DealersWeighLower-Cost Substitutes For Ip6

ized. Confidence in the expertise of the manufacturer/importer is key.

For any tropical hardwood, including ip6, the source may be as imPortant as the species. Not all tropical hardwoods are suitable for decking, and of those that are, the drYing method and schedule, with appropriate quality control, may be critical to ensuring proper performance. Different types of tropical hardwood present different challenges in the drying process, so expert manufacturing ls Key.

(Continued from page I 4 ) favorably with most of the unfinished mainstream species.

Moreover, within a given trade name, multiple species may be sold. Several individual species make up what we collectively call "ip6." Some suppliers have even from time to time shipped cumaru as ip6, although the wood is very dissimilar. Some 120 distinct species are sold as Philippine mahogany, only a few of which are suitable to be sold as red balau. The upshot is that the market for tropical hardwoods is not entirely standard-

Bill Christou, Nelson International, Vancouver. B.C.. notes that in addition to aesthetics, price, and availability, the educated customer should consider, in order of importance:

I . Natural durability-fungal, insect, and rot resistance

2. Stability when dry-tendency to check or warp

3. Mechanical properties-hardness and bending strength

Many reverse these priorities and put hardness near the top of the list, "probably due to ip6's leadership and the fact that Ipe happens to be a superhard wood," says Christou. Still, at some level hardness is a factor, and all of the alternatives mentioned here have at least twice the hardness of cambara, meranti, or treated pine.

It's not very likely that we'll see any single species overtake ip6 in terms of volume in the near future. But dealers who are willing to promote high quality alternatives alongside ip6 may find that they capture more business as a result.

- Joshua Kaye is product manager at American Lumber Co., Walden, N.Y. He also teaches seminars on green building and certiJication to retailers through the NRLA and offers NA seminars throughout the Northeast. He can be reached al jknye@ lumbernet.net or ( 845 ) 778- l 1 1 1