We are going to be covering the entire upstairs (except the two bathrooms) with Ipe Hardwood Floors. Ipe wood, also known as Iron Wood and Brazilian Walnut, is valued for its durability, strength, and its natural resistance to decay, wet conditions, and insect infestation.
Ipe and the Janka Test
The rating chart is from the Janka test, a rating test commonly used to measure wood hardness. Basically, the test calculates the number of pounds per square inch required to drive a small steel ball half its diameter into the surface of the wood. This test shows that Ipe wood is more than 368% harder then Teak wood! Ipe has a Class A Fire Rating which puts it in the same category as concrete and steel. Ipe Heartwood, is typically reddish brown with a greenish tinge, often with lighter or darker striping. When sanded and finished Ipe looks similar to a teak wood but for half the price.
Jamie and Brian, two old and great friends from my days in New Jersey, are going to be here in Rincon in November to do the installation. They have both been installing hardwood floors for years and always seem to be working there downtime at friends houses applying their well tuned trade and skills. We have about 1500 square feet upstairs not including the front and back porches. Right now we are guestimating that we are going to spend about $7,000 in wood alone. If we were to use Mahagony we would be spending $14 per square foot as opposed to $5 per square foot for Ipe.
Check out some examples of finished IPE (Brazilian Walnut and Ironwood) inside and outside.
I like the smooth finish on this floor
The is a little more our speed, but I don’t know if I like the spacing
An IPE Deck, I really like the wood
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Hi S&S,
Welcome to Rincón. I was googling for IPE suppliers here in PR and came across your blog. My wife and I are doing work on our house in Barrio Ensenada and would love to trade notes with you. Drop us an email and let’s connect.
Leon
I know of two IPE suppliers here in Puerto Rico…there are probably more. I’ll let you know as soon as I get some info for you…if you come up with something first…let me know …I’d really appreciate it.
I’ll hit you guys up…
we are thinking of using ironwood in our condo in florida. i had never heard of it before. are you using the engineered ironwood - do you know anything about that. we found this prefinished enginereed ironwood flooring through prosource, but had never heard of ironwood. the cost is 8.50 per square foot prefinished, but it is enginered wood. what do you think?? should we go for it or shop around. we want something durable since we are off the beach and have 3 small children.
Alison:
I could be wrong, but I think saying ‘engineered ironwood flooring’ is similar to describing a run down house as ‘vintage’…meaning, they just created a well marketed word to divert your attention to the fact that it is fake. If you are planning to pay $8.50 a sqaure foot, get the real stuff.
We ended up not being able to get the Ipe down here in Puerto Rico, and at the last minute went with Teak. It was pre-finished tongue and groove teak from South America and has proved itself quite well.