Wednesday, February 24, 2010

How to Buy FSC Ipe without Getting Ripped Off?

Undoubtedly, in this new era of Green building, environmental friendly woods are very much in demand. There are many options available to buyers namely Cedar, Pine, Ipe, Tigerwood and others.  With so many choices, buyers are really having a tough time to settling on a choice that is both stylish and affordable. Another thing that adds to the anxieties of is that there are many companies which are claiming environmental friendly woods.  Buyers are finding it tough to choosing the right company that sells a green product.

FSC to the rescue. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was created to develop the standards and processes, of the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide.  FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.  FSC standards for forest management are applied in over 57 countries.

FSC Ipe is a clear choice when looking for Green decking.   LEED Certified building requires the use of FSC products.   However, not all the ipe wood companies are dealing with environmental friendly products.  To put it simply, many ipe wood companies are in an effort to cash in on the environmental friendly point for their benefits. One simple solution for buyers to avoid this trap is to buy FSC certified ipe.  Websites of companies selling FSC products will display the FSC logo with accompanying certificate numbers. The logo alone is not enough.  Check to insure they have the certificate numbers and are in fact FSC certified. We are lucky to have the internet.  Even novice buyers can find and buy products that qualify in areas important to them, be it quality, price, or environmental friendliness.

Finding companies that sell Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved ipe wood for decking has become lot easier as the United States Government has become quite strict in this area. Only few sellers manage to acquire FSC ipe. Remember, FSC is a non profit organization working in the direction of promoting environmental friendliness and sustaining the ipe trees.  Buyers can be rest assured that FSC ipe wood is going to add some more natural beauty to their homes with no harm to the planet.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you want your home to have natural ipe wood then you must work with companies that have dedicated themselves in preservation forestry practices. ABSWood is one such name that has gained acknowledgement due to their fair practices and affordability factor.

Buyers who want to know more about FSC certifications can simply visit the official website of abswood, http://www.abswood.com. There is information you need to make informed decisions. Buyers understand that for any seller to acquire the FSC certifications, they have to follow the forestry practices that are vital for balancing the environment.  This includes on-site inspections and chain of custody certificates that follow the wood from forest to your home.

Companies who sell the FSC certified lumber generally care about the environment.  Their is a lot of work to become FSC certified and only sellers who care about the environment overall will go to that amount of trouble.  As far as the buyers are concerned, even if buying  non-FSC, it is always advisable to pick a company that would sell FSC ipe wood.   These companies care about the environment.  Remember even non-FSC Ipe wood is not as damaging to the environment as composites, will enhance the overall appearance of your home and last for many years to come.  

Monday, February 22, 2010

Benefits of Ipe Decking


Are you feeling that deciding on decking material is overwhelming? Yes!!

If you are feeling overwhelmed then you have been doing a lot of good research.   You are considering all options not only wood, but plastics,  installation, environmental issues, and others.  You are seeing a trend with two common themes.  They are ipe decking (or other Brazilian deck) and composite decking.  If you are still considering composites, then you need look again and compare them with ipe decking.  First remember why you are checking these options.   You want to enhance the overall appearance and feeling of your home. For that there is no question, Ipe is the perfect decking material.  Ipe wood, in addition to its natural beauty comes with long lasting benefits that every home owner will enjoy.  These include rot resistance, strength, hardness, durability, and it is environmentally bio-degradable.

What are the benefits of Ipe decking?
Apart from the affordability factor, there are even more benefits of ipe decking that have everyone's attention;
*      Ipe decking can last for years with the same finish and appearance as it hardly requires any treatment.
*      Ipe decking is 3 times harder than oak.   Ipes’ scratch resistance cannot be approached by composites.   If you have grills or dogs, you need to use Ipe.
*      Ipe decking has a natural ability to resist fungus, mildew and mold or any other flora enemies of wood.
*      Bio-degradable.  The environmental friendly traits of ipe wood as a whole make it a much preferred one as compared to any type of plastic decking material.
*      An ipe wood deck generally is nearly impassable to insects and termites.
*      Ipe decking can give your home a rich feel and luxurious look without spending loads of money on composite decking.

Truly, ipe decking comes with many convincing benefits that cannot be ignored. If you want not have the hassle of getting a deck installed after every few years, you need to install ipe.   With ipe, your decking will last a long time without you giving it a second thought.

Well, now that you know the benefits of ipe decking, one question is where to buy ipe decking.  Well, ABSWood is the name that all the homeowners can trust as they are well known for both quality and affordability.  This perfect combination of affordability and beauty will let you enjoy the natural appearance of your ipe decking for years with minimal maintenance.

To find out more, just go to the ABSWood website http://abswood.com .

So, opt for an ipe deck and prepare to enjoy the benefits of decking that looks exceptionally beautiful as well as complements the overall appearance of your home.