Tigerwood Decking Comparison

	APPEARANCE	JANKA HARDNESS*	BENDING STRENGTH	DECAY RESISTANCE
Ipe	An extremely dense, tight grained wood. Generally a deep rich brown with some pieces displaying red and amber hues.	3600 lbs.	22,560 psi	High rating for insect (termite) and decay resistance. Offers 40+ year lifespan.
Tigerwood Decking	Light golden brown to reddish brown with irregular black and brown streaks.	1850 lbs.	19,285 psi	Very durable and naturally resistant to decay and insects. Offers 20+ year lifespan.
Douglas Fir	A light reddish-brown wood with generally straight grain.	670 lbs.	12,400 psi	Not naturally resistant to decay. Should be painted or stained to prevent decay.
Pressure Treated Pine	Very pronounced grain. Dusty yellow-green palor due to chemical treatment of the wood.	690 lbs.	14,500 psi	A chemical preservative, chromated copper arsenate is forced into the wood.  Offering resistance to decay, but also potential health concerns.
California Redwood	Several grades available that vary considerably in appearance and quality. Usually straight grained with a fine, even texture. Color varies from cherry-red to dark reddish-brown	480 lbs.	10,000 psi	Premium grades are more durable than most woods in common use. Resistant to decay, but relatively soft and quick to weather. Treatment is recommended.
Western Cedar	Fresh cut, this wood appears a salmon pink color which turns a coffee brown over time. Species is generally straight grained.	580 lbs.	7,500 psi	This softwood is more durable than most woods in common use. Resistant to decay, but relatively soft and quick to weather. Treatment is recommended.
Philippine Mahogany	Interlocked grain similar to true mahogany, but with a courser texture. Species is generally medium to dark brown.	760 lbs.	12,000 psi	Only the dark red species are resistant to decay. Although more durable than cedar and redwood, it is still relatively soft compared to Tigerwood Decking.

*The Janka Hardness Test is a measure of the hardness of wood. The Janka Test was developed as a variation of the Brinell hardness test.  The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 millimeters (0.444 inches) into the wood to a depth of half the ball's diameter. The diameter was chosen to produce a circle with an area of 100 square millimeters.*

Win	IPE	CHARACTERISTIC	TIGERWOOD	Win
	An extremely dense, tight grained wood. Generally a deep rich brown with some pieces displaying red and amber hues.	Appearance	Light golden brown to reddish brown with irregular black and brown streaks that sets it apart from the competition.
	Ipe is a more expensive alternative.	Price	Tigerwood is cheaper than Ipe.
	3600 lbs	Janka Hardness	1850 lbs
	22,560 psi	Bending Strength	19,285 psi
	High rating for insect (termite) and decay resistance. Offers 40+ year lifespan.	Decay Resistance	Very durable and naturally resistant to decay and insects. Offers 20+ year lifespan.
		Winner	Tigerwood WINS!!	+2
Although both woods are a good choice for decking, Tigerwood stands apart from the competition because of its unique looks. Tigerwood also offers almost the same strong physical characteristics of Ipe AT A FRACTION OF THE COST. Tigerwood is clearly the best decking material available in its price range.