IPE Hardwood
Scientific Name: Tabebuia spp.
Other Names and Species: Amapa, Cortez, Guayacan Polvillo, Flor
Amarillo, Greenhart, Brazilian Walnut Negro, Madera Negra, Tahuari
Origin: Brazil and throughout continental tropical America as well as in parts of the Lesser Antilles.
Appearance: The heartwood of ipe ranges from olive brown to blackish, though it can have lighter or darker striping that is sharply demarcated from the whitish or yellowish sapwood. Ipe is a low-luster wood with an oily appearance, a fine-to-medium texture, and a grain that ranges from straight to very irregular.
Properties: Along with its extreme hardness, strength, weight, density, and durability, ipe is also one of the most stable woods available. However, it is important to "over-dry" the wood in a kiln to avoid excessive shrinkage when installing.
Janka Hardness: 3684
As a flooring option, ipe is an incredibly hard and durable wood
species. It is over ninety-one percent harder than merbau, is roughly
one hundred and twenty-six percent harder than wenge, and over two
thirds harder than santos mahogany's ranking of 2200.
Workability: Ipe is moderately difficult to work, given its hardness,
especially with hand tools, and it has a blunting effect on most cutting
edges. Pre-drilling is required when nailing the wood.
Principal Uses: Ipe is ideal for wood flooring where durability and high shock resistance are needed, such as in industrial environments. It is also used in railroad crossties, heavy construction, tool handles, and decorative veneers.
About our Hardwood Floors - Designed For You
Our products are designed and manufactured in California for the Southwestern USA market, which has specific requirements with regard to the moisture content of the floor when compared to other countries. This is due to the drier climate of California and most areas in the Southwestern, USA that creates very distinct seasons with low average levels of humidity. This differs from many of the products sold within the Southwest, which are made to more a general specification for moist climates within the global market and cannot perform well in most drier Southwestern conditions.