What makes Teak an excellent alternative to Ipe?
Although not quite as durable as Ipe, Teak has long been appreciated by the boat-building industry because of its remarkable water-resistant nature. Of course, that same quality makes Teak an excellent choice as a decking material. With its golden brown coloring, Teak is finding its way into the high-end decking market for both private homes and public venues.
Teak’s appearance is one of the many highly valued characteristics of the species. When it’s freshly machined, it can reveal a variable grain pattern, but with environmental exposure, the streaks mellow over time. Highly consistent vertical grain Teak is popular for both boat-building and decking purposes, partly because of its consistent appearance, which makes it easy to match across large surface areas. At J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber, we carry a large inventory of First European Quality (FEQ) Teak, all of which has a consistent coloring and grain pattern.
Appearance is only one of the many prized aspects of this species: Strength, durability and stability are major ones, as well. Heightened by vertical grain, the strength of Teak makes it ideal for flooring and other abused surfaces. Even when fully submerged in water, this species is highly durable and water resistant, due to the silica content that comes from the sandy soil of Myanmar, where Teak trees grow. The silica content of Teak is complemented by natural oils that also help the wood repel insects. At J Gibson McIlvain, we source our high quality Teak lumber from FSC forests and plantations around the world.
Teak responds to machining well and holds its shape without a problem. Such stability is important to boat builders and deck builders alike, who know that their products will take a beating from the elements.
While Teak grows in many nations (including India, Indonesia, and Cote d’Ivoire), the standard traditionally has been Burmese Teak for many decades. Recent sourcing issues with Burmese Teak have resulted in Teak now being increasingly grown on plantations located throughout Asia, the Caribbean and South America.
As one of the nation’s largest suppliers of FEQ Teak, J. Gibson McIlvain continues to keep an eye on the ever-changing logistics of sourcing this valuable species. We currently continue to carry many sizes, including boards over 24” wide and topping 20’ long. If you’re looking for an attractive and resilient alternative to Ipe, Teak continues to be an excellent choice.
Ipe Alternatives
While no wood species will have exactly the same set of characteristics that makes Ipe such an ideal wood, certain species may offer comparable strengths, making them possible Ipe-substitutes depending on your particular project and environment. Learn about each Ipe alternative below:
