Exotic hardwood flooring continues to grow in popularity, and with that growth, comes the comparison of exotics versus domestic species. Such is the case of the domestic American Walnut versus the Brazilian Walnut, also known as Ipe.
On Janka’s hardness scale, Brazilian walnut measures near the top of the list: 3680. American black walnut is 1010. This suggests greater durability and also shows its high resistance to insects and natural elements compared to its American counterpart. In fact, this wood is estimated to last up to 40 years if left untreated, and 100 years with proper maintenance and care.
Unlike American black walnut, which is very dark in color, Brazilian walnut ranges from olive green to chocolate brown to black. Both species have beautiful markings that look like watercolor brushstrokes in the forest with slight variations from natural color. However, American Walnut tends to have more swirls, curls, and color variations. Both have a fine grained appearance to which the ‘watercolor effect’ can be attributed.
Price-wise, they are somewhat comparable to each other, unlike other exotics, whose prices skyrocket relative to their domestic counterparts. You can find engineered hickory for $5.19 to $5.41 for 3-inch or 5-inch planks, while you can find 3-inch-thick Brazilian walnut for $7.43 to $8.74 for 5 ½ inches, with the price differences mostly attributable to at the cost of importing the forest.
In addition to hardwood floors, the Brazilian walnut is also used for outdoor furniture and construction, particularly wood decking due to its hardness, but also its resistance to decay, mold, fungus, and insects.
As far as manufacturers offering this unique wood, BR111 Flooring has several Ipe products, as do Johnson Flooring and Triangulo Hardwoods. For information on Ipe, it is best to contact an authorized dealer that sells these three brands. They can show you product samples and help you determine which hardwood flooring is right for your home.