the planet and is VERY durable. Purple Heart hard wood grows in many areas of South America and is easily sustainable. The Purple Heart tree is large, attaining heights of 100 to 150 feet, with diameters of 36 – 60 inches.

Brown Balau

Brown Balau is a lumber species native to Southeast Asia. Known for it’s strength, hardness, durability, and resistance to rot Balau’s performance rivals that of Ipe and Cumaru, at a much more accessible price point. Color tones of Brown Balau are similar to Ipe but more consistent in color with less dramatic grain character.

Deck Tiles

Deck Tiles are the ideal solution for rooftop, patio and deck top transformation into an enjoyable hardwood deck. They are easy to install, beautiful, durable, cost-effective, and easy to maintain. Transform your garden, patio, roof or balcony, with these easily installed Ipe deck tiles.

Of course, feel free to contact us with any questions or for more information on all of these beautiful and high quality Brazilian hardwoods.

A Decking Tip, From Lucy Dog

Did you know that 1×6 (.75″ x 5.5″) Brazilian Hardwoods decking, like Ipe and Cumaru, can easily span 16″ Joist Spacing, even up to 20″? Other decking alternatives are often only available in 5/4×6 (1″ x 5.5″), but you can keep your cost down without compromising on strength, longevity or durability with 1×6 Brazilian Hardwood Decking.

Brazilian Hardwood & Ipe Decking Benefits & Advantages

Maintenance & Value

Installing a new Brazilian hardwood deck is an investment in something which will literally last a lifetime, while raising the value of your home, and eliminating all of the headaches of typical decks.

Brazilian hardwood decking from Brazilian Wood Depot and stocked in Atlanta offers the utmost in a hassle-free, low-maintenance addition for your home. To ensure maximum color longevity, you can apply deck oil once per season. Other than that, forget about the need for treatments to prevent rotting or insect problems, forget about needing to replaced warped wood, or anything else.

Below, learn more about all of the different varieties of Brazilian hardwood decking lumber, and if you need any further inspiration, take a look at our Brazilian hardwood deck design photos.

View the beautiful rainbow of Brazilian hardwood decking options, and click on each variety for more information.

Beauty

Brazilian hardwood is beautiful, and comes in a gorgeous array of colors and species (see below). Every deck will have its own unique aesthetics, and there’s really nothing quite like it. It’s also natural and chemical-free, and our RealWood™ certification ensures that it has been sourced with a focus on sustainability and responsible forestry.

Strength & Durability

Brazilian hardwood decks are incredibly strong, and therefore durable. During the lifespan of one deck made from high quality Brazilian hardwoods, an average homeowner would have needed four or more pine or composite decks.

Consider that Ipe decking has a Janka hardness rating six times greater than pine, and three to four times greater than composite-plastic decks, while having the Class A fire rating of concrete.

How does Brazilian hardwood decking compare to Composite decking? Visit our Composite Comparison page.