IN THE past decade, the popularity of tropical hardwood decking has soared. 

Not only do exotic hardwoods make stunning decks, but many species are very strong and resistant to insects and rot. They do not require pressure treating, and compared to pressure treated pine or composites, they can have a very long useful life during which they remain attractive year after year. And even at record-high prices, they may be a value compared to plastic-based substitutes.

One species has consistently led the pack. Ipé, or Brazilian walnut, remains the top-selling hardwood for decking. The species has benefited from an extended marketing push from a number of sources, but it also lives up to the hype. It is strong, resistant to rot and insects, and weathers very well. When finished, it is a classic dark brown, and when allowed to gray, it tends not to splinter excessively.

At the same time, the price of ipé has reached historic highs. According to Mike Holm, Oregon-Canadian Forest Products, North Plains, Or., ipé has roughly tripled in price from 2000 to 2008.

The reason, he explains, is straightforward: diminished available supply. Brazil has sharply throttled back government approval for new timber projects. And a major national crackdown on forest management practices has frozen a good chunk of land that was previously approved for logging.

Global trade factors have also played a role. The dollar, compared to Brazilian currency, has halved in value since 2004.  Meanwhile, the Euro surged against the dollar at the same time as Europe really embraced the use of tropical hardwoods. More goes there-and to Japan, China and elsewhere-and less comes here.

Fortunately, a number of other species of tropical hardwood make excellent decks. Though not as ubiquitously marketed as ipé, they are increasingly available-and at significantly lower cost. Landowners want to make better use of their logging rights, and certification systems such as FSC require forest management to utilize additional species. 

Top mainstream alternatives include:

• macaranduba (Brazilian redwood)

• cumaru (Brazilian teak)

• garapa (Brazilian ash)

• red balau (Batu mahogany)

Garapa and cumaru are generally lighter in color and remain so when finished. This may diminish their appeal in some markets. Macaranduba and red balau (which is a hard and durable Philippine mahogany, not to be confused with softer, less durable mahoganies like cambara or meranti) are typically a darker red or brown.

Next in line are a number of up-and-coming contenders.  These species are usually attractive pricewise and may have distinctive selling points. There are too many to mention here, but here are three species that ought to be somewhere on your radar:

Purpleheart is roughly as hard and durable as ipé.  Despite its name and signature purple color, it can also be chocolate brown, which is perfect for decking.

Resak offers durability similar to ipé, although it is not as hard. But it also has appearance going for it. In a lineup, it would be easily mistaken for ipé.

Wallaba (red ironwood) is highly durable, with a copper-brown color and some refined streaking. One importer is offering it pre-kerfed and pre-finished at prices that compare favorably with most of the unfinished mainstream species.

For any tropical hardwood, including ipé, the source may be as important as the species. Not all tropical hardwoods are suitable for decking, and of those that are, the drying method and schedule, with appropriate quality control, may be critical to ensuring proper performance. Different types of tropical hardwood present different challenges in the drying process, so expert manufacturing is key. 

Moreover, within a given trade name, multiple species may be sold. Several individual species make up what we collectively call "ipé." Some suppliers have even from time to time shipped cumaru as ipé, although the wood is very dissimilar. Some 120 distinct species are sold as Philippine mahogany, only a few of which are suitable to be sold as red balau. The upshot is that the market for tropical hardwoods is not entirely standardized. Confidence in the expertise of the manufacturer/importer is key.

Bill Christou, Nelson International, Vancouver, B.C., notes that in addition to aesthetics, price, and availability, the educated customer should consider, in order of importance:

1. Natural durability-fungal, insect, and rot resistance

2. Stability when dry-tendency to check or warp

3. Mechanical properties-hardness and bending strength

Many reverse these priorities and put hardness near the top of the list, "probably due to ipé's leadership and the fact that Ipe happens to be a super-hard wood," says Christou.  Still, at some level hardness is a factor, and all of the alternatives mentioned here have at least twice the hardness of cambara, meranti, or treated pine.

It's not very likely that we'll see any single species overtake ipé in terms of volume in the near future. But dealers who are willing to promote high quality alternatives alongside ipé may find that they capture more business as a result.

- Joshua Kaye is product manager at American Lumber Co., Walden, N.Y. He also teaches seminars on green building and certification to retailers through the NRLA and offers AIA seminars throughout the Northeast.  He can be reached at jkaye@lumbernet.net or (845) 778-1111.