Kebony is better than Ipe. (Period)
We’re not even going to try to beat around any bush here. It is, it JUST is better than Ipe in a LOT of ways.
Ipe is a tropical hardwood. It’s been harvested from the rainforest for decades and has traditionally been a go-to for hardwood decking and other things for a LONG time.
But now, there are way friendlier alternatives.
Ipe in bloom.
How much friendlier? Let’s count the ways.
Using Kebony doesn’t pillage and decimate the rainforest. That’s a big one. Kebony is sustainably-sourced softwood (Radiata for Clear Kebony) that is then modified to look and act like hardwood without the terrible baggage that attaches itself to Ipe. Kebony is FSC harvested and in its modification process uses eco-friendly chemicals — perfect for gaining LEED points, if you want. Ipe? Not so much. Unless your supplier imports directly from a mill, you don’t know where/how/or from whom that Ipe is coming from.
Did you know that it takes 80 - 100 years for an Ipe tree to mature?
If you don’t care about such a thing, then you should also know that Kebony is WAY easier to work with than Ipe. It doesn’t break your tools, or give you terrible slivers. It’s true, Kebony isn’t as “hard” as Ipe, but also that is a bonus. It’s very durable and hard — check out this Janka chart comparing several species and their hardness levels. Kebony carries a 30-year warranty and is still as hard as other Brazilian hardwoods. Ipe’s density makes it very difficult to work with — so don’t!
3. Kebony is also modified to be durable, dimensional, and consistent — three additional great things that don’t even mention the sustainability aspect. A HUGE aspect of Kebony is its stability — the modification process makes it very resistant to warping, cupping, and splintering (tropical hardwoods can’t say this).
Kebony Clear Deck
4. Kebony Clear looks like Ipe — clear, tight, straight grain pattern. As a freshly modified piece of wood, Kebony has a rich, dark brown color that will naturally fade into a silver/grey when left to the environment. No maintenance is required outside of light cleaning. Ipe also naturally fades from brown to grey — so see, you’re already used to this natural process! Kebony’s Clear wood arrives as a consistent product — no other grades (or surprises!), you receive a consistent product.
In addition, here are some interesting articles on Ipe pricing — at the end of the day, Ipe in this current market is more expensive than Kebony. So if ALL of these other factors don’t convince you, generally the bottom dollar will. The volume of Ipe exports is shrinking, causing a squeeze in supply, driving up prices with still demand. This looks to be caused by increased regulation.
Check these out and thanks for reading!