Cumaru Decking

Cumaru Decking- Call for Availability

BWD delivers locally and professionally ships via LTL and Flatbed to 48 US States. Call us for a quote, today- 770-242-0045.

About Cumaru (Dipteryx Odorata)

Cumaru (pronounced Koo-Mah-Roo) is world-renowned for its superior characteristics and properties. You may have heard of Ipe’s incredible hardness, durability, and longevity- Cumaru is similar to Ipe in many ways and is often used interchangeably with Ipe. Cumaru is one of the hardest woods in the world which lends to its incredible durability and longevity. It is also naturally resistant to insect attack, mold, rot, fire and decay. Due to the wood’s fine texture and interlocking grain, Cumaru offers great slip resistance.

Cumaru decking is incredibly versatile. Its durability makes it a natural choice for commercial projects, such as high-traffic, large-scale beach piers or boardwalks, or even public benches. However, its beauty, strength and low needs for maintenance also make it a leading option for residential decking.

Our friends in South America have been using this hardwood lumber for fence posts and earth contact timbers for generations and brag about its useful life of 100 years. Cumaru is one of the densest woods on the planet and is VERY durable, which makes it ideal for deck building. It is common for a Cumaru tree to reach to 160 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 40 inches.

Color and Appearance- The sapwood of Cumaru(red) hardwood – RealCumaru – hardwood decking lumber is very similar to the heartwood, which ranges from red brown to deep red in color with a tight, even grain. Over time the red cumaru color will “flatten out” slightly. The species has an irregular, slightly interlocked grain and is coarse and wavy in texture. This dense, attractive Brazilian hardwood has the characteristics of ipe, but without the olive-green tone.

Cumaru is considered the highest quality, best natural wood decking material on the market today. It is also one of the most popular species for decking we stock at Brazilian Wood Depot. On this page, you’ll learn more about Cumaru decking, the benefits it provides and other useful information to help get you started.

Cumaru Customer Photos

Weather Color Change Progression

Sunlight has a bleaching effect on nearly everything it comes into contact with. Hardwood decking boards are no exception. The purpose of this demonstration is to show the sun’s effect on Brazilian Hardwood Decking and what to expect from reoiling. These boards were left on the roof of our building for 12 weeks to simulate a deck with heavy sunlight and weather exposure. All the boards began with one coat of Messmer’s UV Plus (Natural). After the 12th week, another coat was applied to half of each board.

The video to the right includes more details about how I did the demonstration and other interesting findings.

Fresh Deck Boards

Fresh Decking Boards Before Sunlight Exposure Finished with One Coat Messmer’s UV Plus Natural

3 Weeks Exposure

Three weeks of full sunlight and weather exposure.

6 Weeks Exposure

Six weeks of full sunlight and weather exposure.

9 Weeks Exposure

Nine weeks of full sunlight and weather exposure. Boards are now almost grey, but certainly have lost their original richness, in tone.

12 Weeks Exposure & ReOiled

At 12 weeks, the boards are fairly uniform in their grey color. I applied oil to the top half of these boards so you can see the difference between the washed-out 12-week appearance and the newly oiled appearance.

Benefits of Cumaru Decking

Cumaru decking, also known as Brazilian Teak, has a number of qualities that make it stand out as the superior outdoor construction material.

All Natural– Unlike composite decking, which is a combination of wood pulp and plastic, a non-recyclable material that pollutes our planet and pressure treated or reclaimed lumber that is loaded with toxic chemicals known to harm surrounding plant and animal life, Cumaru is 100% natural. It is ideal for repurposing, bio-degradable and does not create any biproducts that can harm the environment. No chemicals or plastics whatsoever, just 100% real wood. That’s why we say, “Go Natural!”
Hardness– Cumaru is one of the hardest woods in the world with a Janka Hardness rating of 3,540, only 2% less than that of Ipe. Compare that to Oak, at about 1,200. This extreme hardness lends to its dimensional stability, long lifespan, and natural weatherproof properties. Pressure treated wood is known for substantial expansion and contraction with seasonal changes. This process destroys the cell structures from the center of the boards, outwards. It also increases the rate of decay. This movement is also responsible for creating raised wood grain that can be painful to walk on without shoes. Raised grain is a common problem with pressure treated woods but does not occur with tropical hardwoods like Cumaru. Composite and plastic decking will also expand and contract significantly over time which compromises the rigidity. This eventually leads to boards drooping between the joists. Cumaru, being so hard, will expand and contract some, but very little. Minimal movement is one key element to Cumaru’s incredible longevity.
Longevity- Cumaru is renowned for its ability to last many decades even in extreme weather conditions. Density and hardness, as discussed above, plays a large role in that. Natural resistance to water penetration and rot/decay also contributes to its longevity. The forests, from which they evolved, experience 100-400 inches of rain per year. That is up to 8-10 times more than anywhere in the United States. Evolutionary responses to this heavy rainfall have made this wood naturally resistant to water penetration, mold, rot and decay.
Board Replacement- Many people fail to consider how board replacement can be a HUGE obstacle with alternative deck materials like PT or composite. Let’s say you drop the hot contents of a grill on your deck and it damages the boards beyond repair. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a Cumaru or tropical hardwood deck, you’re in for a rude awakening. When you replace a PT or Composite deck board, it will stand out from the others, dramatically. These materials are all very consistent and continue fading over time. So, the new boards will ALWAYS stand out from the others. You are left with a deck that has very obvious patchwork. Tropical hardwoods vary from board to board, so replacing boards is no big deal. They may stand out from the others for a couple of months, but before long no one will be able to tell the new boards from the original ones. This benefit is specific to real, natural woods. Board replacement is also a common problem with prefinished and engineered wood flooring.
Insect Resistance- Cumaru and other tropical hardwoods, are naturally insect resistant. Domestic lumber is treated with chemicals to deter wood boring insects. Cumaru evolved in forests with insects much more proficient at wood-boring than their North American counterparts. Very few insects in their natural habitat are capable of infiltrating their tough wood fibers and certainly, the domestic insects of the United States are no match. This is true for most tropical hardwoods.
Fire Resistance- For many states in southwestern United States, fires are a large factor driving construction material decision making. This also holds true for large commercial projects in urban areas. Cumaru is very resistant to flame spread. Cumaru typically achieves high B ratings in Flame Spread rating tests. This usually means that prolonged exposure to flames may cause damage, but flame spread is minimal, at best. Plastic, composite and pressure treated lumber typically receive the lowest flame spread ratings C Class. Ipe and Cumaru are very similar, but Ipe typically outperforms Cumaru in this metric. Watch Matt Risinger’s YouTube video demonstrating Ipe’s incredible resistance to fire.
Forest Stewardship- Cumaru is sourced from the tropical forests of South America, Brazil in particular. Concerns with harvesting Cumaru from the “lungs of our planet” are well warranted. The truth is, Brazil’s hardwood timber industry may be the forests best protection from clear-cut uses like Cattle and Agriculture. When Cumaru is harvested and regrown in its natural habitat, that habitat is protected by both the organization that replanted and the local or federal government. Without responsible forestry management, forest lands are more likely to be cleared for grazing cattle and planting crops. Each purchase of Cumaru, or other tropical hardwood, from conscientious hardwood dealers like Brazilian Wood Depot contributes to the value of naturally forested lands.
Cost- Contrary to popular belief, Brazilian Hardwoods are not more expensive than the alternatives. The opposite, in fact. Pressure treated lumber is considered to last about 5-7 years before boards begin to deteriorate and rot. Plastic and composite boards will typically begin to fade and deteriorate within a few years. A composite deck is unattractive and nearly unusable after about 8 years. Alternatively, Cumaru is known to last from 25-75 years, depending on the environmental conditions. When you consider the cost of replacing pressure treated or composite boards through the life of just one installation of Cumaru, Cumaru is far, far more cost effective. The front-end cost of Cumaru decking is generally the same as the low-end composites and outperforms them in every measurable metric. Pressure treated lumber is cheaper than Cumaru, but you’ll replace the PT boards 5 times in the life of one Cumaru deck. So, is Cumaru the most cost-effective decking? Yes, usually in the short-term, but always in the long-term.

Cumaru Decking V.S. Other Decking

	REALCumaru^TM	CCA-TREATED PINE	COMPOSITE DECKING
Type	Hardwood	Softwood	Plastic
Maintenance	Low	Varies	Varies
Decay Resistance	High	Varies	Varies
Termite Resistance	High	Varies	Varies
Strength	High	Medium	Low
Movement in Service	Low	High	High
Fire Rating Class	High	Varies	Low
Hardness	3,540	690	940-1,390

For a more comprehensive comparison of decking materials, visit: Composite Decking vs. RealWood

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

Compare Ipe Decking to Plastic/Composite Decking

(Being that Cumaru is very similar to Ipe, the following article comparing Ipe to composite materials is a very good reflection of how Cumaru compares to composite material.)

Ipe is one of the hardest, commercially available, woods in the world. With a Janka hardness rating of 3680, Ipe can withstand the most extreme elements and commercial wear and tear. Currently, there are no decking options that compare to Ipe’s many benefits. Plastic Decking is one alternative, but it has many downsides…

To start with the obvious, Trex and other Plastic or Composite Decking alternatives offer no natural features. Plastic or Composite options are either all grey or all beige or somewhere in between. All the boards will be exactly the same color with the exact same printed grains. Ipe Decking and other Brazilian Hardwood Decking offer only real, natural wood colors with real, natural grains. This means a beautiful variation of boards with each a unique grain pattern on every deck. The next downside to Plastic or Composite Decks is their inability to be repaired. If a board(s) gets damaged, scratched, stained or broken, the damaged piece cannot be fixed because Plastic and Composite Decking fades with time and exposure to the elements. If you were to replace one board on a Plastic Deck or Composite Deck, it would stick out, very obviously, from the other boards. The new boards would be the ‘manufactured’ color, while the others would be faded. This disparity will never even out. Moreover, Plastic and Composite Decking cannot be pressure washed or sanded to restore color. You are never really able to bring a Plastic or Composite Deck back to its original condition without replacing all of the boards.

Ipe Decks, on the other hand, can easily be brought back to their original condition. Keeping with the scenario outlined above, if a board on an Ipe Deck is damaged and needs to be replaced, all you would need to do is get a replacement board to put in its place. Because the color of Ipe varies from board to board, it would not stand out from the other boards at all. It’s natural variability in color lends to its advantage if a board ever needs to be replaced. Alternatively, if the board was scratched or stained, one merely needs to sand the surface of the stained board(s) and reapply the UV oil to bring them back to their original condition. Ipe Decks last forever not only because of their resilience to rot and decay, but also because the boards CAN be repaired, a quality not found in any other decking material. Another aspect that many people fail to consider before installing a deck is Heat Dispersion and Flammability. Wood is the best decking material for disbursing heat making the deck cooler to walk on and Ipe also has a similar fire rating to concrete. Basically, it’s a naturally non-combustible material. Plastic and composite decking is very hot and can create a fire hazard if installed outside a UV reflecting window.

Finally, the last major downfall of Plastic and Composite decks, sagging and drooping. The chemical combinations for Plastic and Composite decking options have changed over the years in an attempt to avoid problems like, insects, mold, and rot. Unfortunately, one problem that has yet to be tackled by even the most advanced Plastic or Composite Decks is sagging and drooping. Sagging and drooping refers to the pendulous deformation of deck boards between the joists. As far as longevity goes, this is the main problem for Plastic and Composite Decks. After several years, the chemical components in the decks breakdown which compromises the rigidity of the boards. It can compromise the strength in such a dramatic manner that the boards themselves loose their ‘straightness’ and droop between the joists. This is an extremely well-known problem for Plastic and Composite decks that has never been successfully addressed. Ipe Decking is 100% natural. There are no non-organic chemicals to breakdown. Ipe’s high density and hardness that lends to its’ incredible dimensional stability is why Ipe decks outperform Plastic and Composite decks in regard to longevity, 10 to 1. These are just a few reasons that Ipe Decks are the preferred choice over Plastic and Composite Decks. All considered, there really is no comparison between an Ipe Deck and a Plastic or Composite Deck.

Finishing and Maintenance

To oil or not to oil, that is the question. With Cumaru or any other tropical hardwood from Brazilian Wood Depot, you have basically two options when it comes to maintaining your deck, but you don’t have to stick with either one. You can either skip the oiling and let the boards go a beautiful silvery-grey or use oil to maintain the natural brown colors. Below, I’ll go into what both options mean for you and your deck.

First, what happens when you do not use a UV protectant oil? The purpose of UV Oil is to protect the wood from ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun. These rays eventually ‘bleach’ the boards of their natural brown color. What’s left, after significant sunlight exposure, is a beautiful silvery-grey surface that has a natural ‘reclaimed’ appearance.

Typically, the board colors become more consistent with more time left in the sun without UV protection. The ‘greying’ process will not affect the structural integrity, lifespan, or water resistance of the boards. Let’s say, when the deck was originally installed, you didn’t apply the oil because you wanted the deck to turn grey. You can bring Cumaru back to its original condition. It may require a cleaning before oiling, just follow directions in the video, above.

Garrote Lumber Atlanta GA

Second, you do want your deck to hold its natural color. First off, you’ll want to use a UV Oil. It is not a “stain” nor a “sealer”. These terms are not technically accurate because UV Oil is not meant to provide a color change like “stain” or water protection like a “sealer.” Cumaru and similar tropical hardwoods have natural colors and they are naturally resistant to water penetration, so stains and sealers are not only unnecessary- they are improper.

If you are planning to maintain the natural color, we recommend using Messmers Ipe Hardwood Deck Stain. There are other products that also work to protect the natural colors of Cumaru and tropical hardwoods, but this is the product we have been recommending for +10 years. It comes in three colors, but the preferred color is “Natural.” The finish protects the wood well and contains transparent iron oxide pigment. This pigment absorbs UV radiation yet at the same time will allow visible light to pass through it. The staining results you’ll get are a finish that highlights the natural beauty of the Cumaru wood and at the same time protects it. Your deck will not fade in the sun as this product has excellent resistance to UV degradation. Maintaining the color of your deck typically involves annual oiling followed by periodic cleaning every 2-3 years. For more information on how to maintain the color of your Cumaru deck see the video above, Ipe Deck Maintenance

FULL Cleaning and Oiling Instructions PDF

Choosing to finish your deck or leave it unfinished is a personal choice and you can’t go wrong either way. Brazilian Wood Depot is here to help you decide whether or not to stain your Cumaru deck. We will be happy to discuss your options.

Working with Cumaru

Storage and Handling

For out-of-state (outside of GA) installation, it is required that the materials acclimate to the climate conditions of the job site before installation; allow materials to acclimate to the job-site climate for ten (10) days prior to installation. Utilizing spacers or stickers between boards to allow air movement and natural drying also aids the acclimation process. Always store materials flat and keep dry and covered prior to installation. Installing wet or saturated boards may result in shrinkage. Refer to the Installation Requirements document for more information.

Installation
When designing your deck, you must provide for adequate ventilation to assure long term stability and avoid cupping. Proper air ventilation allows air to flow in from outside the deck area and under the joists to evaporate moisture. Gently sloping the soil under the deck away from the house and covering the soil with plastic is recommended for any type of deck installation. Allow a 1/8″ gap between standard deck boards for drainage and airflow. More detailed instructions can be found on the Installation Tab and the Installation Requirements documents. There are a number of different fastening methods; Face Screws, Kerf and Clips, Grabber Bars, Camo, or ProPlug. For a more detailed description of these fasteners visit the Accessories Tab.

RealCumaru^TM

Cumaru Hardwood Brazilian Wood Depot is the sole U.S. distributor of RealWood^TM – lumber which has passed rigid testing standards to be of the highest grade, and other important industry standards and benchmarks. To see more about the assurances of wood grading, milling and origin that the Real Wood™ brand provides, please go to RealWoodDepot.com. Any other provider of Real Wood™, including Real Cumaru™, Real Jatoba™, Real Tigerwood™, Real Garapa™, Real Massaranduba™, and RealIpe™ has been supplied by Brazilian Wood Depot.

At Brazilian Wood Depot, we also place an emphasis on the proper shipment of our lumber, to ensure that your Cumaru decking material arrives in the quality and excellent condition you deserve, preventing costly setbacks, stresses and inconveniences. With special wood crates for shipping and transportation, low overhead costs and large number of shipments, we can pass on great savings to you, while ensuring a smooth delivery process. We deliver Cumaru across the entire United States.

Ultimately, with RealCumaru for your home, you’ll be receiving a beautiful, hassle-free and long-lasting choice that will make your deck the envy of the neighborhood, but also simply a wise investment.

Call 770-242-0045 for any other information or for specific pricing on Cumaru.

Lumber Profiles

Marotoa Lumber Atlanta GA

Brazilian Wood Depot carries a variety of profiles. The standard decking profile for Cumaru and other tropical hardwoods is “1×6” (3/4” x 5.5”). 1×6 is appropriate for Joist spacing of 12” or 16”. Typically joist spacing greater than 16” is not allowed by code, but there are exceptions. For joist spacing greater that 16” OC, consider using “5/4 x 6” (1” x 5.5”). The additional board thickness contributes to the overall span strength of the decking. Brazilian Wood Depot always stocks both 1×6 and 5/4 x 6 Cumaru decking. For projects that require extra attention to water runoff or moisture equalization, see RainAway Decking and Deck Tiles.

Brazilian Wood Depot also carries a number of different profiles to accent different features of your deck like stair risers, balusters, railing sections, handrails, facia, posts, etc… These profiles are generally only offered in Ipe. Ipe dimensional lumber accents Cumaru decking perfectly and is the preferred choice for the deck features mentioned above. Refer to the Profiles and Dimensions document for profile availabilities.

Ipe: Deforestation, Sustainability and Illegal Logging

(The following article speaks on Tropical Hardwoods, in general, which also includes Cumaru)

You may be familiar with Ipe as the “King of Woods.” A species with almost unbelievable characteristics- natural resistance to rot, insect attack, and mold with density and hardness comparable to concrete. These features give Ipe and other tropical hardwoods the ability to outlast pretty much everything while providing unrivaled beauty and character. All of this is true. Ipe has been a staple in the decking, flooring, siding and furniture industries for many years for these reasons. Furthermore, in recent years, the prices of tropical hardwoods like Ipe, Cumaru, Purpleheart, Tigerwood, Massaranduba and Garapa will beat out even the mid-tier composite decking and siding alternatives. If that were the end of the story, these tropical hardwoods would be the market leaders for outdoor construction, hands down. Unfortunately, some narratives paint a darker picture of Ipe that is both misleading and endangers our native tropical forests…

Architect and Design Resources

We are very proud to announce that Brazilian Wood Depot, with the help of CADdetails.com, has made specifying Brazilian Hardwood Decking and Siding much easier!

Incorporate Brazilian Hardwood Decking and Siding products into your
plans quickly and easily by downloading our design files from
CADdetails.com. CADdetails is specifically designed for architect and
design professionals aimed at getting manufacturer-specific product
information for working plans.
On our Microsite, you’ll find CADs, Specifications, BIMs, 3D Models, and other design-related media for Brazilian Wood Depot and BWD
products. This database will continue to grow in the coming weeks
and months.
Click here to visit our Architect and Design Library at CADdetails.com

FAQ’s

How do I refinish my deck?

Click here to read our Blog post: Cleaning and Refinishing Hardwood Decking.

You can also find an in-depth video on our Videos page, Ipe Deck Maintenance Video. This video applies to ALL species of Brazilian Hardwoods.

How do I clean my deck?

Click here to read our Blog post: Cleaning and Refinishing Hardwood Decking.

You can also find an in-depth video on our Videos page, Ipe Deck Maintenance Video. This video applies to ALL species of Brazilian Hardwoods.

What is the best deck finish for hardwoods?

Messmer’s. Brazilian Wood Depot stocks this finish. Click here to read our Blog post: Cleaning and Refinishing Hardwood Decking.

You can also find an in-depth video on our Videos page, Ipe Deck Maintenance Video. This video applies to ALL species of Brazilian Hardwoods.”

Should I pressure wash my deck before finishing it?

NO. Pressure washing it will leave streaks, potentially tear up the surface of the wood and will not clean as deeply as the cleaner.

Where does Brazilian Wood Depot Ship?

We ship to all areas of the US.

For additional FAQ’s visit our FAQ’s Tab.

Quotes and Samples

Brazilian Wood Depot is here to help! We pride ourselves on superior customer support and turning around samples, quotes, and orders faster than anyone else. Please call us for samples or quotes, 770-242-0045.

Generally, all we need to get started on pricing your deck is the answer to a few, basic questions. We can help you answer these questions too:

What species? With Six incredible Brazilian Hardwood species, deciding on just one can be a difficult task. I’d recommend familiarizing yourself with the different options on the Decking Tab or this Video.
How will you fasten the boards? Whether you are using face screws, hidden clips, grabber bars, or the Camo system, we’ve got you covered. The decision is yours to make and your installer can also help guide this decision based on their preferences. Visit the Accessories Tab for more information on fastening methods.
What are the basic dimensions of the deck and the joist spacing? Obviously, we’ll need to know the size of the deck to get things started. Joist spacing information allows us to quote accurate fastening quantities.
Additional Deck Features? You don’t need to know all the intricate details of your deck design to get a basic quote, but if you do have the information it can help make the quote more accurate. Additional features would include; steps, risers, posts, railing sections, handrail, and facia.

This is all we need to get started pricing your new deck. Again, we’re here to help you make the best decisions for your deck. You can reach us anytime at, 770-242-0045.

Shipping and Delivery

Brazilian Wood Depot has the most robust shipping process, IN THE INDUSTRY! There’s no debate about that and we know it! Every LTL shipment is fully crated to prevent damages.

We are now also offering LIVE 4G GPS TRACKING on LTL shipments! We are the only distributors in the industry that offer this service! You’re going to love it!

Read more about our robust shipping process, www.bwdepot.com/shipping

Photos and Videos

Visit our Gallery for photos and deck design ideas.

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Additional Resources

Brazilian Wood Depot

6770 Buford Highway Northeast, Atlanta

4.5 52 reviews

MacDaddy Mac ★★★★★ 6 months ago
I admit, I was a bit wary of ordering a huge shipment of wood sight/unseen, particularly with the general quality of dimensional and natural wood these days you see at building centers. From the phone call to order, to the email confirmation, … More fast shipment, to receiving (what I consider two crates of GOLD), I could NOT be more pleased. Now this was a 700 sq/ft deck so it had to be sent LTL (less than load) freight, so it did take about 10-14 days to come 1000 miles. That's not bad at all on a good day, bud particularly with supply and transportation issues these days. BWD was on it! It was very obvious that my "little guy building a deck" shipment was still a true priority to them. Magnificently crated and selected Cumaru and Ipe. The quality of the shipment I received was fantastic! Now, (full disclosure), there was a snag in one of the items I received. I was crushed because I had not opened the crates for about a week due to space and time constraints and started freaking out about the hassle I (could imagine) I was going to have. I sent an email with pictures of my shipment and an explanation of the problem at about 4pm that evening (5pm in Georgia). At 7 AM (8 in Georgia), I had a phone call from Sam himself. If you've watched any of the informational videos on YouTube from BWD, you know Sam. If you haven't watched them and you're on the fence about Brazilian hardwoods, you should. Sam has done an incredible service to his entire industry with these videos. Anyway, we spoke, he was honest and upfront, and said "Yup, we screwed up, how can we make it right?" Then..... he made it right. I had the correct guard posts in no time, and they were perfect. So refreshing, and so relieved. We all make mistakes, but these days it's getting really hard to find anyone that will admit their own and strive to make it right. Bottom line, the quality of BWDs product, their service, and their genuine interest and investment in making sure their customers end up with the "full meal deal" was, for this guy, OUTSTANDING!!!!! Thank you Sam and all at BWD, you made my Wife's dream deck happen, with seemingly great ease. A real (refreshing) pleasure to do business with you.
Sam Pascoe ★★★★★ 4 months ago
Great products and even better customer service. These guys are the best. Their prices are very fair--even low--but their customer service is spectacular. They will talk you through every step of the process and give you clear, common-sense … More advice. Love 'em!
John Anthony ★★★★★ a year ago
IPE from Brazilian Wood Depot transformed my home!
Highly recommend the Brazilian hardwood rain screen siding from Brazilian Wood Depot.
Sam was awesome to work with. The wood arrived perfectly packaged and in my case, earlier than promised. … More It was also easy to install.
As you can see from the photos, I covered up some of the red brick that I hated with IPE and painted the rest. I get tons of compliments on the wood features.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Lisa GatorGirl ★★★★★ a year ago
Our experience with Brazilian Wood Depot was and is exceptional! We originally ordered our IPE wood for our deck from another company. The material was of poor quality, delivery issues (3x's) and eventually we got it returned and … More our money back. We found Sam and his Dad at Brazilian Wood Depot, and explained everything that happened. We were not the first to have had issues and Sam guided us through their process, explained the delivery and promised us a beautiful product. They exceeded our expectations! The wood was delivered in a crate, no spilling in the truck, no broken pieces, no worm holes! Their IPE quality is far superior than the other company and we are so happy that we found Sam and his Dad!! We would recommend them and we do not recommend just anyone, only the best of the best! Check our their videos! Thank you very much Sam and Dad!!! The pic is the wood getting acclimated to our environment prior to installation. We will add another photo when it is done.
Scott Purcell ★★★★★ 2 years ago
I manage a brand new apartment community in Gwinnett County and we have a HUGE sundeck behind the pool overlooking a lake. The deck was built with Tiger Wood from Brazilian Wood Depot and is BEAUTIFUL. I have reached out several times … More with care questions and Sam was quick to respond and extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I definitely recommend them for any of your specialty wood needs.
Charles Miller ★★★★★ 2 years ago
Sam, I want to thank you for the care your crew showed while loading my order. Your attention to my questions as well as making sure I would not have any problems getting home with the decking is deeply appreciated. I have come to expect … More this from your company over the years. Yes, I am very pleased with all of my purchases over the past several years.
ari rabinowitz ★★★★★ 2 years ago
These guys have the best Wood money can buy and great customer service to boot! Definitely a customer for life!
Johnny Luna ★★★★★ 2 years ago
Drove from Dallas Texas to meet with Eric and Sam about Ipe in-person. Very knowledgeable team, great customer service 5 stars don't do these guys justice. The patience and understanding of what it takes for job/ matiral alternative … More methods. The problem solving on this team is impressive to say the least. Can't thank you guys enough. Skip the brokers guys call Brazilian wood depo.
Sincerely Johnny Luna
Dmj Construction
Ps. Go cowboys
Robert Silvia ★★★★★ a year ago
We have a 14 year old IPE deck. It’s never been cleaned. I watched the “How to” videos and my deck looks almost new. I went into the shop to buy oil for the deck - people were friendly and very helpful. I highly recommend this place if … More you have any decking needs. The label on the wax cracked me up ;-)
s wade ★★★★★ a year ago
Ordered few thousand lf of cumaru from sam (who's super helpful ) at brazillian wood depot. I had watched his videos online and found them informative, that they had a sizable google review and an establishment address not a townhome … More (like some other similar named online sites) I felt comfortable ordering from them and getting shipped to florida. Sam answered every question, email, and couldn't be happier with how helpful everyone was and the product received looks better than even the top of the line hot, weak composite samples i had piled up here. You can't beat the real look and feeling of wood, depending on your needs of course. Did i mention they got this order out weeks faster than the other big guys could? and actually seemed enthusiastic about making a sale.. Yeah...I recommend you use bwdepot like i did, i'll be ordering again soon.
Nick DiRoberto ★★★★★ a year ago
We have been buying material from Brazilian Wood depot for over 10 years and couldn't be happier with their service and products. Thank you again
Robert Jarvis ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Took their advice and purchased cleaner and brightner for hardwood deck. Best decision I ever made, deck looks almost like new. 100% satisfied.
Brett Matrazzo ★★★★★ 2 years ago
We had a wonderful experience with BWD. We are adding a deck on the back of our house made of tigerwood and ipe. I had the displeasure of attempting to do business with one of BWD’s largest competitors. For at least 4 months I was strung … More along and mislead (if not outright lied to). I could write a novel about my frustrations with them. I finally gave up and luckily stumbled across BWD online. I emailed them and gave them a call and it was like a breath of fresh air. They were actually friendly and helpful....what a novel idea. My order was fairly complicated and they took the time to go over each and every piece with me. The cherry on the top was when I asked how soon I could get the wood....expecting weeks, if not months. From the time I made the call until it was delivered to my house was two weeks...and it was that long only because of the Thanksgiving holiday. The wood was carefully packed and delivered safely to my driveway exactly when they said they would. The quality of the wood is second to none and I can’t wait to see the finished deck. I can definitely recommended BWP and will not hesitate to use them for future projects!
James Hill ★★★★★ 2 years ago
Great place friendly people that get you unloaded as quickly as possible 💯👍
Phil White ★★★★★ 3 years ago
My wife and I had been planning to add a deck to our home for the past eight years. Our modest country home is located on ten acres in West Central Georgia literally in site of Pine Mountain ridge. Since retiring in 2013, we began in … More earnest planning our deck. Our primary objective was a deck that would require minimum maintenance and be as durable as possible, and affordable. We had settled on the most popular composite decking, despite the extravagant cost of materials.
Our contractor voiced as an option using Brazilian hardwood decking and suggested a vendor website to allow us to begin our research. The vendor had several mill sites in the US with the closest being in North Carolina. They were very accommodating and sent us quotes and samples. My research on even the best composites made me even more skeptical as to their longterm durability. Material cost for the best composites was 25-50% higher than the Brazilian hardwood we eventually settled on using on our 600+ sq.ft. deck with pergola. We took advantage of the offer to drop in anytime to visit Brazilian Wood Depot in Duluth, GA, choosing this vendor over the initial one due to it being 90 miles away. A kind staff member put us in personal contact with Mr. Sam Hoover within five minutes. Sam was as knowledgeable, kind, patient and as accommodating with our many questions and requests as any warehouse vendor I have ever experienced. He showed us their warehouse organization, cut us samples for decking and railing, discussed delivery options and made us very much at home. He even removed samples stored on the roof to demonstrate fading potential since we initially favored grey decking. We were so impressed with our hour+ visit, we knew when we left that if the price was reasonable, the Depot would be our choice of vendors. Subsequent phone conversations on pricing and delivery with Sam’s father Eric made us even more confident in our vendor. Within two weeks, we had selected our species of hardwood, received very professional and well documented quotes and installation instructions, and had our materials on site to begin the project.
We cannot say enough positive as to the most professional and kind, accommodating service we received from everyone associated with the Brazilian Wood Depot. This was our contractors first experience with hardwood decking using hidden clips. They build new homes with decks using either treated pine or composite materials. Like many homeowners, they have become less enchanted with the environmentally challenging and high maintenance treated decking. Long-term durability issues and hot surface temps, not to mention escalating cost have made composites less attractive for the investment. Even with the installation learning curve, they joined us in praising the finished product... both the beauty, structural integrity and promise for long-term durability.
After three months of joyful use, we are pleased to say the experience of working with the Depot, the craftsmanship of our contractor and the finished results have ALL far exceeded our expectations. I am confident as well that this business will continue to thrive in the Atlanta area and grow in more rural settings like Harris County. Thanks to all and may your business continue to serve communities all over Georgia and the Southeast in all their hardwood needs.
R Skelton ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Great customer service, very friendly & helped us with our deck choice from start to finish! We love the look & quality IPE wood from Brazilian Wood Depot. Would definitely use them again!
Matt Anton ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Sam and Eric are extremely knowledgeable about all hardwood Brazilian wood decking and siding. The Ipe decking quality they showed is of the highest grade, and they are responsible Eco-friendly suppliers. Anyone who demands excellence and … More upscale decking, I recommend to Brazilian Wood Depot without hesitation. Excellent products, and responsive customer service.
Calvin Bennett ★★★★★ 3 years ago
I ordered a large quantity of Ipe wood from these guys and I was very pleased with it. I placed the order and it was ready when we got there to pick it up. They made special arrangements to meet us because we were unable to get there … More during normal business hours. I greatly appreciated their service.
Miles Hill ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Great place, I live in Chattanooga and have made the drive many times to buy from here. I have had nothing but good experiences.
Emily Hirn ★★★★★ 3 years ago
We are repeat customers of Brazilian Wood Depot. They have supplied the ipe wood boards and the 2' square ipe deck tiles for a bridge and two rooftop terraces for our residential building. The beauty of the wood is unsurpassed. The … More owners have been exceptionally helpful with advice about installing and caring for their products. I recommend this company without hesitation.
Ricardo Fournier ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Great service and advise.. saves me a lot of money vs competitor Advance Lumber.
Rev.Tim Warren ★★★★★ 3 years ago
I'm a paint Contractor, I have used Brazilian Wood Depot for years. Their knowledge of exotic Woods is second to none.
I highly recommend them for all your exotic Woods, and all the products that keeps them looking beautiful.
Sincerely … More
Tim Warren/ AllStar Custom painting and pressure Washing .
Bill Anderson ★★★★★ 3 years ago
They handled our order very professionally. The wood was delivered on time and was excellent quality. They later send me a small order that went just as well.
G Harris ★★★★★ 3 years ago
We are general contractors that have used Brazilian Hardwood Depot. We have enjoyed working with Eric and his teams products for a while now and are very happy with his customer service, selection and pricing. We look forward to using them … More again on our next project

4 reviews

retta b. ★★★★★ 4 hours ago
Good people to do business, great customer service. They even sent a package of samples in the beginning without me even asking for them.
red fire S. ★★★★★ 9 hours ago
The best wood you can buy all you have to do is stop by and let us tell you about it.
duckyy M. ★★★★★ 3 years ago
Easy to do business with and prompt service
Cassy B. ★★★★★ 3 years ago
BWD has excellent wood products, prompt & courteous service and delivery, and responsive customer service. All around good company to do business with.

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