Red Balau is one of our more versatile types of hardwood. It’s not as dense as Tigerwood, making it easier to cut, saw, and nail. Depending on your maintenance preferences, you can achieve two different looks with your Red Balau deck. Regular upkeep and treatments will keep your deck looking fresh, clean, and brand new. However, a new trend in Colorado is the incorporation of rustic and weathered themes. By not treating as often, your deck will achieve a more silver-gray tone, giving your deck the contemporary, rustic look.

Like most of the lumber products we have in stock, Red Balau is resistant to decay, rot, termites, and extreme weather conditions. Red Balau also proves to be highly resistant to shrinkage and splintering, while requiring maintenance on an annual to bi-annual basis. These can be attributed to Red Balau’s density, as it is about 4 times denser than redwood. A dense hardwood like this will offer more resistance than traditional softwoods, making it the best economical and reliable choice!

These two woods are very similar. Both styles are highly dense making them incredibly durable and reliable. Both are resistant to scratches, wood burrowing pests and rot. Red Balau offers a bit more versatility, allowing the owner to achieve a weathered look if they’d like, while IPE maintains a classic and timeless look. That being said, this decision is more about what you prefer! Both being from our exotic hardwood stock, no matter which one you choose, you’ll end up with top-notch quality lumber. So come down to our yard and we can help you determine which one you’ll choose for your new deck!