A hardwood deck has few rivals in beauty, durability and environmental benefits as far as outdoor living is concerned. The correct wood not only determines the aesthetic of your space, but it also influences the experience of living in it and its connection to a natural outdoor environment. The color and texture of your outdoor retreat and how it will perform through the years, all depend on the species that you select and your finishing and maintenance decisions. Lower in heat retention than PVC or Composites, hardwood decking makes your outdoor space safe for your guests, your children and your pets, even on the hottest days of the year.
At Tropical Forest Products, we’ve spent years studying and sourcing the world’s most durable hardwoods. Here, we share our expert insights on the four best hardwoods for decking, cladding and outdoor finishes: each one a standout for its natural resilience, rich character, and timeless appeal.
1. IPE – The Original
If there’s one species that has earned legendary status among architects, builders, and homeowners, it’s IPE.
- Why We Love It
The density and strength of IPE are remarkable – so remarkable that the material is sometimes subjected to tests of hardness against steel. This renders it extremely tough against scratches, decay and insects. Its dense grain and natural oils keep moisture at bay and therefore can serve a life span of 40 to 50 years or even more with little or no maintenance.
- Appearance & Finish
Visually, IPE is striking. Its deep brown hues with hints of red and amber create a luxurious, elegant finish that only deepens with age. Left untreated, it weathers gracefully into a silvery patina, while oiling preserves its original richness.
- Ideal Uses
Perfect for decks, boardwalks, docks, and high-traffic outdoor areas, IPE is the benchmark for premium decking materials and, as such, typically demands a premium price.
2. Garapa – The Golden Performer
For homeowners who love a brighter aesthetic, Garapa (“Brazilian Teak”) is a standout.
- Why We Love It
Garapa combines affordability, beauty, and impressive weather resistance. High in silica like genuine teak, it’s naturally resistant to decay and insects, with a surface that stays cooler than darker hardwoods, making it ideal for sun-exposed decks and pool surrounds. And if you’re going to let your deck weather naturally, Garapa weathers faster and to a brighter silver grey than the darker hardwoods, just like genuine teak.
- Appearance & Finish
The color palette of Garapa is honey-gold to light amber, which has a great modern appearance and is a contrasting juxtaposition to lush greenery or coastal backdrops. It fades quickly to a soft silver with a fresh and clean coastal feel.
- Ideal Uses
Due to its increased durability and its slip resistance, Garapa is ideal when used in decks, siding, benches and accent trims.
3. Redheart – The Strong Sophisticate
Often referred to as “Red IPE” or “African IPE”, Redheart combines bold red colors with unmatched strength.
- Why We Love It
One of the hardest woods available to be used outdoors is Redheart. It is very stable and does not wear, dent, or decay. Although hard, it works easily.
- Appearance & Finish
It is reddish-brown in tone, turning a deep, luxurious color that is extremely warm and refined. The grain is even and smooth and offers a fine and classy finish to any deck or cladding work.
- Ideal Uses
Redheart suits both traditional and modern spaces. It’s a favorite for decks, railings, and high-end exterior architectural details.
4. Cumaru – The Durable Beauty
Cumaru offers the same strength and longevity and is similar in color to IPE but at a more accessible price point.
- Why We Love It
Cumaru has proven itself in commercial applications around the world, being resistant to rot, insects and fire. Its interlocking grain structure ensures beautiful natural variation. Its hardness and strength ensure the structural integrity of the product over a long period, even in harsh climates.
- Appearance & Finish
It is golden brown to reddish in its color and has beautiful streaking, which gives it depth of appearance. With time, Cumaru also acquires that desired silvery-gray patina when allowed to age naturally.
- Ideal Uses
In the field of residential and commercial decks, outdoor furniture, pergolas and cladding, Cumaru excels. As it has the balance of performance and beauty, it is one of the best values of hardwood on the market.
How to Choose the Right Hardwood
While all four of these species perform exceptionally outdoors, the best choice depends on your climate, budget, and aesthetic goals:
| Priority | Recommended Species | Why It’s Ideal |
| Maximum Longevity | IPE | Time Tested – The Original Outdoor Hardwood Floor with rich walnut colors |
| Premium Feel, Mid-range Cost | Cumaru | Beautiful variation, proven performance in the world’s most famous boardwalks |
| Bright, Modern Look | Garapa | Lighter tone, stays cooler in sunlight,Most similar to Genuine Teak |
| Deep, Rich Color | Redheart | Elegant reddish-brown hues like a beautiful mahogany boat |
Regardless of the type of hardwood used, naturally durable hardwoods have the lowest lifecycle impact of any building material on the planet. Incredible service life, Organic, Carbon sequestering, Biodegradable, Chemical free, No off-gassing, No PVC or Microplastics and up-cyclable. That being said, it should be ethically and legally obtained. Green forestry practices will save tropical ecosystems and will guarantee that you invest in materials which have traceable origins.
FAQs
1. What is the lifespan of tropical hardwood decks?
Tropical hardwoods such as IPE, Cumaru and Garapa, with good care, can last more than 40 years. We know this because hardwood decking was introduced in the early 80s and is still performing well. Typically, the pressure-treated substructure will fail before the decking. Substructure life can be improved by using joist tape to prevent water from holding between the deck board and the stringer. The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory defines these naturally durable hardwood species as highly durable, the highest possible durability rating for wood.
2. Are hardwood decks resistant to fire?
Yes, unlike PVC or Composites, they all carry a Class A Fire Rating without the use of chemical coatings. This is important as your deck is likely a major ingress and egress point from your home.
3. Are hardwood decks very expensive to maintain?
Not necessarily. All that is required is periodic cleaning and occasional oiling (assuming you do not want to change the original color). These woods weather beautifully, should they remain untreated.
4. If I let my hardwood deck weather, can I return it to its original color?
Absolutely. Simply clean it, apply an oxalic wood brightener and re-oil and the original color is restored.
5. Are these woods environmentally responsible choices?
Yes. As long as they are sourced legally and in compliance with all international laws. Transparent sourcing programs, such as the Legal Lumber®, will verify their compliance with international environmental and ethical standards. Using forest products protects forests against their conversion to other agricultural and non-forest uses.
6. What kind of hardwood should we have in hot or sunny climates?
All of the wood species discussed have lower heat retention than composite or PVC decking. Light woods such as Garapa are cooler to the feet and thus are highly suitable in a heavily sun-exposed deck or poolside.
7. Can I mix species for unique designs?
Absolutely. Many designers use contrasting tones; for example, IPE for the main deck and Garapa for accents to add visual depth and texture.
8. What do I use for fasteners to install my deck?
There are three installation methods:
- Face Fastening with Trim Head Screws. Silver or Brown Head screws are available.
- Screw and Wood Plug Method. The wood plug covers the screw. A very unique appearance favored in coastal environments.
- Hidden Fasteners. Make sure you use a hidden fastener that creates a mechanical connection between the deck board and the stringer.
Whatever method you choose, it is important to use high-grade stainless steel fasteners to avoid corrosion of the fasteners caused by the metals used in treated wood substructure.
Why Builders and Homeowners Choose Tropical Forest Products
At Tropical Forest Products, the idea of relating craftsmanship and sustainability is what we are passionate about. We supply quality tropical hardwoods like IPE, Garapa, Redheart, Cumaru, and others that are selected and certified as sustainable.
The individual pieces are also graded to the highest standard on the basis of their beauty, performance, and ethical traceability by the Legal Lumber® program, which ensures complete transparency throughout the forest to finish the process.
When you choose hardwood from Tropical Forest Products, you’re not just building a deck; you’re investing in a timeless, responsible, and lasting outdoor experience.
