Commercial Outdoor Furniture
Featured Article:
February 7th, 2012
Choose Ipe For Outdoor Furniture That Lasts
By Ronnie W Tanner
If you have never thought of outdoor furniture as an heirloom, think again. Ipe wood will change the way you view outdoor furniture forever. A tropical hardwood tree, Ipe is one of the densest woods known. In fact, it is so dense that it sinks in water. The density of the wood is what makes it ideal for use in outdoor furniture. It resists rot, insect damage and fire. It has a beautiful color and a fine to medium grain. These attributes make Ipe one of the most practical hardwoods to use for outdoor furniture. The choice to go with Ipe wood when investing in outdoor furniture means purchasing a product that is of such high quality it can truly be considered an heirloom to pass on to the next generation.
The one quality of Ipe wood that has kept it from widespread use until just recently is also what makes it such an excellent choice today. That is the density of the wood. Ipe is such a dense wood that in the past it has proven a very difficult medium with which to work. However , recent advances in manufacturing techniques have solved these issues, making Ipe the ideal wood to choose when you want the best in long-lasting outdoor furniture.
Many commercial builders have used it as decking for boardwalks, including the famous Atlantic City boardwalks.
Outdoor furniture constructed of Ipe is perfect for those who are looking for quality, durability and affordability. In addition, Ipe is available at a fraction of the cost of Teak. This hardwood is virtually indestructible. Its resistance to rot and insects makes Ipe outdoor furniture an excellent investment. It requires very little up keep and since it is so indestructible, not only can one expect to own it for a lifetime; it is truly something that can be passed down to the next generation.
With all of these excellent qualities, there is not much to say about the wood that is not favorable. It is harvested from managed forests, which allows the wood to be harvested with minimal impact on the surrounding environment. And, when dealing with reputable companies, consumers can feel assured that the wood that is harvested for construction of decking and outdoor furniture is done in an ecologically responsible way. That is not a claim that can readily be made with teak and other exotic hardwoods on the market today.
Another redeeming quality of this type of hardwood is its resistance to fire. According to the Nation Fire Protection Code, after subjection to fire for 10 minutes, Ipe has a rating of zero, which is the same as concrete. That is a significant improvement over most other types of wood used for decking and outdoor furniture.
While cedar has been the wood of choice in the past, that has changed in the last 20 years. This is in part because there are no longer any stands of old growth trees from which the cedar can be harvested. In order for cedar to have longevity as a material for outdoor furniture and decking, this is a necessity. Scientific research has shown that the heartwood of younger trees is not nearly as durable and resistant to rot as old growth trees and unfortunately, due to poor logging practices employed in the early part of the twentieth century, old growth trees no longer exist. The natural choice to fill the spot that cedar once held is Ipe wood. And given the fact that Ipe can be grown readily in managed conditions and does not require old growth wood to give it those enduring qualities, the reasons to choose Ipe continue to grow. Ipe wood provides so much in the way of usability, longevity and maintenance; it is the most logical choice when selecting outdoor furniture that lasts.
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