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.
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.
Golden Balau – Bankirai
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.
Torem-Massaranduba
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.

































































