Wishbone has always prioritized sustainability
with 100% recycled plastic lumber, but some
customers want the look and feel of wood. Ipe is
the traditional exotic hardwood that is great for
outdoor furnishings, but it is also a slow-growing
tropical “at risk” species, making it unsustainable.
Wishbone is proud to offer a strand woven bamboo lumber option that outperforms Ipe for hardness, dimensional stability and fire resistance. Most significantly, it requires very little maintenance and can be sanded to remove graffiti or minor scratches. Full length bamboo strands are combined with ~10% phenolic glue and modified under intense heat and pressure, making the resulting boards harder and stronger than almost any hardwood. Bamboo is grown in only 2 years, supporting our commitment to the environment and price competitiveness.
| HARDENED BAMBOO | IPE HARDWOOD | |
|---|---|---|
|
BRINELL
HARDNESS
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
9.5 kg/mm2
|
IPE HARDWOOD:
5.9 kg/mm2
|
|
DENSITY
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
1150 kg/m3
|
IPE HARDWOOD:
1060 kg/m3
|
|
DIMENSIONAL
STABILITY
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Length + 0.1 %, Width + 0.9 %
(24 hours in 20°C water) |
IPE HARDWOOD:
Tangential - 7.1 %, Radial - 5.5 %
(Green to oven dry) |
|
DURABILITY
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Class 1 in use (25 year warranty)
Excellent against rot, insects & fungi |
IPE HARDWOOD:
Class 1 durability (25+ years)
Excellent against insects & decay |
|
FIRE
RESISTANCE
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Class A (ASTM E84)
Highly fire resistant |
IPE HARDWOOD:
Class A (ASTM E84)
Known for natural fire resistance |
|
WEATHER
RESISTANCE
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Excellent stability with moisture;
Slight greying over time, if untreated |
IPE HARDWOOD:
Moderate stability with moisture
Slight greying over time, if untreated |
|
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Carbon neutral;
Renewable 2 year bamboo growth |
IPE HARDWOOD:
CITES Appendix II “at risk” species
~100 years to reach maturity |
|
MAINTENANCE
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Low maintenance; Can be sanded;
Oil to maintain colour |
IPE HARDWOOD:
Low maintenance; Can be sanded;
Oil to maintain colour |
|
COST
|
HARDENED BAMBOO:
Lower cost compared to
exotic hardwoods |
IPE HARDWOOD:
Higher cost due to limited supply
and long harvesting cycles |
