There are many reasons why ipe decking should be your first choice for your new family deck.

An ipe deck can be enjoyed all year round.

• An ipe deck is so hard and compact that it doesn’t splinter
• Ipe requires no maintenance
• Unlike pressure treated decking that has been infused with chemicals that can leech into your yard, ipe wood is all natural
• A deck made of ipe hardwood will increase the value of your home
• Ipe is versatile and can be the centerpiece of your outdoor living space for decades

These facts are proven by the fact that families all across the country have chosen to build their deck with ipe. If you’d like to see how this wood decking is being used, check out this article on this Cole Valley family that just finished their outdoor living area. Designed by Janet Moyer Landscaping in San Francisco, that family’s deck will provide lasting memories and wonderful times all year round. Her website has many examples of the how ipe can be used for your outdoor living area.

If you’re looking for the perfect decking material to use for your deck, patio, or covered porch, contact us today.

Deck Design of the Week

Green Home in Michigan

Yesterday, you saw the beginning stages of a green building project designed by Danny Forster, host of Build it Bigger & Extreme Engineering on the Discovery Channel. The finished Omena Lake front home is truly spectacular. Two features that are of particular interest are the extended deck / living room area and the eco-roof. In fact, Danny even shows you how eco-roofing is installed. I have to say, I learned a lot about green building and design from Danny. When he explains how they analyzed the wind patterns of the area to position the home in such a way that wind would keep the home cool throughout the day, I was blown away (pun very much intended)!

Here’s Danny giving you an extended tour of the newly completed Green home:

MyNorth.com Video: Danny Forster’s Cool, Green House Completed

I was also thankful that Danny gave such a clear and concise description of how eco-friendly wood is cultivated and harvested. This is important to note because according to Danny, he used certified FSC wood throughout the home. So, all of the ipe decking you see comes from sustainable forestry practices that have been monitored by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Why did he use FSC Ipe Decking? If you recall, Danny is trying to get as high of a LEED rating as possible. In fact, because of all of the brilliant designs ideas and the eco-friendly products that he used, Danny has told me that the home received LEED Gold status. That’s pretty significant because this home is only one of seven in all of Michigan to receive that level of LEED certification.

We hope that this home inspires you to use green building materials and techniques. Finally, for those that think that green building is expensive, think again. Danny specifically makes the point that building this green home, even with all of its features and eco-friendly wood and materials, cost the same as any home in the area.

Also, thanks to Danny Forster for taking the time to answer my emails and for the information he provided.

Deck Design of the Week

Green Building in Michigan

Today’s Deck Design of the week is a two-parter. We’re going to look at the before and after phases of building a green home that has some wonderful sustainable and eco-friendly features.

The mind behind this home’s beauty is Danny Forster, host of Extreme Engineering and Build it Bigger on the Discovery Channel. He’s also a Harvard grad and, as evidenced by the lake front home in Michigan, a heck of an architect.

Today, we’re going to see Danny take you through a behind the scenes look at how a Green home is constructed. This Omena Lake front home is also going for either Gold or Platinum LEED certification, so you can tell that there are some serious and revolutionary design and architectural elements being used for this home.

As you can also see, there is no shortage of ipe being used in this home. Danny Forster has used both ipe decking and ipe siding in ways that are, at once beautiful, but also eco-friendly.

MyNorth.com Video: Danny Forster’s Cool, Green House

Tomorrow, we’ll see the finished product. If you’re planning to build a green home or are curious about LEED for homes, you’ll definitely want to take notes. You’ll also get some wonderful design and energy-saving ideas that are truly unique.

Great news! In an effort to reinvigorate the local economy, the city of Boynton Beach, FL has announced that it will be renovating some of its local parks. According to this article from the Sun-Sentinel, Oceanfront Park will be getting a face-lift as well. They will be replacing their boardwalk that is currently made from composite decking with ipe decking!

According to article, Executive Director of the Recreation and Parks Department, Wally Majors said that, “ipe is a strong, dense wood with very high wear durability in daily use, and is resistant to splintering and checking.”

He goes on to say some other glowing things about ipe, but I’ll let you read it for yourself:-)

Clearly, this decision by the city of Boynton Beach proves once again that when it comes to getting the most for your money, ipe decking is the best choice. Sure, they could have kept their current boardwalk, but they made the decision for a reasons that are, quite frankly, practical.

Cities across the country have chosen ipe for their boardwalks because of the indisputable face that it is a superior decking product and will save the city maintenance and repair costs for decades to come.

At Advantage, we sell only the best ipe decking wholesale that comes from sustainable forestry practices.

So, if you’re looking to buy a container of ipe for a major commercial project, you can contact us for wholesale decking ipe prices that are second to none . We have extended office hours from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern. We’re also open six days a week from Monday to Saturday and can be reached over the phone at our toll free number: 1-877-232-3915.

If you’re in the market to buy ipe and are scrambling to find out if the ipe you’re purchasing has been cultivated through eco-friendly means, don’t worry, once you read this, you’ll be able to make your purchase with peace of mind.

Here’s a guide to buying ipe decking responsibly:

• Make sure the supplier is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
  • This is critical since many ipe dealers choose to simply slap a sticker or banner on their site saying that their decking is environmentally safe.
• If you’re trying to get your building or deck LEED certified, then make sure you get the FSC certificate right away. Any company that fails to provide this should be questioned.
• Ask if the ipe supplier has an environmental policy that you can read and research.

These tips will take contacting the suppliers directly. And, if you end up getting your answers right away and in a respectful manner, then you can rest assured that you’ve really chosen the right company.

When you contact us for ipe decking, you’ll get all of your questions answered as well as the best ipe prices in the market today.

Ipe decking goes under many names. It’s not surprising to see people confuse ipe with other names like Brazilian Walnut, Pau D’Arco, Ipe Tabaco, Yellow Poui, Bethabara, Pau Lope ®, and Ironwood ®.

Regardless of the name, a deck made of this exotic hardwood is going to last you a lifetime. If you want to know why, all you have to do is check out the many detailed stories and deck designs that are featured in this blog.

For the past 17 years, Advantage Trim & Lumber has been committed to providing deck builders and DIY homeowners decking options that are second to none.

Oh, and our prices are the best in the market, too! We also ship to all corners of the world and every person on our staff can help you answer all of your ipe decking questions.

So, if you or anyone you know is planning to build a deck, patio, or covered porch, check us out and we’ll be honored to help.

Ipe decking is such a reliable, durable, and YES, renewable wood material that it is gaining increased notoriety throughout the world. In the United States, this exotic hardwood is being used in a variety of commercial applications. Local cities and municipalities that need commercial decking are even starting to use ipe in eco-friendly parks and bridges. In doing research I have found architects using ipe for both siding and sunscreens.

From hotels, to resorts, to restaurants, to office buildings, there are many commercial decking options available. By far, the one clear cut favorite among architects, designers, and business owners is ipe decking and Brazilian walnut flooring. The main reason for this is because commercial ipe can be both cultivated and harvested from environmentally safe and sound forestry practices. At Advantage Trim & Lumber, offer wholesale decking and are constantly shipping eco-friendly ipe to commercial building projects throughout the United States.

With green building gaining increasing popularity, more…