What is Ipe decking and why is it popular?

Ipe decking uses Ipe, a premium Brazilian hardwood known for extreme density, stability, and natural resistance to rot and insects. Its tight grain and rich brown color make it a top choice for durable, elegant outdoor spaces.

What are the advantages of choosing Ipe decking?

Ipe stands up to heavy foot traffic and harsh climates, resists decay and pests, and offers outstanding hardness that helps minimize scratches and wear. With reasonable care, it provides a very long service life.

How does Ipe decking compare to other decking materials?

Compared to many softwoods and composites, Ipe is less prone to warping, splintering, and fading. It offers excellent structural stability and a real-wood look without frequent replacement cycles.

How should I maintain my Ipe decking?

Clean with mild soap and water as needed. To maintain the original color, apply a UV-blocking oil periodically. Avoid harsh chemicals or high-pressure washing that can damage wood fibers.

Can I install Ipe decking myself?

DIY installation is possible, but Ipe’s density calls for specialized tools and proper fastening, spacing, and ventilation. Many homeowners hire professionals to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Ipe Decking Experts | Durable, Sustainable, Beautiful

The Engineering Behind Ipe Decking’s Longevity

Ipe decking, also known as Brazilian Walnut, is engineered by nature to outperform every other decking material. With unmatched density, natural resilience, and a service life of up to 75 years, it’s the global standard for hardwood performance.

Unmatched Strength and Stability

Ipe’s hardness is legendary — scoring 3,680 lbf on the Janka scale, nearly three times that of White Oak. This extreme density gives it a concrete-like feel underfoot while virtually eliminating surface movement. Unlike composites or pressure-treated pine, Ipe expands and contracts very little with seasonal temperature swings, ensuring boards stay smooth, secure, and barefoot-friendly.

Learn more about structural ratings and fastening best practices in the Ipe Certified Course or explore deck-specific guidance in our Installation Guides.
Built for Decades of Weather and Wear

Ipe’s cellular structure evolved to survive 100–400 inches of annual rainfall in its native forests. That same structure makes it naturally resistant to water penetration, mold, and decay — with a lifespan of 40–75 years depending on climate and maintenance. Even in coastal or high-UV regions, it retains integrity and grip where plastics soften and treated lumber deteriorate.

Watch the Scoring Hardwoods Performance Video to see how Ipe ranks for strength, stability, and long-term performance compared to other hardwood species.
Fire and Insect Resistance

Ipe is one of the only decking materials to earn a Class A fire rating, equal to steel and concrete. Its dense grain also makes it naturally impervious to termites and borers, without chemical treatment. This safety and resilience are why Ipe is specified for major commercial builds like the Atlantic City Boardwalk and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Ipe decking materials supplied by Brazilian Wood Depot provide a rich, durable, and slip-resistant surface perfect for poolside deck designs.
Sustainability and Stewardship

Responsibly harvested Ipe helps protect tropical forests by giving natural woodlands lasting economic value. Selective harvesting encourages replanting and discourages clear-cutting for agriculture or cattle. When sourced through responsible forestry programs, Ipe becomes part of a renewable, low-carbon industry that sustains both ecosystems and local communities.

Learn more about how Ipe harvesting supports rainforest conservation and responsible forestry in our What Is Ipe Wood and Is It Sustainable? article.
The Long-Term Value Advantage

While Ipe’s initial cost is comparable to mid-grade composites, it’s far cheaper over time. One Ipe deck can outlast five pressure-treated replacements or three composite installs. Minimal maintenance, zero fading, and proven structural integrity make it the most cost-effective decking investment available.

Real Ipe Decking Projects & Customer Photo Gallery

Explore real Ipe decking projects from homeowners, builders, and designers nationwide. Every installation highlights Ipe’s natural color variation, unmatched strength, and timeless appeal. Scroll through our gallery to see how this Brazilian hardwood transforms outdoor spaces in every climate—from coastal decks to mountain retreats.

For more examples of current projects, visit our Decking Gallery or browse Recent Orders to view photos and delivery details from customers across the country.

How Ipe Decking Weathers Over Time

Ipe decking weathers beautifully, transitioning from warm, rich browns to an elegant silver-gray patina when left unoiled. Like all natural hardwoods, sunlight, rain, and time gently fade the surface color—but never the integrity or strength. If you prefer the original tone, simply reapply a coat of oil to restore its deep natural luster.

To demonstrate the process, we ran a 12-week sunlight exposure test on Ipe boards placed outdoors—exposed to full sun, rain, and wind just like a real deck. Every board received one coat of Messmer’s UV Plus (Natural), and after 12 weeks we reapplied oil to half of each board to show the dramatic before-and-after restoration.

Watch the test unfold in our Hardwood Weathering Video and review proper maintenance steps in the Messmer’s Certified Cleaning & Oiling Guide. Explore more real-world aging examples in our Customer Project Gallery .

Read Full Video Transcript

all right a lot of folks are interested

to know what happens to Brazilian

hardwoods after they’ve been exposed to

some sunlight what typically happens is

if you don’t put oil on them the boards

will turn gray if you do put oil on them

it will preserve the color of the wood

for a longer period of time now above me

on the roof here I’ve got each species

that Brazilian heart of wood depo

carries and it’s been exposed to

sunlight for now 12 weeks I originally

did put oil on these boards and I’ll

show some pictures of what they looked

like before I put them up there right

when they had oil I’ll show them at six

weeks nine weeks and now we’re gonna

look at them at 12 weeks what I’m gonna

do is I’m gonna take them down have a

look and then we’re gonna put oil on

half of these boards and put them up

there for another 12 weeks and see how

they do so let’s check it out all right

here are some images I took throughout

the process this is what the boards

looked like right when they went up with

one coat of Mesmer’s UV oil a lot of

color there here’s three weeks later and

then six weeks and nine weeks in and now

we’re about to see what 12 weeks of sun

exposure looks like alright so I have

the boards down here I took them off the

roof and remember I said they were up

there for 12 weeks and when I first put

them up there

I put a thin layer of Mesmer’s UV

natural on all of them on the whole

board and as you can see and I’ll go

through what each one of these

individually but as you can see they’ve

grayed out substantially now on a

rooftop

they are certainly exposed to

substantially more sunlight than they

would be on a typical deck typical decks

have at least some Sun Sun Shade from

either the house or from other trees

surrounding these are on the roof so

it’s substantially more sunlight I

wanted to hasten up the process so I can

show everyone what happens when they are

exposed to sunlight even with the oil

because remember had I not put the oil

on this would have happened a lot more

quickly what I’m going to do after all

this is I’m going to put oil on half of

these boards but not the other half and

I’m gonna stick them back up there and

we’ll have another video and then

another 12 weeks to see what happened to

the side that wasn’t oiled so let’s

start over here at ghurabaa all right so

here’s our APPA board drop as you may

know is the blond of the six species

that we carry here at Brazilian wood

depot it started off a nice golden

golden blonde color

I’ll stick up an image there of what it

looked like when we just put it down

over time and of course greyed out to

this really nice consistent kind of

silvery color if you look at the bottom

of this board you can see it still has a

lot of that blond color left there was

of course some sunlight sunlight

bouncing off of the roof because it’s a

white roof but look at that

even with Mesmer’s and all of that

sunlight exposure it still bleached out

a little bit

this board is thirsty and it’s certainly

ready for some more oil now here’s of

course Tiger wood Tiger Woods lost all

of that nice orange I’m getting some

dust here from the trash can Tiger Wood

had this really nice orange e red kind

of hue kind of amber looking behind

these tiger stripes now the tiger

stripes are still visible the background

boards of course became whiter and so

more silver if you turn it over there’s

our Tiger wood color this is almost

exactly what it looked like when we

first put the boards down with their oil

of course the bottom side we didn’t put

oil on but there you go

there is a really good example of what

what Tiger wood might look like in the

heavy sun exposure after about four

months three or four months with one

coat oil this is certainly ready for a

new coat here is purple heart purple

heart is nice and smooth very smooth

texture you can see some of this SAP is

starting to have has already surfaced

and it’s now flaking away if I take my

fingernail and just kind of go over it

lightly it all kind of flake something

flakes right off we’ve lost all that

original purple color put up the image

there so you can see compare it to what

it looked like when it first went down

still has substantial purple coloring on

the back of course this is where the the

board’s laid right on top of this pallet

here

so that’s nothing to worry about but

look at that purple all of the purple is

gone and it looks almost the same as as

if a would a little bit lighter I’m

certainly similar to the master and do

but we’re about to look at but still has

that really nice grain pattern well you

won’t really find this nice pretty grain

pattern anywhere else on any of the

other species because it’s created by a

little bit of a different process but

look at that just amazing and they’ll

really stay there like that I know like

I said over time this SAP will continue

to flake away but you can’t feel it you

can’t feel it at all all right we’re

gonna have to stop this for a second

while this train blasts its horn through

here

[Music]

alright the train is past and I’ve

shifted the camera over a little bit so

we can focus on these three boards the

first one here I’m going to start with

this maserin dooba you’ll remember this

started as a really really pretty brick

color very consistent very tight grain

still incredibly smooth but certainly

has weathered out very nicely not so

much silver like the Kaurava has over

here but submit’ substantially faded you

can tell this is definitely ready for

some oil but it’s still looking really

really nice flip that over there’s some

of the brick of course there’s some

moisture because these are sitting flat

on this pallet like it and it wouldn’t

be that way in a standard insulation you

can also see because these nails aren’t

stainless screws stainless steel screws

rather that they have oxidized on the

board a little bit which is why you

should always stainless steel screws of

course and that really wasn’t the

purpose of this demonstration so we

won’t worry about that this master

Anubha looks beautiful and it’s gonna

look great when I put some more oil on

this moving down here this is cumaru a

really good visual they’re really pretty

it used to start it used to be a little

bit more red just like moss or Anubha

was but now all the red is gone it’s

kind of an medium IPE brown very smooth

to the touch

it really really pretty board I think

it’s gonna look really good when we put

some more oil on this there’s the

original color there because I haven’t

gotten me some light exposure

so this cumaru has held up extremely

well we’re really happy with this

getting a little dirt on my hands

because it’s dirty up there but there’s

not a lot of trees

you know directly over the roof so it

really hasn’t gotten too dirty

and finally EPA probably what most folks

are wondering about this the the surface

of this EPA is incredibly smooth

probably more smooth than while purple

hearts really smooth kauravas not as

smooth Tiger was not a smooth purple

heart and –pay are the smoothest after

sunlight exposure again the oil probably

helped a little bit keep it let it

allowed it to keep it from drying out

easy for me to say but a lot of those

Browns are gone I’ll stick up an image

there so you can see what it looked like

when it first put in but that’s really

nice looking board and it feels just

great here’s the original color that’s a

really good example nice cathedral

arches no block striping and this one

sometimes you’ll see that but it’s just

really really pretty pretty board ready

for some more oil and I think it’s going

to look great once we get the oil back

on it like I said before I’m gonna do

half these boards with oil I’m gonna

leave the other half so they continue to

gray out so that over time we can see

what happens with the one thin coat but

remember these boards are exposed to a

lot a lot of sunlight up there and and

they’re meant to be typically decks

won’t have that much sunlight but this

gives you a good idea of you know the

changes that it’ll go through over time

so let’s slap some oil on these and

we’ll bring the camera back out and see

how they look

so you can see all I’m using here is a

piece of an old cotton t-shirt if you

are looking for tips and advice on how

to maintain your eBay cumaru or other

Brazilian hardwood deck visit the video

that I’ll put in the description

it’s called ebay deck maintenance that

is about 15 minutes long and it goes

through different stages a deck might be

in so that you can clean and oil it

effectively one of the effective ways is

like I’m doing here just an old cotton

t-shirt of course it’s more time

consuming if it’s a really large deck so

if it is a larger deck I’d recommend

using something like a deck pad or

there’s a product on Amazon called deck

boss it’s basically an oversized

paintbrush head and I’ve heard that that

helps folks get between the boards I

haven’t used that product myself but

from the looks of it it looks like it’d

be a very effective tool what you don’t

want to use when you’re oiling your deck

is a roller it just puts on too much all

right so I’ve read all six boards only

half like I said I’m going to leave

these half in the Sun continue to gray

out and see what happens over the next

12 weeks and we put another coat on here

just to track what that looks like but

as you can see we’ve brought back some

of the color for the ghurabaa again this

isn’t a stain it’s not a sealer it’s a

UV oil it protects from the sunlight so

it’s not meant to change the color

dramatically and just help saturate the

wood a little bit look how it brought

out the grain back in the tiger wood you

can see there’s more contrast on this

side then over here same thing with all

of them really purple hearts the same

deal here’s a cumaru it’s for a better

angle there

you can see it brought back some of the

grain pattern where it was a lot more

consistent here now you can see some of

that contrast again oh I’m sorry that

was maserin dooba

here’s your cumaru and you can tell by

the little striations in the grain

pattern it looks really nice I mean that

that this coloring really looks similar

to what it looked like before you see

that that oil really brings it back and

here’s your eBay

again just bring in the contrast back

we’ve got another train coming I

apologize but bringing the contrast back

some kind of what it looked like before

very similar just reapplying the oil

does that and you saw how quickly and

easy easy it was I use the cotton

t-shirt I could have used the paintbrush

but I think the cotton t-shirts easier

so there you have it

sunlight grays outboards the UV oil

helps to prevent that from happening or

certainly slow that down since these

were new boards they were ready after

about four three or four months for some

more oil typically decks are not getting

that much sunlight so we the rule of

thumb is really around six months

they’re usually thirsty for some more

oil in this case it’s going to be a

little bit more frequent because they

are like I said on the rooftop but I’ll

throw these back on the roof and we will

come examine them again and another

twelve twelve twelve weeks and see how

they look Brazilian wood Depot is the

Southeast’s premier importer of

Brazilian hardwoods for decking siding

and flooring for more information go to

www.fema.gov

Fresh Deck Boards

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Deck boards with fresh coat of Messmers UV Plus Natural

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

3 Weeks Exposure

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Three weeks of full sunlight and weather exposure.

6 Weeks Exposure

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Deck boards with six full weeks of sunlight and weather exposure.

Six weeks of full sunlight and weather exposure.

9 Weeks Exposure

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Deck boards with nine full weeks of sunlight and weather 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

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Ipe decking boards after twelve weeks of weathering and fresh re-oiling, showing restored rich brown color and contrast with weathered half.

At 12 weeks, the boards are uniform grey. The oiled top half shows the contrast between faded and freshly reoiled wood.

Ipe Decking Maintenance & Care Requirements

Ipe decking requires surprisingly little maintenance to stay beautiful for decades. When left to weather naturally, Ipe develops a smooth, silvery patina that many homeowners love. If you prefer to preserve its original rich brown color, a simple annual cleaning and light re-oiling will keep it looking freshly installed.

Routine care involves washing the surface with a mild wood cleaner to remove pollen and debris, then applying a light coat of UV oil to replenish sun protection. Because Ipe is so dense, oiling once or twice a year is typically enough—even in sunny or coastal climates.

Learn the full, step-by-step process in the Messmer’s Certified Cleaning & Oiling Guide or watch the Messmer’s Cleaning & Oil Video for a live demonstration of these products in action.

With proper care, your Ipe hardwood deck will continue to resist rot, decay, and wear—maintaining its luxurious color and smooth texture for generations.

Read Full Video Transcript

all right folks welcome back to

brazilian wood depot’s youtube channel

my name is sam and i go over everything

regarding brazilian hardwood

decking siding and flooring i’m really

excited to bring out this updated

video of ipe deck maintenance of course

it’s going to be relevant to all

brazilian hardwoods

you may remember about a year ago or so

i put out a ipe deck maintenance video

that video is still great but we’ve got

some new products mesmer’s changed their

product line a little bit we got rid of

the liquid cleaner

this is going to be the star of the show

today the part a and b powder

concentrate formula i’m going to go over

what it’s all about how to use it but

before we go any further

let’s roll the intro

[Music]

all right so like i said i’ve already

put out one epedec maintenance video and

that video is still good you can still

refer to that

but i’m going to kind of go over some of

the same things that i went over in that

video

but with a slight change one of the

products is no longer being made it may

come back to market at some point but

anyways we may not carry it because i

like this one so much better

so the way i’d like to get started is to

talk about

different deck conditions and go through

what process is

fairly standard for those deck

conditions so the first condition

is you just got a new deck i mean it was

just finished built and the contractor

left it doesn’t have any oil

so your question to me or a common

question from customers is

do i need to clean it before i oil it

that’s really going to be largely up to

discretion i mean if it’s dirty

if it’s got work boot footprints on it

all over the place

then yes i remem i recommend probably

cleaning it with some light detergent

something that you can find at home

depot i think there’s one called bare

all-purpose wood cleaner oh my gosh i’m

gonna have to stop this and we’ll be

right back

all right so uh yeah dirty footprints

stuff like that on a new

deck a brand new build um

you could probably use something a

simple wood detergent bare all-purpose

wood cleaner i’ll put an image over here

uh but i think it’s called all-purpose

wood and deck cleaner

that’s fine it’s a it’s a light

detergent you probably don’t even need

that

you can probably use a push broom um

your perhaps yours is on a pole mine

isn’t

you could use a push broom and some

water and just knock it off that’s

really it

let it dry then use the oil i’ve talked

about this before there’s some products

that you can use outside of this

particular one

but not many most of them would be the

incorrect product we think

mesmer’s uv plus is the best so if it’s

a brand new deck

just get the dirt off i mean you

probably don’t even need soap just go

straight

to the oil uv plus and make sure you

follow my guidelines that are on our

website

don’t put it on too thick follow the

temperature ranges that you should be

putting it on

and never leave a rag in an empty can it

will catch fire

all right the next deck condition i

guess we’ll say

i’m going to go over is the standard

dirty deck

so this deck might be two three four

five years old

and maybe it’s been cleaned a couple

times here and there but it’s a standard

dirty deck it’s got dirt in it but it’s

not been neglected for

let’s say 15 or 20 years but it’s dirty

it needs to be cleaned so

before i think i probably said to use

that mesmer’s liquid cleaner

i think it’s called liquid brightening

renewer anyways it’s a green liquid jug

they don’t have that anymore i heard

some speculation that maybe they stopped

making that at the beginning of covid

because of the run on sanitizer

hand sanitizer they needed the alcohol

for the formula i really am not sure

exactly maybe that’s it maybe not

but in any case as soon as they stopped

having that available

they had these available and i was a

little skeptical

because i know that granule granules are

a little bit harder to mix with water

sometimes it requires warm water to do

it but i gotta tell you

i’m super super thrilled about this

product yes it’s a part a

and then a part b to be used separately

in other words you’ll mix one with water

and then you’ll mix the other one with

water after you’re done with the first

one

this is a it’s got the white cap b it

has the black

cap i am very very pleased about that

and i’m excited to show you

what i did to the table that i’m

standing next to uh it was in

just horrendous condition it’s sitting

here next to our ramp

getting all sorts of dirt on it because

it’s here at the shop

in our parking lot really and it gets

all sorts of dirt on it and my dad said

no you won’t be able to clean this and i

kind of took that as a challenge so i’m

really excited to show you that video in

a minute but again

standard dirty deck this is a fabulous

fabulous product we carry it i’m sure

you can get it some other places

but i believe each jar is supposed to do

600 square feet approximately

on its own but of course i really think

you should be using them together

i don’t want to go into too too great a

detail because the labels on these are

exactly correct i don’t think it really

requires a whole lot of

explanation but if you go to mesmer’s

website you can see the the directions

they have on the website

it’s pretty simple all right so i guess

the last condition

of a debt condition that i want to

briefly go over

would be what i call um

almost dilapidated that’s not the right

word um

seriously forgotten about for many many

years

and really i think that’s the condition

this thing was in i i really don’t see

any condition of a deck getting worse

than this

so again i mean it’s really the same

process i’m going to recommend doing the

a

and then going to the b the only

difference with a deck that’s

really really neglected that was the

word i was looking for neglected

um is perhaps you have a a palm sander

handy

maybe even a belt sander but i really

caution you against going too hard on

the belt sander

i really kind of caution against using

it really at all

but there might be a reason to be using

it but a palm sander with 60 or 80 grit

will help you get some of those areas

that the scrubbing just wasn’t quite as

effective at

i didn’t even do it on this deck because

i was on this

table rather i was so impressed about

how the

um part a and b did that i can see some

areas over there that you can’t see from

the camera

that if i think that if i took a 60 or

80 grit orbital sander

a little palm sander like a ryobi i

really think i could have knocked some

of that off

and made this just that much better but

again

i didn’t take the steps to do that in

any case

uh old old dilapidated neglected deck

part a just like the label says then

part b just like the label says

and then the oil basically just like the

label says

make sure again keep it really thin coat

and before you do the oil check and see

if there’s some spots you can take a

palm sander to

and see what results you get again

caution against the belt sander

yes you can use it but be careful don’t

go too hard on it i don’t want you to

have any like

indents in the deck because you just

went too crazy with the belt sander i

really think you should start with the

palm sander at 60 or 80 grit

and see where you’re at you’ll probably

be pretty happy with that after using

these two and the palm sander

and then go straight to the oil okay i

think i’ve gone over everything it’s a

much shorter video than last time

uh just because i think these two uh

with this one

one and two products go together so well

and they work so well there’s just not a

whole lot to say

so i’m gonna cut over to me cleaning

this and i’ll do some voice over with

that and kind of explain what i’m doing

uh and then i guess we’ll do the oil

intake of this table

so uh yeah here we go and just take a

second to look at the condition of this

i mean this

is this dirty as a deck gets you can’t

even really tell what species it is

uh turns out it is uh garappa of course

you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking

at it yet

and what i’ve got here is the part a of

the um

of the powders mixed in with some warm

water

and i’m just spraying it down just like

the label says get it nice and wet

leave it wet for a couple minutes

keeping it wet and then start scrubbing

so i’ve got this blue scrubber

i give this white one a shot here but no

that one doesn’t work

so back to the blue one i i think if

you’re on a deck that’s not this bad you

could probably use a push broom

uh with some stiff bristles and probably

get some pretty good results from it

uh this one uh obviously i can’t use a

push broom because i’m not really stan

can’t really stand on it but uh

get better leverage too with the with a

little scrubby

immediately you can start seeing that

this is really doing a good job of

lifting the dirt up

and then just rinse and repeat

try to keep it wet it’s a good thing to

do this a good time to do it is when the

sun’s

not all the way out maybe there’s some

overcast because it’s easier to keep the

deck wet

i mean if it’s a real hot day with

bright sun it’s going to keep drying it

up and then you have to use more of the

more of the formula but it’s a little

overcast right now so

and this is the hardest part just

scrubbing it the oiling is easy

the part b obviously is easier just

spraying something on but this is the

hardest part here and it’s really

not that hard so rinse again

directions say to rinse off

rinse off part a after you’re done

scrubbing

so i’ll do exactly that i’m just going

to rinse it off there

now for part b

mix that just like you did the first

time in the sprayer and look at that

immediately as the part b touches it it

starts brightening it up

by the time this is over it will be

really really nice looking

really impressed with the part b

and then i think you’re supposed to

rinse that off too which which i did

and as you can see this looks like a

whole new different table i’ve put the

original picture of it how before it uh

how it looked before i started cleaning

it in the corner there so you can see

the difference and it’s just amazing

i didn’t work on this very long in fact

it didn’t take me long at all

i could have done some sanding in some

areas like at the ends of these boards

for instance

so it’s not perfect but it is pretty

impressive

so in a minute here i’m going to oil

this

i just wanted you to take a look at it

before i put the oil on and really look

at the difference between what it looks

like now

and what it looked like before i cleaned

it

all right so once the decking boards

were completely dry and now it’s time

for the oil so as you see i’m just using

a cotton t-shirt rag

and mesmer’s uv plus natural which of

course is what we recommend um

i’m using a cotton t-shirt rag which

works fine uh perhaps it would have been

a little faster with a paintbrush i

think it probably would have but

i didn’t want to get a paintbrush dirty

and i’m not sure that i had one handy so

i just used this cotton t-shirt rag

another couple of good products that are

worth the investment i think if you have

a brazilian hardwood deck

is a a deck a deck boss which you can

find on amazon it’s a basically a

extra big paint brush head on the end of

a pole or a deck pad

i think the deck boss does a little

better getting into the cracks

either way it’s really really easy it’s

just wipe on

and again make sure you’re not putting

it on too heavy and follow those

instructions that are on our website

alright folks just finished with the

oiling and oh my god

am i impressed i really am i impressed

myself but

mainly i’m impressed with the mesmer’s a

and b cleaning product i knew the oil

was going to work well

but that cleaning product just really

blows me away so that’s it for this

video

thanks for watching stay tuned i have

more coming up i’m gonna grab the camera

and do one quick overview again

by no means is this perfect it wasn’t

meant to be perfect frankly

i can’t i can’t really believe it worked

this well um but yeah

let me pick up the camera and we’ll do

one more shot

[Music]

so

[Music]

you

Messmer’s-UV-Plus-Natural-for-Hardwood-decks

Option 1 — Let Ipe Weather Naturally

If you skip UV oiling, your deck will gradually fade into a soft, uniform silver-gray tone. This natural “greying” process does not affect structural integrity or water resistance—it’s purely aesthetic. You can restore Ipe’s original deep brown color at any time with a simple cleaning and re-oiling. See the full transformation in our Hardwood Weathering Video.

Option 2 — Maintain the Original Rich Color

To keep Ipe’s natural hue, use Messmer’s UV Plus Natural for Hardwood Decks—the trusted product we’ve recommended for over a decade. This oil contains transparent iron-oxide pigments that absorb UV radiation while allowing visible light to reveal the wood’s rich grain.

A single coat enhances color and protects against sun fading without altering texture or gloss. Most homeowners re-oil annually and deep-clean every 2–3 years. For more color-preservation tips, watch Ipe Deck Maintenance (Ipe, Cumaru, Massaranduba, Purpleheart, Tigerwood & Garapa).

Ready for a Full Guide?

Download the Full Cleaning & Oiling Instructions PDF for detailed care methods, or explore our Installation Guides for professional finishing advice.

Whether you let your deck weather naturally or maintain its original tone, Brazilian Wood Depot provides the products, guidance, and expertise to keep your Ipe performing beautifully for decades.

Ipe Decking Installation Guides

Our installation guides are built to be the most interactive, visual, and user-friendly hardwood decking instructions in the industry. Whether you prefer watching real installation videos, following step-by-step sequences, or learning through diagrams and written detail, our system is designed to help anyone install Ipe correctly and confidently—regardless of experience level.

Before exploring the full library, here’s a quick preview of the most important installation principles every builder should know:

Use stainless-steel hardware only to prevent staining and guarantee long-term structural hold.
Pre-drill and countersink every screw for a clean, flush finish.
Seal every cut end to prevent end-checking over time.
Maintain proper airflow beneath the deck to avoid cupping and moisture imbalance.
Follow spacing rules based on your specific fastening method.
Select the right fastening system for your board profile and project needs.

Explore our complete set of installation guides:

Surface-Mount Screw Installation Guide
— stainless fasteners, drilling, countersinking, spacing, and best practices.
BWD Clip Certified Guide
— hidden fastener spacing, adhesive rules, butt-joint clips, and installation sequence.
BWD Clip Installation Video
— real-time installation demonstration.
CAMO Edge Fastening Guide
— hidden fastening solution for ungrooved Ipe.
DeckMaster Undermount Installation Guide
— premium underside fastening for a screw-free deck surface.
Full Ipe Installation Guides Hub
— spacing charts, airflow instructions, troubleshooting, and every installation method in one place.

Go To Our Installation Hub: Every Interactive Installation Guide

Why Choose Ipe Decking Over Composite or Pressure-Treated Wood?

Ipe (say it like “EE-pay”) is one of the strongest and longest-lasting woods in the world. It’s the top choice for homeowners and builders who want beautiful, tough decking that stands the test of time.

Ipe 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.

Ipe 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 Ipe decking, the benefits it provides and other useful information to help get you started.

Super Durable – Ipe is one of the hardest woods on Earth. It can last 40+ years without needing replacement.
Natural Protection – Ipe wood resists bugs, mold, rot, fire, and decay—without chemicals.
Slip-Resistant Surface – Its tight, smooth grain gives you a safer surface for walking, even when wet.

Ipe Decking V.S. Other Decking

	RealIpe	CCA-Treated Pine	Composite Decking
Type	Hardwood	Softwood	Plastic
Maintenance	Low	High	Low
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
Weight per Cu Ft.	69 lbs.	35 lbs.	60-64 lbs.
Bending Strength	25,400 psi	9,900-14,500 psi	1,423-4,500 psi
Shear Strength	2,060	1,370	561-1,010
Hardness	3,680	690	940-1,390

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

Ipe Decking vs Composite and Plastic Alternatives

Ipe is one of the hardest and most durable woods in the world, boasting a Janka hardness rating of 3,680. It easily withstands the most extreme elements, heavy foot traffic, and commercial wear without losing strength or beauty. Simply put, no other decking material compares to Ipe’s performance, longevity, or natural appearance.

Plastic and composite decking alternatives—such as Trex and other synthetic boards—attempt to mimic wood but fall short in strength, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility.

→ Learn more about Ipe’s unmatched physical properties in the Ipe Certified Course.

→ Take a look a comprehensive comparison of Ipe to Composites AND the other Hardwoods on the The Ultimate Ipe Decking Comparison Guide.

To start with the obvious…

Composite and plastic decking offer no natural features or authentic grain. Boards are manufactured in uniform grey, beige, or muted tones with identical printed patterns. In contrast, Ipe and other Brazilian hardwoods showcase rich color variation and unique grain in every board, creating natural depth and warmth that no synthetic can duplicate.
→ See examples in our Decking Gallery.

Color & Repairability

When a composite or plastic board becomes scratched, stained, or cracked, it cannot be repaired or color-matched. Replacement boards stand out immediately because older ones fade unevenly under UV exposure. Composites also cannot be sanded or pressure washed, so damage is permanent.

Ipe hardwood decking, on the other hand, can be easily repaired, sanded, and refinished. Its natural color variation helps replacement boards blend seamlessly, and a light sanding followed by reapplication of UV oil restores a deck to its original beauty.
→ Follow the proper restoration process with our Messmer’s Certified Cleaning & Oiling Guide.

Heat Dispersion & Fire Resistance

Ipe decking stays cooler underfoot than plastic or composite boards, even in direct sun. Its dense grain structure dissipates heat naturally, preventing the scorching surface temperatures common to plastics.
Ipe is also naturally fire-resistant, carrying a Class A fire rating comparable to concrete, making it one of the safest materials for residential and commercial decks alike.

Sagging, Drooping & Structural Stability

One of the most significant issues with composite and plastic decking is sagging between joists over time. The synthetic resins and fibers inside these boards lose rigidity with UV exposure and temperature changes, causing drooping and surface unevenness.
Ipe decking is 100% natural—it contains no synthetic chemicals to break down. Its incredible dimensional stability means boards remain flat and straight for decades. Properly installed Ipe outlasts composite decking 10 to 1 in lifespan and structural integrity.
→ Review correct substructure spacing in our Installation Guides.

Environmental Responsibility

While often marketed as “eco-friendly,” composite decking combines wood fibers and recycled plastics into one non-recyclable material. Once produced, it cannot be separated or repurposed, filling landfills and waterways with microplastics that never decompose. Its manufacturing also requires petroleum and large amounts of freshwater, adding further strain to natural resources.

Ipe hardwood decking, however, is a sustainably sourced, renewable material. Each purchase supports responsibly managed forests, giving standing trees economic value and helping prevent deforestation.
→ Learn more about ethical sourcing on our Sustainability Page.

Custom Shipping Solutions + A Damage Free Guarantee

Your project schedule matters, and we make delivery simple. Most Ipe decking orders ship nationwide within about three business days, prepared by our expert in-house team in Atlanta, GA.

What sets Brazilian Wood Depot apart:

🚀 Unmatched Speed: Most orders leave our warehouse within three business days, keeping projects on schedule from the start.
📦 Exclusive Custom Crating: Every order is fully enclosed in reinforced, custom-built crates — a protection standard no other supplier in the industry matches.
📡 Live GPS Tracking: Each shipment includes a 4G GPS tracker, allowing you to monitor your order in real time from departure to delivery.
💯 Proven Damage-Free Record: With zero material damage in over three years, our shipping process leads the industry in reliability and care.

Explore our Shipping Page for a full overview, watch our Shipping & Crating Video to see the process step-by-step, and view Recent Orders for real examples of our transparency in action.

Read Full Video Transcript

okay welcome back to brazilian wood

depot’s youtube channel today i’m going

to tell you why brazilian wood depot is

the best at shipping lumber in the

industry we’re going to watch excuse me

we’re going to watch uh romer and with a

little help from william put together

one of our solid crates from beginning

to end we’re the only ones as far as i

know in the industry that do this

and it really goes a long way to

protecting the lumber from getting

damaged and shipping and this is

specifically for my ltl customers which

are most often out of state

sometimes we use flatbeds for regional

deliveries but most of my customers in

the northeast or out west

in the midwest or the west coast we’ll

be using the ltl carriers it’s the most

common way we ship lumber

and we have a very specific process

about how we create it

and i’m going to show you that process

right now

[Music]

okay thanks again for watching our

youtube channel this um

episode this video is all about shipping

and how we use the ltl carrier system uh

more importantly how we

bundle and create our materials when

they’re going on that on the common

carriers

we are the only ones

in this industry that do it this way to

my knowledge other

competing distributors

put it on a pallet and then

i think they put plastic over it which

the carriers in these terminals

aren’t very careful with their forklifts

in fact they’re not careful at all so we

go through a lot of

a lot of effort to make sure our boards

get to our customers in the same

condition they left our warehouse in

so of course we build the pallet pull

the lumber and now they’re putting the

first straps on it that’s roamer there

with the ear muffs and william helping

out there with the glasses

um we’re in georgia so

nearly all of our customers in the

northeast

the midwest the pacific coast will be

utilizing this carrier

ltl carrier service otherwise known as

common carriers

some of my customers in the north

carolina south carolina alabama

tennessee

we can use the

flatbed service for about the same price

maybe a little bit more

there are some benefits of using flatbed

services but it’s just not

it’s not cost effective to do that in

the uh

outside of the southeast

now what roamer is doing there is he’s

placing the gps device it’s a new

service we’re offering inside the crate

and a pre-labeled usps envelope

um

we’re right now we’re charging 125 bucks

for the service but we refund 100 when

the envelope gets back to us so it’s

only 25 bucks it gives both us and the

customers a lot of peace of mind

in some cases we

insist on it um in other cases it’s not

so it is important like north carolina

for instance

i really don’t need to keep gps on the

north carolina order but it can still be

helpful the carriers

are sometimes disorganized and we like

to know where our

nice big expensive crates are faster

than they sometimes are able to tell us

okay so we got the crate put together

the gps is inside

he’s putting sliders on the feet sliders

are very important

um

they they allow the crate not to the

feet not to roll over

and here is a surround view of that same

crate

now when customers are unloading these

um it’s generally one or two people on

the job site they climb into the back of

the truck with a crowbar and a hammer

and a knife and start breaking away this

crating

and sliding those boards out

individually now there’s we can make

other you know arrangements especially

if the customer has a skid steer or

forklift on site

those can be used also but in most cases

customers don’t have that stuff and it’s

real easy to unload

i included

this crate because it has step downs

it’s a little more common but it’s a

little more complicated to create

and i just wanted to make a nice easy

video showing

an easy crate but

it’s not unusual for a crate to look

like this would step down same process

same really everything

a whole lot more information about how

the shipping process works at bw

depot.com forward slash shipping

um again we’re real proud of the way we

crate and ship materials because nobody

doesn’t like us and nobody knows knows

how to do it as good as we do

so

we have heard horror stories of

uh competitors sending lumber and

you know the lumber shows up and it’s

just a mess so

don’t

buy lumber

that’s going on common carriers without

crating it’s very important thanks for

watching

“I previously purchased Cumaru from *competitor witheld*, and while the material quality was decent, the delivery was chaotic — boards arrived in random lengths and sizes, making it difficult to organize. The crating and shipping system you use at Brazilian Wood Depot looks vastly superior and well worth the modest fee. I’ll definitely consider buying from you in the future. Your informative videos are a must-watch for installers and a wonderful service provided free of charge. Thank you!”

Youtube User @victoryak86A recent YouTube viewer shared their experience after ordering Brazilian hardwoods and watching our shipping video:

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Map showing Brazilian Wood Depot’s Ipe decking delivery times across the U.S.

Custom delivery trucks and flatbed trailers transporting Ipe decking.

Smartphone showing live GPS tracking for an Ipe decking shipment in transit.

Brazilian Wood Depot team member representing the company’s damage-free shipping record.

Customer receiving real photo updates of Ipe decking boards before shipment.

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Explore More Ipe Decking Resources

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BWD’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

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Read Full Video Transcript

the tightening um the tightening points

here F but it should be a minimum of 3/4

in so so the bottom expands out uh I

don’t want to go into too too great a

[Music]

detail all right welcome back to

Brazilian Wood Depot’s YouTube channel

my name is Sam and I’m going over a

chart that I put together and I think

it’s going to be really helpful for a

lot of people out there I spend a lot of

time talking about this topic and kind

of putting it into a visual resource I

think is going to be helpful but I want

to explain some things the chart that

we’re talking about I’m calling bw’s

guide to exterior hardwood applications

by species I know it’s a bit of a

mouthful but basically as as you

probably know we sell uh a handful seven

technically different hardwood species

uh for decking and sighting and exterior

applications well these seven different

species of Hardwoods have different

performance characteristics based on

different conditions so I’ve basically

made a a visual chart and scored the

different species based on these

different conditions so I’m going to

shrink this video down so we can look at

this chart together and I’m going to go

through it from top to

bottom all right here’s our chart bwd

guide to exterior hardwood applications

by species first thing you’ll notice up

here is that we are breaking it down

into three categories application deck

fastening and sunlight exposure

applications are decking siding tongue

and groove ceiling which is very popular

Believe It or Not uh and porch tongue

and groove they’re slightly different

because they have different exposures um

and then deck fting surface screws

Groove for Clips camo Edge fasting and

sunlight exposure heavy moderate and

little to none so before we get into the

species cuz I’m going to go by each

species and then go across I want to

mention a couple things everything gets

a five because everything makes good

decking uh but that’s pretty broad

because the conditions are going to get

more specific uh like I said then we’re

going to get a fasten sunlight exposure

I could have just not had this but I

thought it was nice to have it so

everybody understands that they all make

good decking but then we’re going to go

more specifically into different

conditions um I guess that’s the only

thing I want to mention first let’s just

go ahead and start with eay then okay so

we already talked about decking get gets

a five rain screen siding gets a five

it’s very stable ceiling porch TNG

everything good there surface screws

five good why would eay get a four on

these and not a five what well if it’s

my opinion and it is my opinion that

surface screws is the best turn this

down if surface screws is the best way

to install it’s the most secure uh

mechanical

Fastener um available then the other two

have to be four so does eepe do great

with a Groove board and do well with

camo yes they should really technically

probably be able to get fives but um I

still think surface screws are better so

I get it a five and these are four um my

colleague thinks these should be five

and that’s fine it works well but

surface screws is always stronger uh

eBay does well and heavy moderate and

little to no sunlight exposure because

ePay is the most stable and you don’t

have any problems so that’s pretty easy

moving on to

kumaru we already talked about this

everything gets a five for decking rain

screen siding not as much because you

have to use use the clips and kumaru is

not as stable um ceiling don’t have much

sunlight exposure does well porch TNG

we’ve been doing porch TNG with kumaru

for a long time typically the 3 and 1

half inch tongue and groove we like that

that works great surface screws that’s

the way to go with kumaru for sure

because it’s not as stable uh Groove

boards with Clips if it was in moderate

sunlight exposure it’ be fine heavy

sunlight exposure not so great so it

gets a three which is kind of like my

neutral number uh one is like I really

don’t recommend it five is I highly

recommend it and three is like neutral

eh hit or miss so for Groove boards it

gets a three again it would do fine if

the sunlight exposure was minimal but uh

that’s why it gets that camo exposure or

camo Edge fastening rather also gets a

three again in heavy sunlight exposure

probably not great and minimal sunlight

exposure prob really just fine um so

that’s why it gets a three heavy

sunlight if it’s surface screwed it’s

fine if we want to use one of these

systems uh I don’t like it so much

that’s why it gets a three and in

moderate sunlight exposure you know it’s

better than heavy so four and then

little to none five because Kum does

well when it’s not being blistered with

sun that’s makes makes it want to act up

a little

bit okay moving on to

garpa decking we already talked about

that gets a five check that’s a weird

check let me start that over

here check uh r screen siding check

garpa is very stable like eBay it does

well in all of these conditions the only

reason it gets a four here is because I

don’t have a whole lot of experience

with using it as porch TNG uh it would

be a 5 in uh TNG for porch decking I I’m

sure we’ve done it but uh just because I

can’t really remember doing it too much

it’s just going to get a four I think it

would do fine it probably would earn a

five I just don’t have the data to

support it um surface screws like

everything that you’ll notice everything

gets five with surface screws so so does

garpa uh garpa does really well with

grooved boards for Clips it gets a four

I don’t really have any problems with it

also gets a four with camo um arguably

they could it could be getting a five

but I think four is fine um it does well

in all sunlight conditions so it gets a

five on all three so garpa and eepe if I

were to add them up probably would have

the highest scores uh garpa is

underappreciated and um very cost

effective so I always try to remind

people about

garpa all right moving on to Tiger Wood

take a sip of

water

okay decking gets a five we’ve already

talked about that rain siding I have a

lot of experience with it it gets a four

not quite as stable as epe so it’s going

to get a little ding there but still

gets a forward it’s pretty good uh

ceiling we’ve done a lot of ceilings

with Groove and they look awesome and uh

as you can see most of them most of

these get a five and ceiling because

ceiling doesn’t get much sunlight

exposure just by Nature so um tigerwood

also gets a five there porch TNG don’t

have a whole lot of experience with a 5

in tigerwood I mean I know we’ve done it

probably many times um I wouldn’t expect

there to be an issue and I’ve not heard

of any issues uh but since I don’t have

as much data on it as I do like the eBay

and kumaru I’m just going to get it a

little ding as a four because

I just don’t have as much data on it

surface screws like everything else five

Groove boards with Clips yeah if it’s if

it’s a moderate if it’s one of these

sunlight conditions then yes then maybe

it’s a four but if it’s this sunlight

condition then it’s probably a two so

overall tigerwood gets a three kind of

neutral on it depending on sunlight

exposure uh camo Edge fastening

yeah yeah not so much especially in

these two sunlight conditions heavy and

moderate it’s definitely a two in little

to none H it might even get a four in

little to none sunlight condition

um so all right let’s go to the

conditions himself the reason that it

gets a one in heavy sunlight condition

is because you start losing the black

veins that run through and that are so

characteristic for Tiger Wood if you’re

going to lose those in a matter of

months or a few years uh to an all gray

color then what’s the point of using

tigerwood in the first place not to

mention tigerwood is not one of those

that is very pretty when it turns gray

like for instance purple heart which is

why Purple Heart gets a five um so

overall heavy sunlight conditions I

always advise people against Tiger Wood

some people don’t listen to me and

presumably they’re happy with it but I

generally I don’t recommend it uh same

logic going into moderate moderates

better than heavy but still don’t

recommend it it does fabulous in little

to no sunlight conditions it holds its

color it keeps its black veins and uh it

works really well good moving on to Masa

which is short for Masa and Duba I just

didn’t want to type it all in um all

right decking five yeah we know that

rain screen siding five good yes I have

a lot plenty of experience and never

really any issues TNG ceiling everything

gets a five except for one of them so

yes Masa gets a five and I have

experience with it and it looks great uh

porch TNG don’t have much experience

with it for a porch TNG again like I

keep saying I’m sure we’ve done it many

times but I just don’t really have the

data in my

mind so anyways uh it it it could

probably earn a five but because the

data is not there to support it four

surface screws just like everything else

gets a five and it doesn’t really

typically have any problems with group

for Clips or camo Edge fastening

especially in moderate to little

sunlight exposure I would probably give

it a

three I’d probably give it a three under

heavy sunlight conditions for these two

methods of

fastening um actually I have a cool line

I can use for these two methods of

fastening

under this condition is probably a three

but those but these two method methods

of fastening in these two get a four and

a

five that may have been more confusing

than anything anyways uh heavy sunlight

condition master and Duba generally does

fine um and then of course in the other

two conditions master and Duba does fine

good moving along to the maybe the

Oddball of the group here in terms of

scoring of course five here wow are only

one there’s some reasons for that uh one

we’re assuming that rain screen sighing

is going to have a moderate to heavy

sunlight exposure typically these two

things typically go together um so

therefore and purple heart just very

similar to kumaru is just not that

stable um so therefore and not only that

it’s purple so most people don’t want

purple siding so all of that considered

it gets a one we really don’t do much

Purple Heart siding which I’m not

surprised about um we have done a little

bit of it but anyways it gets a one in

Rain screen

sighting uh ceiling TNG well it goes

from purple to Brown quickly in sunlight

but not in sunlight it takes a long time

which is why people typically don’t use

it on the ceiling they don’t want a

purple type wood ceiling so for that

reason it gets a one performance would

probably be fine but purple ceiling

that’s why it gets a one uh also purple

porch that gets a one not so much

performance probably but color surface

screws yes we definitely want surface

screws with purple heart because as you

can see I’m not thrilled on these

methods of fastening with purple heart

especially with these two sunlight

conditions so this one together is a

no but these two with this condition

probably gets more like

uh

four that make sense it gets a two in

these conditions but a four in little to

no sunlight anyways the reason it’s

going 5 4 1 here is because we want the

sunlight to help it turn brown because

most people don’t want it purple these

two conditions will allow it to turn

brown very quickly in a matter of weeks

maybe typically somewhere around 6 weeks

um maybe in moderate sunlight maybe it’d

be more like I don’t know eight or 10 so

that’s the deal with purple heart most

of these

scores most of these scores have to do

with the fact that in these conditions

they’re not turning brown they’re

staying purple let me do a better job in

these type of conditions especially this

one I’ll put a lot of circles here

especially that one it’s not turning

purple very quickly it’s going to take a

long time so therefore they get ones but

we love Purple Heart in heavy sunlight

conditions boat docks that kind of thing

purple heart’s great all right for the

last one the Southeast Asian hardwood

Brown

blow of course it gets a five in decking

rain screen sighting four only because I

don’t have a whole lot of data yet but

everything seems fine um but it would be

in the you know a four in like sorry in

these two sunlight condition is better

so anyways moving on uh ceiling we’ve

done lots of ceilings Fabulous Five

porch T we’ve done a lot of that five

surface screws like everything five

Groove for

Clips Brown bow seems to have a little

more expansion contraction especially in

the heavy sunlight exposure conditions

so for that reason um it gets a three

like a neutral on these two fating

methods as you can see and I’m just

realizing this now

they’re all pretty much they get the if

you get a lower score with grooves it’s

pretty

consistent tigerwood oh yeah that’s true

I would prefer Clips with tigerwood than

camo anyway I’m just pointing out that

these two pretty much are always the

same score across the board uh which I

hadn’t noticed before but it is true let

me clear this again all right so anyways

Brown bow uh group for clips and Camo

I’m neutral on it because again they it

would do really fine here maybe a four

or five in that that condition but uh

maybe a two or a three in this condition

so overall for these two fastening

methods um I’m just going to stay

neutral and say three really i’ I’d

prefer to see people using just face

screws on Brown bow um and then finally

sunlight conditions yeah heavy it t it

tends to check a little bit more than

other species all species check to some

degree Brown blow seems to do it a

little heavier so it’s going to get a

three and heavy um same reason moderate

it’s not it’s not going to experience as

much checking so it gets a four there

and it’s doing fabulously in these low

sunlight conditions like porch TNG and

ceiling and covered decks things like

that which I think that pretty much

covers it

um I hope this was helpful um hopefully

I didn’t miss anything but if you have

any questions give us a call like I said

I’m trying to keep this video short so

uh stay tuned I’ll have another video

coming up soon but I hope this helped

thanks a

lot I just wanted to add a final

disclaimer to this video and remind

anybody who’s watching that uh the

scores on this chart that I went over in

this video they’re my opinions my

opinions that I’ve developed over the

course of many years with lots of

customer feedback and my opinions might

be slightly different than somebody else

here um even within Brazilian Wood Depot

uh my colleagues would probably fill in

this chart slightly differently and

that’s totally fine that’s okay um I

also like to put out there that I’m very

conservative when it comes to this stuff

because customers tend to call me if

they have issues and not when

everything’s going great so these scores

are probably pretty aggressive in terms

of being very conservative I like things

to go down and everything to be happy

with everyone so my advice tends to be

pretty conservative but anyways hope you

enjoyed the video go out there and watch

some more and uh thanks for

watching for

Scoring Hardwoods by Exterior Conditions

Every Brazilian hardwood performs differently depending on climate and exposure. Watch our Scoring Hardwoods Performance Video and view the chart comparing durability, fastening, and sunlight resilience across species.

Exterior Hardwood performance application grade chart

10 Problems with IPE And How to Avoid Them

This is a blog article we wrote about common misconceptions and avoidable problems, with Ipe Decking. This is a great resource for first-timers and those with questions or concerns. You can find the full article at, https://www.bwdepot.com/10-ipe-problems/. Or use the navigation table below to skip directly to different sections of the article.

1. Ipe Is Too Hard

2. The Boards are Different Colors

3. Ipe and Acclimation

4. lpe Requires Too Much Maintenance

5. Damaged Board Replacement

6. Ipe Wood Can Cup

7. Drying and Checking

8. Ipe Is Too Expensive

9. Ipe Is Difficult To Find

10. Ipe Is Not Enviromentally Conscious

Outdoor deck built with Real Ipe hardwood decking materials supplied by Brazilian Wood Depot.

Ipe Deck Tiles

Ipe Tiles

Ideal for patios, rooftops, or balconies, Ipe Deck Tiles offer the same strength and beauty as traditional decking in an easy-to-install modular format. Perfect for DIY or professional use.

Ipe Lumber Profiles

View all available profiles and dimensions on our Profiles & Dimensions page — from 1×6 and 5/4×6 decking to custom porch and cladding boards.

Pair your Ipe decking with the most advanced framing system available. Heritage Deck Framing is engineered to outperform standard pressure-treated lumber and ensures full structural longevity.

Learn More Call For Pricing Email Us

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

Lucy’s Most Frequently Asked Questions About Ipe Decking

How do I clean and refinish my deck?

Ipe decking is best cleaned and restored using a two-part cleaning and brightening process, followed by a light coat of UV-protective oil. Depending on the deck’s age and level of buildup, a few minor extra steps may be needed — but the good news is that every Ipe deck can be brought back to near-original condition with minimal effort.

For full step-by-step guidance, visit our Messmer’s Certified Cleaning & Oiling Guide — an interactive multimedia resource that demonstrates each phase of the process. You can also watch the Messmer’s Cleaning & Oil Video for real-world examples and results.

Should I pressure wash my deck before finishing it?

NO. Pressure washing it can 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 to?

Brazilian Wood Depot ships nationwide — to all parts of the United States — from our centrally located headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Most orders leave our facility within three business days, with average delivery times ranging from 2 to 10 business days depending on destination and shipping method.

Learn more about our process on the Shipping Page, and see how we crate, protect, and deliver every order with unmatched care in our Shipping & Crating Video.

What is BWD’s return policy?

Please see our Purchase Policy for detailed information.

How does the cost of Composite Decking compare to Hardwood Decking?

The range of composite decking prices covers about the same range of the different hardwood decking options. Taking into consideration the long life, durability, beauty, and stability of hardwood decking compared to composite: hardwood decking costs less over the lifetime. Visit our comparison page for more information.

How long does Ipe Decking Last?

Ipe Decking is one of the longest lasting natural building materials! Depending on the installation conditions, expect Ipe to last for 40-75 years without any meaningful structural degradation!

Does Ipe decking turn grey over time?

Yes, Ipe decking naturally weathers to a silvery gray if left unoiled. Some homeowners love this look, as it creates a timeless, coastal “Cape Cod” appearance. If you prefer to maintain Ipe’s rich brown tones, occasional cleaning and light oiling will preserve its original color.

To see how this process looks in real time, watch our Ipe Decking Weathering Video — it shows the natural progression from freshly oiled boards to beautifully aged silver patina.

What type of framing should I use with Ipe decking?

For best long-term performance, pair your Ipe decking with Heritage Deck Framing. Heritage is engineered to outlast standard builder-grade pressure-treated joists and contains 150% more preservative than typical box-store or lumberyard framing materials. This enhanced protection allows your substructure to last as long as your Ipe or other premium hardwood decking — ensuring strength, stability, and peace of mind for decades.

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

Lucy, the Brazilian Wood Depot dog mascot wearing a Go Natural shirt.

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.

Ipe Decking Guide: Installation, Weathering, Maintenance, and More

What Is Ipe Decking?

The Engineering Behind Ipe Decking’s Longevity

Unmatched Strength and Stability

Built for Decades of Weather and Wear

Fire and Insect Resistance

Sustainability and Stewardship

The Long-Term Value Advantage

Real Ipe Decking Projects & Customer Photo Gallery

Hope Street, Atlanta GA – Ipe Siding, Deck Tiles, Decking and Fencing

Boat Dock and Deck on Lake Burton, GA

More Ipe Photos

How Ipe Decking Weathers Over Time

Transcript

Fresh Deck Boards

3 Weeks Exposure

6 Weeks Exposure

9 Weeks Exposure

12 Weeks Exposure & ReOiled

Ipe Decking Maintenance & Care Requirements

Transcript

Option 1 — Let Ipe Weather Naturally

Option 2 — Maintain the Original Rich Color

Ready for a Full Guide?

Ipe Decking Installation Guides

Why Choose Ipe Decking Over Composite or Pressure-Treated Wood?

Ipe Decking V.S. Other Decking

Ipe Decking vs Composite and Plastic Alternatives

To start with the obvious…

Color & Repairability

Heat Dispersion & Fire Resistance

Sagging, Drooping & Structural Stability

Environmental Responsibility

Custom Shipping Solutions + A Damage Free Guarantee

Transcript

Let’s Get A Quote Started For You- Today!

Explore More Ipe Decking Resources

BWD’s Hardwood Decking Wizard

Open BWD’s Hardwood Decking Wizard!

Get Started on IPEcertified!

Get Ipe Certified™

Transcript

Scoring Hardwoods by Exterior Conditions

10 Problems with IPE And How to Avoid Them

Ipe Deck Tiles

Ipe Lumber Profiles

Architect and Design Resources

Lucy’s Most Frequently Asked Questions About Ipe Decking

Interactive Multimedia Resources

Contact Us

Quick Links

Why Brazilian Wood Depot?