Anyone built a deck with one of the Brazilian woods?

[crazyal]

Has anyone used any variant of the South American woods to build a deck? I have seen one built with Ipe but was wondering what some of the other types were like to work with and live with. As of now I was thinking of Cumaru, I've heard it called Brazilian Teak. But I haven't found any local companies that sell it. I like the idea of real wood over plastic as long as the price is close. If I did go with one of these woods I would want to keep it from turning gray. It looks like it could be a once a year process. I would like a grainy wood with plenty of colors that really shows it off once it's been finished. Anyway I'm open to all opinions.

 

[jaotguy]

all the woods eventually grey to some extent... they have a deck wash to remove most of it then you just reseal with an oil or light stain.

BTW Ipe stains your hands green , and a splinter will infect quickly, so wear gloves when handling them ...

 

[Egon]

Check out boat decking materials.:thumbsup:

 

[geko]

I built for a client a beautiful, small deck with Ipe, looked amazing when brand new & freshly oiled.
I returned a year or so later after winter & they hadn't cleaned it or removed leaf etc, and it looked terrible.
I pressure washed it & re-oiled it and it was as good as new!

I've used yellow bilau too, but it wasn't really much different looking to softwood deck!

I think a clear yacht varnish would be really hard wearing & keep the color looking great too.

 

[creekbend]

Just a thought? While I lived and worked in Florida, I, sometimes, helped a Friend of mine that was a Contractor. He was a Mennonite and only built upper scale homes. On one home, priced at 7 million, that he was building for a homeowner that was in the Import-Export business, BTW, I have a good memory, One of the carperters was sawing slabs of wood outside and was wearing a painter's respiratory mask. After asking my Friend about this behavior, I was informed that when cutting, this wood passed toxic fumes when being cut. The threat passed after the cutting was performed. The wood was from Brazil and the grain was simply Beautiful and was used only in the front foyer. The price for the wood in that foyer was $37,000.00 and that was the Contractor's cost around 1998. It is doubtful that this is the same wood that you are looking at, I just wanted to inform you of the possibility of wood from Brazil might be harmful. I realize that Teak isn't toxic. The real teak isn't used on boats now, except Yachts, because of the price. The fake teak, that looks the same, is normally used now by the Boating Industry. Just trying to help. Best wishes.

 

[crazyal]

I've read up on the precautions needed to work with these woods.

 

[Willl]

Seriously, your looking for 'fine' woods to park your tractor on ?

And don't spew the longevity bs.

 

[geko]

Seriously, your looking for 'fine' woods to park your tractor on ?

And don't spew the longevity bs.

I don't think the OP was building a trailer deck or a parking area!

 

[dstig1]

Built a deck with a friend out of Ipe. Harder than any wood I have dealt with. Brutal to cut and pre-drilling for screws is not always enough to stop fasteners from twisting off, especially if you use SS. And splinters do fester quickly too, as previously noted. Wears like iron. He seals it once a year, and it looks great after 6-7 yr, but it is also on a covered porch. Most of the names for South American woods are just marketing hooey. There is no "South American Teak", that is just a trade name someone made up to make it sound familiar instead of the mumbo-jumbo name it actually has.

 

[Willl]

I don't think the OP was building a trailer deck or a parking area!

Your right, my bad. I was totally thinking trailer deck.