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.

GREAT NEWS! Ipe decking is now more affordable than most composite decking. For a while, this was not the case. However, since the price of oil is so volatile, the cost of composite decking materials have risen substantially.

Why is this the case?

Because composite decking uses polyethylene and polyethylene is made from oil. So, there’s no getting around it, because composite decking has a core ingredient that is tied to such a volatile commodity, anyone looking to build a deck with composite decking may have to spend a lot more than their budget calls for. A lot more!

What do you do now?

It’s time to consider ipe decking. Simply put, when you do a apples to apples comparison, ipe is far superior to composite decking.

Here are the facts to consider when comparing ipe to composite decking:

1. Ipe decking comes from is 100% natural wood. Composite decking is made of synthetic plastic that is tied to the high price of oil.
2. The price of ipe has remained steady due to the managed forestry practices that industry leaders like Advantage Trim & Lumber have embraced and promoted
3. Ipe is going to last decades due to its natural density and resistance to mold, mildew, fungus, and insects. Composite decking companies cannot make this claim with a straight face.

Moreover, ipe is a renewable resource and is 100% biodegradable. This is an important distinction to make because composite decking is made from non-renewable resources such as petroleum. Many homeowners with composite decks are now learning the hard way because their composite decking ends up in a landfill because it fails to stand up as promised. Doesn’t it make sense to choose a decking material that is proven to stand the test of time and is also less expensive?

When you choose Advantage Trim & Lumber Company for your ipe decking needs, you also have the option of purchasing a whole host of decking supplies and accesories to make building an ipe deck simple and easy.

For more information and to see our list of ipe price list, check out our Ipe Decking Prices page.