Ipe, also Known as Pau Lope ,Pau D'Arco, Yellow Poui, or Bethabara, is a very dense, resilient wood from continental tropical America/Brazil. It has a high specific gravity and is so dense that it doesn't float!Ipe has a Janka hardness rating of 3640 making ipe almost 3 times harder than northern Red Oak.It is extremly durable.Applying a hardwood oil really brings out the beauty of the wood. Can be used in or outdoors and if left natural will age to a beautiful silver patina.

This South American species is a very stable and durable timber. It dries extremely well with little checking, twisting, or bow. It is widely known for its strength and natural resistance to decay and it can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. Testing by the US Navy in a Panama Canal study from 1962 showed Ipe to be one of the top performers in resistance to decay, termites, and borers. Of those hardwoods tested it was one of the very few that is commercially available. Extensively used in commercial exterior construction such as boardwalks, piers, and benches, it has recently become the top choice for residential decks due to its low maintenance, attractive color, and very smooth surface and the fact that is lasts over 25 years! It is a heavy timber, approximately 64 lbs. per cubic foot when dry, normally sinks in water, and has a fire rating of Class A, (the same as concrete or steel).

Samples