Ipe deck wood is a hardwood flooring and has many names. Ipe as a deck wood comes in many forms: Cambara decking, ipe decking, Brazilian walnut flooring, green heart wood, pau lope to name a few.Most of this hardwood flooring grows in South America and it is noted for extreme density and hardness (actually sinks in water). Ipe as a deck wood is
Whether you call it Ipe decking, Cambara decking, Brazilian walnut flooring, green heart wood, or Pau Lope… it is a wonderful exotic hardwood flooring that gives lasting beauty year after year after year.What are the negatives? Ipe deck wood is so dense that a carbide tipped saw blade is necessary. Ipe does rout nicely but it must be predrilled for fasteners.Conclusion:There is no other natural material that will outlast or look as beautiful as Ipe deck wood. Ipe hardwood decks (Cambara decking, Brazilian walnut flooring, green heart wood, Pau Lope) will remain smooth and splinter free as long as you own your deck!Ipe
deck wood provides the beauty of wood without the hassles
of the high maintenance
pressure treated decking. Ipe decking is beauty in
wood… and
extremely low maintenance. |

Interesting Note: Recently I received a call from a gentleman who thought his quote by a contractor for a large Ipe deck was too high. He had already run his deck specifications through my online Porch Deck Sunroom Price Worksheet and was so surprised at the differences, that he asked me to verify what he was getting from my spreadsheet. We worked the Excel spreadsheet together to discover that his total materials should cost approximately $18,740 and $19,331 for labor (if he acts as his own General Contractor and buys materials and obtains a homeowner permit). His contractor is planning on charging him $90,000 for materials and $18,000 for labor. See anything wrong with this picture? He did. I showed him that a "turnkey" cost should be right at $51,261 (we buy materials, provide full labor, get permit) but the contractor was charging $109,331 turnkey. Hmmm. This could be an extreme case, but this kind of over charging goes on every day in the deck and porch business. Why? Not to sound smart, but they do it simply because they can. There is no one to catch them... no policing agency of the government to stop them... no laws that I know of that prevent price gouging. It is part of the free market system that folks can ask whatever they want to ask. It is up to the buyer to educate and protect themselves. How can you know if you are being over charged? One good way is to get competitive quotes... most authorities recommend a minimum of three (3). If one comes in greatly higher than the others than you can assume that it is priced too high (everything else being equal). Incidentally, I always am suspicious of quotes that are very low also. Unless the builder has found some really solid, innovative ways to reduce his overhead (as we have), a very low price is usually a flag that he doesn't know what he is doing (inexperienced at pricing). Or he is desperate for some reason and will not earn enough money to stay in business for long (he'll soon "fly the coup", perhaps in the middle of your job). In any event, an unusually low price is a red flag that something is wrong. "Let the buyer beware." Frankly, another good way to determine if you are being over charged is to run the area and other specifications through my online Deck, Porch and Sunroom Price Worksheet. We publish our prices online for the world to see for many reasons... one being so that you know we treat everyone the same. We won't bump the price up because I find out you are a doctor or your house photo makes me think you are rich (or I see an expensive car in your driveway) and therefore can afford to pay more. No indeed. We give you a level playing field and give everyone the same opportunities to save money. Am I bragging? Yes. I think this is a good thing and frankly, I am proud of it. But lest I get too self righteous... you should know that the reason I know how the game is played... is because I used to play it. (Ouch) |
For general inquiries, please call Fax: 540 786-3324 Virginia Decking & Remodeling For Ipe Design & Build deck and porch services
For a fast way to price out an Ipe deck
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