Jatoba is quickly rising to the top as an Ipe alternative for decking. While Ipe is still available, despite shortages, we think it’s important for customers to be able to make an informed decision about whether Jatoba would meet the needs of individual projects. Since the characteristics of Ipe are well known, we’d like to compare the two, side by side, to aid in your evaluation. We’ll start with technicalities.
Hardness
The hardness of a board is determined by the Janka test, when a steel ball that’s approximately 1/2″ in diameter is pushed into the face grain of the board, to the extent that approximately ½ its diameter is embedded in the wood. The rating you see listed in wood charts is the measurement of the force required. Ipe ranks at 3684 pounds-force (lbf), while Jatoba is at 2690. Clearly, Ipe is significantly harder than Jatoba.
The question we have to ask, then, is whether the relative hardness of Jatoba presents a practical problem for your deck. The answer is no. Jatoba is still much harder than other commonly used decking species, such as Pressure-Treated Pine, which rates 690 on the Janka scale, or Western Red Cedar, which rates only 330.
Stiffness
In some cases, you really want a material that demonstrates flexibility and elasticity — but your deck is not one of those situations. The MOE, or Modulus of Elasticity, is measured in pounds per square inch. It describes how much a board will flex under foot traffic between joists. As you might guess, the numbers help determine optimal spacing for the supporting structures. At 3129, Ipe again beats out Jatoba, which comes in at 2745.
But if you understand that most Ipe decks and boardwalks are overbuilt, anyway, you realize that while Ipe could safely be installed on 24” centers, with no fear of bounce, the 12-16” spacing that’s become standard will present no issues for Jatoba. So again, the fact that Jatoba is approximately 15% less stiff than Ipe falls short of making it a poor choice for your deck — unless you’re expecting an entire herd of elephants at your next backyard barbecue.
Weight
The weight difference between the two species is far from significant, with Ipe weighing 62 pounds per cubic foot and Jatoba, 57. The relative loads need to be taken into consideration during the installation process, but as long as the construction takes them into account, neither is a problem. It’s actually more of an issue to consider during shipping: Just imagine how much lighter an order of Jatoba will be compared to Ipe! Those 5 pounds can really make a difference, considering an entire project. Since shipment costs typically correspond to weight, you’ll save money by choosing Jatoba over Ipe.
In Part 2, we’ll look at a few more categories of comparison between these two excellent tropical decking species.
J. Gibson McIlvain Company
Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.
As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.
Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.
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