Best wood solution for Pier Decking
First, there is the option of using pine. Pine tends to be one of the cheapest options you can use to build pier decking, and many people go with it. The issue at hand is that it is not durable enough to withstand the conditions that it must face. Pine molds extremely quickly, and deteriorates within a small amount of time. This is the common case of "you get what you pay for." While in many other instances pine may be the wood of choice, it doesn"t even compare when it comes to building pier decking.There is also the option of using mahogany. Mahogany is more expensive than pine, and is also a bit sturdier and long-lasting, yet still suffers from the same types of problems that pine does. Mahogany is rich when new, but will mold just as quickly as pine and can catch fire rather easily. Many people don"t realize this when they go to build their pier, in which case it is too late.
There is really only one way to go when it comes to finding the correct wood for pier decking, and that is Ipe. Pronounced, "ee-pee," Ipe is also known as "Brazilian Hardwood" and is one of the hardest woods known to man. This is advantageous to those looking to build a pier because the hardness of the wood directly affects it"s durability, as well as it"s ability to stand up to environmental hazards. Ipe is mold and fire resistant, and is incredibly hard, sometimes called "ironwood" by those in the business. While it tends to be a bit more expensive than woods like pine and teak, the investment is well worth the money, as you want your pier to last for as long as possible. There is only one solution, and that is Ipe.