is ironwood difficult to care for?
Ironwood is actually not a wood; it’s a name for a group of woods with similar properties. They aren’t completely interchangeable, though, and you should find out exactly what it is before you consider buying it. Ipe, for instance, has different properties than Hornbeam, but both can be labeled and sold as “Ironwood”. I’m going to GUESS it’s Ipe, though you should still confirm it, because this is the most common “upscale” decking material other than Mahogany (which is not an ironwood). Ipe is a great decking material. It’s very heavy, so you need a well-built support structure, but it also lasts a very long time. It requires little to no maintenance, weathers very well, resists rot, and won’t splinter or crack over time (unless you severely abuse it). New, it usually looks like this: http://www.ipedepot.com/website/ipe%20deck%20with%20hidden%20fasteners.jpg and it will weather to this: http://www.ocfp.com/Photos/Decking/ipe_donna_5yrs.jpg unless you stain and seal it. If you choose to
