.png?width=140&quality=70){kind=logo}
Hardwood Timbers — Heavy Beams & Posts
Heavy-duty tropical hardwood timbers (Ipe, Cumaru, and other species) for structural and decorative applications including posts, beams, stair treads, and landscape features. Select your species from the dropdown below.
Common Timber Applications
Posts & Beams
Structural support for pergolas and pavilions
Stair Treads
Durable, slip-resistant outdoor stairs
Landscape Features
Retaining walls, raised beds, benches
Dock & Marine
Pilings, dock framing, boardwalks
What Are Hardwood Timbers?
Hardwood timbers are heavy-duty dimensional lumber milled from dense tropical hardwood. Unlike standard decking boards (5/4" or 1" thick), timbers are thicker cross-sections—typically 2x, 3x, 4x, 6x, or 8x dimensions—designed for structural and decorative applications that require exceptional strength and durability.
Why Choose Tropical Hardwood for Timbers?
- ✓ Janka hardness up to 3,680 lbf—among the hardest woods in the world
- ✓ Natural resistance to rot, decay, insects, and marine borers
- ✓ Class A fire rating—same as steel and concrete
- ✓ 50+ year lifespan even in harsh outdoor environments
- ✓ No chemical treatments required
Available Timber Sizes
| Nominal Size | Actual Dimensions | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 2x4 | 1.5" × 3.5" | Light framing, small posts |
| 2x6 | 1.5" × 5.5" | Beams, joists, framing |
| 2x8 | 1.5" × 7.25" | Headers, rim joists |
| 4x4 | 3.5" × 3.5" | Posts, railings, heavy framing |
| 4x6 | 3.5" × 5.5" | Large beams, pergola posts |
| 6x6 | 5.5" × 5.5" | Heavy posts, dock pilings |
| 8x8 | 7.5" × 7.5" | Massive posts, marine applications |
Note: Actual dimensions reflect standard planing. Custom dimensions available upon request.
Timber Applications in Detail
Posts & Beams
Structural support for pergolas, pavilions, decks, and covered outdoor living spaces. Tropical hardwood's incredible strength allows for longer spans and fewer supports compared to softer woods.
Popular sizes: 4x4, 4x6, 6x6 for posts • 2x6, 2x8, 4x6 for beams
Stair Treads
Heavy, slip-resistant outdoor stairs. The density and hardness of tropical hardwoods create durable, long-lasting treads that won't splinter or rot. Common for commercial and residential exterior stairs.
Popular sizes: 2x6, 2x8, 2x10 for residential • 4x thickness for commercial
Landscape Features
Retaining walls, raised garden beds, border edging, outdoor benches, and arbors. Hardwood timbers resist ground contact decay and last decades without treatment.
Popular sizes: 2x6, 2x8 for raised beds • 4x4, 6x6 for heavy retaining walls
Dock & Marine Applications
Pilings, dock framing, boardwalks, and marine structures. The extreme density and natural oils of tropical hardwoods resist saltwater, freshwater, and marine borer damage better than any other wood.
Popular sizes: 6x6, 8x8 for pilings • 2x6, 2x8, 4x4 for dock framing
Working With Heavy Timbers
Structural Considerations
Refer to the AWC National Design Specification for timber engineering data.
- • Consult a structural engineer for load-bearing applications
- • Allow for wood movement with proper joinery and hardware spacing
- • Expect some checking (surface cracking) in larger timbers—this is normal and cosmetic
- • Use appropriate metal connectors rated for outdoor use
Installation Best Practices
- • Pre-drill ALL holes—tropical hardwoods are extremely dense and will split without pilot holes
- • Use galvanized or stainless steel hardware only
- • Seal all cut ends with end-grain sealer to reduce checking
- • Allow for expansion gaps in timber assemblies
Understanding Checking in Heavy Timbers
Checking (surface cracking) is a natural phenomenon in large hardwood timbers and does NOT affect structural integrity. Here's what you need to know:
What Causes Checking?
As timbers dry and acclimate, the outer surface dries faster than the interior. This creates stress that relieves itself through small surface cracks, especially in larger cross-sections like 6x6 or 8x8 timbers.
Is It a Problem?
No. Checking is purely cosmetic and does not compromise the timber's structural capacity or lifespan. It's expected and accepted in the industry for heavy timber construction. Some customers embrace it as character.
Pro Tip: Sealing cut ends with end-grain sealer minimizes checking. For timbers exposed to weather, expect some checking regardless—it's part of working with natural, solid wood.