Brazillian Hardwood Decking?

[wizer]

ok the missus has seen a gardening program where they have used Brazilian Hardwood for their decking. She says they called it 'ekay' ? But I can't find any wood called that. Sounds like she is saying it phoenetically 'eee kaay'

I did find a brazillian wood called IPE here: http://www.wzinternational.com/species.htm

Not sure if this is the right stuff.. Could anyone put me on the right track?

 

[Chris Knight]

IPE it is (I believe) . IPE is used for decking.

 

[wizer]

thanks, seems like it would be what she is referring to.

Have to get some quotes now :shock:

 

[Adam]

Ipe is prounced "Ee-pay"

A few other pointers before you start a search....

"Ipe is an old growth tropical wood, the logging of which is driving
heavy and ultimately biologically catastrophic logging in the Amazon
rainforests. The vast majority of the ipe logged in Brazil is being
logged illegally as well as unsustainably."

"Ipe, another illegally logged wood, is used for boardwalks, marinas and other waterfront construction"

"It is more difficult to deal with than normal wood due to its hardness."

Heres hoping you will be looking for a supplier who has a sustainable policy.

Adam

 

[wizer]

well thats bad news. :/

anyone recomend a similar sustainable/legal hardwood alternative?

 

[Adam]

I think you can get it from a supplier who buys from loggers who have a sustainable policy - but just you need to check. Also, I'm tended to believe a bit of money changes hands somewhere, and illegally logged timber suddenly becomes legit.

Adam

 

[dedee]

Wizer,

why not give http://www.morgantimber.co.uk/ (Rochester) a ring and see what they recommend?

Andy

 

[kityuser]

however if you order anything from morgans make sure that you phone the order though as you can`t just walk in a buy larger amounts of wood (small stuff is generally ok).

learnt this after sourcing a lorry, going there then being turned away because the "saturday staff" can`t handle customer purchases.
(could`nt be arsed more like) however once ordered (and delivered) they returned a quite unbeatable service and supplied some marvelous wood.

steve

 

[dedee]

Wizer,

I just came accros English Oak Direct while browsing - not too far from me so must try and pay them a visit some time. If locally grown and thereby sustainable? English hardwood meets the missus' needs then they may be worth a call.

http://www.highweald.org/about/products ... iteID=2049


Andy

 

[tim]

I shall come out in defence of Ipe. We have two Ipe decks which are great. Some pics are at the thread below:

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3169&highlight=deck

The wood is heavy and dense but is sensationally beautiful and never needs treating and is almost completely fireproof. That said if you can't get it sustainably then you may want to think of other timbers.

I was lucky in that a pal of mine runs a decking company and I bought the timber of him wholesale. I also know that this is from a sustainable source.

I was looking for a small amount not so long ago to make up some outdoor furniture and found that Travis Perkins can get it (as decking). I didn't ask the question because the price sacred me but I imagine that they will be able to tell you the source (or at worst the UK supplier) to check if you wish.

It is hard to work with and is a 'blade eater' but I think that the end results are worthwhile.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

I built my last deck out of red cedar. It's lightweight, very easy to work and has a natural resistance to rot. After 9 years it's still immaculate, only requiring a wash down each spring and reapplication of a water-repellant (I use Thomson's). Best of all, it came from a farmed resource in Canada. Of course I only used the cedar on the bits you can see (it's not exactly the cheapest wood). The unseen bits were all your normal pressure treated stuff, with an additional application of fungicide before covering them up. Actually, the most expensive bit was all those stainless steel decking screws...

 

[jasonB]

dedee

If you are going down to Hever than pop into Scott's as well, they are just by the castle. I get my green oak from them and their 22mm floorboards with the T&G ripped off are a lot more economic than buying sawn boards and planing them up.

http://www.scottimber.co.uk/

Jason

 

[wizer]

dedee thanks for both suggestions, both places are nearish to me. I had planned to go out over the easter break and measure up.

I will have a look at cedar too. I'd love to have hardwood decking instead of that awful stuff that is the 'norm' at the moment. But then as with anything money is limited, I have a budet it mind but must admit I just plucked a figure out of the air.

Once I know the measurements then I can ring around and get an idea of how much it will all cost. I have some decking books, but as I'm typing... Can someone tell me how I work out how much wood I need?

 

[jasonB]

Divide the area in square meters by the width of the boards, this will give you the total length required, add a bit for waste. A lot of the imported decking is only 2.40m long, I found this out when doing a deck that was 2.90m wide, eventually went to Merton timber who had mahuhu(I think) in 4.20m lengths which meant 1 joint every three boards.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v156/jaso ... pic021.jpg

Jason

 

[wizer]

tim your deck looks excellent, just what we are after!

 

[wizer]

Divide the area in square meters by the width of the boards, this will give you the total length required, add a bit for waste. A lot of the imported decking is only 2.40m long, I found this out when doing a deck that was 2.90m wide, eventually went to Merton timber who had mahuhu(I think) in 4.20m lengths which meant 1 joint every three boards.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v156/jaso ... pic021.jpg

Jason

cheers Jason, i'll sit down over the w/e and work it all out

 

[wizer]

ok I feel a bit embarassed, my maths is terrible, could someone give me a hand with this?

I sm looking at smooth IPE. I dont understand the differences between the smooth boards? If it is just consmetic then I guess the widest.

Ipe machined decking
http://www.ajsmith.clara.net/deckinghardframes.htm