Green forest and pink flowering trees with a misty mountain in the background
Image of a sprout with leaves next to the words "The Ipe Alternative"
Image of a sprout with leaves next to the words "The Ipe Alternative"
HomeIpe Alternative

EVERYTHING Ipe should be

TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking has several real wood looks that rival the beauty of Ipe. It’s also more durable than Ipe over time, requires minimal maintenance, and is a more environmentally sustainable option.

Drawbacks of Ipe

Demand outpaces tree growth

Some Ipe species can take 100 years to reach maturity—with only
one adult sized tree grown every 25 acres.1 Despite this slow growth, demand for Brazilian Ipe grew 76% between the periods 2010-2016 and 2017-2021.2 In some remote areas of the rainforest, this has led to less regulated harvesting operations and more harm to the environment.

A long journey consuming more resources

Most commonly harvested from the Brazilian rainforest, Brazilian Ipe travels nearly 8,000 miles to reach the US, consuming massive quantities of fossil fuels and polluting the atmosphere with CO2 along the way.

The TimberTech Advantage

100% tree-free

TimberTech Advanced PVC is made from zero trees and approximately 60% recycled PVC material following sustainable sourcing and manufacturing practices.

Sustainability made in the USA

TimberTech Advanced PVC is made in the USA. So our products travel much shorter distances and contribute considerably less pollution.

VINTAGE COLLECTION: AS BEAUTIFUL AS IPE

Whether you prefer the oiled or weathered Ipe look, you’ll love our Vintage Collection®. Engineered using a combination of multi-tonal color blending, a tight grain pattern, and a wire-brushed, low-gloss finish, it is designed to deliver the nuanced, nature-inspired beauty of hardwoods like Ipe.

WOOD

Oiled Ipe
TIMBERTECH

Mahogany
WOOD

Weathered Ipe
TIMBERTECH

Coastline
OTHER IPE-LIKE TIMBERTECH COLORS

Cypress
English Walnut

Sustainability Ipe can’t match

Ipe Decking

Higher Life Cycle Carbon Footprint4
10,774 kg Carbon Emissions

CONTRIBUTES TO DEFORESTATION
  • Land damage and habitat loss to Amazon flora & fauna
  • Inconsistent enforcement of regulations can lead to illegal trade
  • Carbon reserve loss
NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF TRANSPORTATION
  • Ipe travels about 8,000 miles just to get from Brazil to the US
  • Additional miles vary by state
  • Transportation fuels pollute the atmosphere with CO2
FREQUENT AND TOXIC MAINTENANCE
  • Annual (at minimum) maintenance requires chemical cleaning
  • Higher water consumption to wash & rinse the deck
  • Ipe oils can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

TimberTech Decking

Lower Life Cycle Carbon Footprint4
1,170 kg Carbon Emissions

MADE WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS
  • TimberTech Advanced PVC is made of about 60% recycled material—and is fully recyclable at the end of its useful life through AZEK’s FULL-CIRCLE Recycling Program
  • No trees are cut down to make our decking
  • We divert hundreds of millions of pounds of plastic waste from landfills each year
SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING IN THE USA
  • Up to 97% of the water in our closed-loop filtration system is reused
  • Approximately 99% of internal scrap in our facilities is reused
LOW-MAINTENANCE, ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING
  • TimberTech DeckCleaner is biodegradable
  • Low-maintenance decking means less frequent cleanings—and less water used

Performance backed by industry-leading warranties

In addition to delivering real wood beauty, TimberTech Advanced PVC offers unparalleled performance—a promise we proudly back up.

Our boards maintain their rich color and resist staining for decades.

Advanced PVC is highly resistant to moisture and won’t splinter, crack, peel, or rot—no sanding, staining, or sealing ever needed.

Advanced PVC Collections feature Class A Flame Spread Rating, WUI-Compliance, or both.

Made in the USA from approximately 60% recycled material, including post-construction scrap like vinyl siding, pipe and trim.

  1. CoP18 Doc.105.3: Consultation on proposals to amend the CITES Appendices for timber species. Available at: https://cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/18/doc/E-CoP18-105-03-A8.pdf
  2. https://www.forest-trends.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Demand-for-Luxury-Decks-in-Europe-and-NA-is-Pushing-Ipe-to-the-Brink-of-Extinction.pdf
  3. https://www.iucnredlist.org/about/citationinfo
  4. According to life cycle assessment studies commissioned by The AZEK Company, independently performed by Sphera and ACV Brasil, combined with company estimates assuming 60% recycled material in TimberTech Advanced PVC decking
  5. Transportation miles calculated in a base scenario within a life cycle assessment of Ipe decking performed by ACV Brasil in partnership with The AZEK Company
Boards from a Decking Sample Kit

Try Before You Buy

Order Free Samples

Compare colors, finishes, and materials, and see the real wood aesthetics of TimberTech composite decking in your outdoor space. Delivered to your door, 100% free.

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