Description
Ipe (pronounced Ee-pay) is a tropical hardwood from forests located in South America. Other common names are: Amapa, Cortex, Guayacan, Flor Amarillo, Madera Negra and LaPache Negra. Large commercial importers have even tagged their own brand names to IPE tropical hardwood, for example: Ironwood™, Pau Lope™ and Brazilian Walnut. An extremely dense wood, ipe has a Class A fire rating. IPE is very plentiful throughout South-Central America and will grow in marshes or on the tops of mountain ridges. With heights exceeding 120 feet, it is one of the tallest trees in the Amazon with trunk diameters of up to six feet.
Unlike softwoods such as redwood and cedar (which are world-renowned for being easy to cut, drill and screw), ipe requires extra workmanship skills, but with patience and the proper tools to help the installation go smoothly, ipe will surpass your expectations for style and beauty.