Below you will find descriptions of the different species of lumber commonly used in deck construction
Ipe Hardwood decking or Brazilian walnut
Ipe has been the gold standard for decking for decades. Unmatched durability and impeccable knot-free grain structure have made it the first choice of builders and homeowners. Ipe has a lustrous, almost iridescent, chocolate brown to golden brown coloration and a very fine and tight grain. Its hardness is second only to massaranduba but, it is the most stable of all the hardwood species. Ipe lumber is available in all common sizes and some custom profiles for handrail. Seattle Deck Supply sources from reputable importers that have tight chains of custody. Your lumber will be reliably kiln-dried and of the highest First Export Quality or FEQ grade. Ipe prices have seen a steady increase since 2024, some buyers have turned to alternatives like garapa, discussed below, to mitigate cost. Ipe remains the best option though.
Garapa
Nearly as hard as ipe but, a golden brown rather than a rich chocolate tone, garapa is the hot decking for 2026. Garapa has been pricing out at less than half the price of ipe and less than many composite options. SDS mainly carries 5/4×6 (net 1″ thick) but sometimes has 1×4 and 1×6 available.
Tigerwood
Tigerwood is a tropical hardwood from Brazil and Bolivia, although its range extends to Peru and North to Mexico. Its gorgeous and pronounced grain and color variation give it its name. Tigerwood is durable and stable, particularly when sourced through our suppliers, who have a proprietary kiln-drying strategy. Tigerwood decking is available square edge or grooved for hidden fasteners and in 4 and 6 inch widths. We recommend wax-treating all cross-grain cuts but staining is optional. Tigerwood is a sustainable forest product and not listed on CITES. All of our hardwoods come from reputable importers who comply with all environmental regulations and many of these are FSC listed.
Batu – Red Balau
Batu is a common hardwood decking from Indonesia. Batu is relatively hard and stable with a very straight and striated grain. Primarily red and pink-toned with some tan and brown undertones. It cuts easily and is very workable. Batu is available in 5/4×6, 1×6, 5/4×4, 1×4 and 1×8. Post material in a 4×4 is often available as well. Batu supply chains are typically stable, and prices are not subject to wild fluctuations as sometimes happens with ipe.
Golden Balau – Bankirai – Yellow Balau
A durable and beautiful hardwood option, Bankirai is often used for decking, siding, and custom fencing. Warm tones of yellow, red, and light browns with a tight interlocked grain make yellow balau a great choice for outdoor structures when deeper and darker tones are not preferred. Like batu, yellow below is an Indonesian lumber and the supply is very reliable and prices are moderate for a hardwood decking. Yellow Balua can be fastened with all of the popular face and blind-fastening techniques. Seattle Deck Supply recommends IpeClip for hidden fastening; however, the 1/4″ or KD clip is the appropriate clip size for this species. Seattle Deck Supply only sources kiln-dried Balau and batu decking.
dark red meranti – DRM – Meranti Bukit
This is a mahogany species from Indonesia. It is highly workable, stable with a nice open grain and variegated coloring. It ranges from deep, dark red to blonde in tone. The Dark red pieces are quite hard like ipe, and the blonde pieces are softer. We have sold Meranti in large amounts since the mid 90’s with much success. Dark red meranti is an affordable alternative to ipe. Both 4 and 6 inch width boards are readily available in 1x and 5/4 thickness. Meranti radily accepts a stain and will hold it longer than most other hardwoods.
Torem – Massaranduba – Manilkara – South Pacific redwood
Despite coming from two continents, on opposite sides of the world, Torem and Massaranduba are often regarded as the same lumber. Incredibly hard, even more so than ipe, but not as stable, these species make excellent decking. Deep red in tone and an almost imperceptible grain, it is quite beautiful. Because of its hardness and density, it is best to stick with using it as dimensioned lumber; it is not the most workable of lumber species.It is reported that Torem tends to be more stable than it’s South American cousin, Massaranduba.
Recent Reviews
Called Seattle Deck Supply as I am just starting to think about a new deck project. I received a wealth of helpful information without a sales pitch. Thank you.
We had such a great experience with Matt and Seattle Deck Supply. The personal care and attention that went into our project blew us away. We were on a challenging time schedule. Then we were a pain and ended up changing our mind on the direction of our deck tiles. Matt took it all in stride and finished the project early. Do not look any further for your decking needs. Matt is your guy! We are so happy with the final result and have been enjoying our new deck all summer.
I had a great experience with Seattle Deck Supply. The owner, Matt, not only spent a significant amount of time with me, fielding all of my questions, but he was kind enough to meet me at his shop outside of normal business hours so that I could make a purchase. If you're building or refinishing a deck, I highly recommend using Seattle Deck supply - you won't be disappointed.
Purchased IPE. Received high quality and best price with fast delivery!