In the flooring industry, no other wood beats Brazilian walnut flooring in terms of outright hardness. With an unmatched 3680 Janka rating, Brazilian walnut, or Ipé, excels in durability. Decking is a good use to put it to, as pressure washing can bring back the full, dark coloring of Ipé from graying. Unfortunately for woodworkers, this hardness also impedes the ability of this wood to be worked. It has a resistance to shaping and tends to dull blades quickly.
South American Ipé is particularly resistant to both fire and insects. Grade A – the fire-resistance grade assigned to cement – also applies to Ipé. Even in the natural form, a towering 140 foot tall, 6 foot wide tree, Tabebuia Serratifolia shows moderate aversion to flame.
The dark brown, chocolate coloring of this specie seems to entice people towards it, eliciting a positive response in any atmosphere. Like most hardwoods, Ipé darkens over time. It should be noted that decking is the popular choice for this wood because of its hardness. Finishing can be difficult due to the density, and outdoor use eliminates the need to apply extensive coating. The weathering process of outdoors negates quickly any finishing applied, especially in damp or wet regions. If indoor flooring is the intended use, it is recommended to compare pre-finished Brazilian Walnut with the added trouble of finishing at home. The overall durability, however, supercedes many finishes.
Engineered hardwood flooring may be preferred over solids for the simple reason of workability. Ipe is notorious for being difficult to nail. Most professionals recommend pre-drilling holes for the nailing process: yes, this wood is that hard.
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