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Materials & Buying Guides

Ipe

Ipe for outdoor projects: density, lifespan, cost, sourcing questions, and how to work with it.

Ipe is a dense South American hardwood used for decking, raised beds, and other outdoor projects. This category covers the practical questions that come up when considering it: how long it lasts outdoors, what its density and hardness mean for installation, and how much maintenance it needs over time.

Several articles address lifespan claims and what affects them, while others compare ipe with a more familiar option, cedar. The category also looks at the buying side: whether ipe is worth the cost for raised beds and planters, what FSC certification and responsible sourcing involve, and which tools and techniques help with split boards, stripped fasteners, and dulled blades.