Are you building a Hardwood Deck but don’t know where to start?

One of the first and most crucial steps is to choose the right hardwood for your deck. There are many options available that vary in color, grain, texture, size, price and many other factors. But don’t worry, here at Cumaru Wood USA we will show you our top 3 hardwoods for your brand new hardwood deck so that you don’t have to waste any time with endless research. 

3. GARAPA

Garapa lumber is one of the best woods for decking. The workability of this tropical hardwood goes beyond words. Due to its robustness and resistance to extreme weather conditions, it can be used for any type of outdoor construction.

In addition, this hardwood is resistant to water, rot, and mildew. It is widely used in decking, siding, and floors with heavy foot traffic. Plus, its beautiful golden tones enrich the project with a warm atmosphere and a natural look.

In the last few years, Garapa lumber has rapidly gained popularity with homeowners. Why? Here at Brazilian Lumber we share with you what we believe are the 7 reasons that make this tropical hardwood, also known as Brazilian Ash, stand out from the crowd:

• Fiber bending strength 
• Density
• Low maintenance
• Lower price than Ipe
• Resistance to rot, decay, and insects
• Variety in color
• Fire safety rating 

If you are thinking of choosing Garapa, you are on the right track. 

2. CUMARU

Usually, the choice of wooden materials boils down to a compromise between aesthetics and affordability. However, with woods like Cumaru, you can get a very strong and attractive product that won’t break the bank. 

With its gorgeous reddish brown colors, Cumaru will give your home that warmth you have been looking for while also providing incredible strength and durability that almost meets the high standards of IPE. Cumaru’s rich and attractive display will definitely impress anyone who gets to see your new hardwood decking project. 

Experts often choose Cumaru because it’s more cost effective than other materials such as Composite, Teak and Ipe and it doesn’t cut back on durability. Cumaru has a very high slip and scratch resistance, making it one of the safest decking choices for projects like pool decks and docks. Another great feature of Cumaru is its natural high resistance to wood rot, mold, decay and termites, making it a wood you can trust to last. 

In fact, Cumaru is proven to last over 50 years with no preservatives, making it perfect for outdoor projects such as boardwalks. Its tight dense composition enables it to withstand any climate around the world. It’s a great decking choice for both commercial and residential outdoor or indoor projects. 

Cumaru is fire resistant by nature, this makes it an excellent choice for both public and residential decking and ceiling projects. A Cumaru hardwood ceiling outperforms low quality ceiling materials such as other woods, composite and plastic with significant performance. Construction connoisseurs choose Cumaru because it’s one of the few sustainable materials in the market that lasts as long as IPE.

• IPE

  There is a wide variety of lumber that can be used for deck building, depending on the weather conditions of where you live, how large a deck you want to build, and what your budget for the project is.  Amongst them you can (and you should) always consider Ipe.

If you are looking for the best wood for deck building there is only one choice: IPE.  Ipe or Brazilian walnut as it is sometimes called is the hardest tropical wood.  It is used to make decks, siding, docks, and any other outdoor structure. And you can always find it at Cumaru Wood USA.

Ipe has been used in commercial boardwalks and decks that were installed more than 50 years ago – a testament to its longevity.  Because of its density (it sinks in water) ipe can withstand all types of threats such as extreme weather, sunshine and thanks to its high tannic acid content, it will not rot, mold, mildew, or be affected by insects.  Ipe comes from the Amazon RainForest where it is constantly exposed to heavy rainfall and insects, so it has adapted over the years to become resistant to all those threats.

The longevity of this wood is one of the reasons so many architects and designers choose ipe.  As a long-lasting material, it will not need to be replaced.  Also, it is naturally dense and resistant, which means that unlike softwoods or domestic wood, it does not need to be chemically treated in order to be preserved. 

If you are worried that this exotic hardwood is not sustainable dont stress any longer. This material can be bought with chain of custody certification or with The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification to guarantee that the trees were sourced and harvested responsibly.  

If you check out the CITES Appendices (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora  you will see that ipe is not on the list, nor is it listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened species.

These top 3 hardwoods for your hardwood deck are all amazing choices. Whether you choose Garapa, Cumaru or Ipe your harwood deck will be composed of the best materials possible. We recommend doing further research on each type of wood, or give us a call at (877) 203-2004 to talk to a Cumaru Woods USA expert.