Cumaru vs Ipe vs Garapa: Honest Hardwood Comparison for LA Builds
Three tropical hardwoods, three different price points, three different lifespans, three different finish behaviors. Cumaru, Ipe, and Garapa are the three woods we work with most. Here's the honest comparison after fourteen years of building with all three across LA's climate range.
Written by
Israel Acquino — Founder & General Contractor · CSLB #964664
Density and lifespan — the structural truth
Janka hardness rates Cumaru at 3540, Ipe at 3680, Garapa at 1700. Oak runs 1290 for reference. Lifespan in LA's climate: Ipe 50–75 years, Cumaru 25–35, Garapa 20–25. Cedar runs 8–14 years for context. The density delta between Ipe and Cumaru is small in absolute terms but meaningful in lifespan because the harder wood resists moisture infiltration longer at the cellular level. Garapa is roughly half the density of Cumaru — still leagues beyond cedar, but a different category from the other two.
Color and weathering
Cumaru: honey-amber to medium reddish-brown day one, weathers to deep chestnut sealed or silver-grey unsealed. Ipe: olive-brown to dark brown with subtle striping, weathers to a uniform silver-grey if left unsealed. Garapa: golden-honey to amber-yellow, weathers to a softer silver than Ipe — slightly warmer, slightly faster. Cedar weathers to grey but inconsistently and often with spot-rot if not maintained. The unsealed silver patina is increasingly popular for Ipe and Cumaru — it's a one-time decision per project, and we recommend committing one direction or the other rather than re-sealing intermittently.
Climate fit for LA's microregions
Coastal (Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Manhattan Beach within 1 mile of the water): Ipe and Cumaru both excellent; Garapa works but needs annual sealing in the salt-fog zone. Fire zones (Topanga, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, parts of Bel Air): Ipe is naturally Class A fire-rated, which is a significant advantage. Cumaru and Garapa need intumescent coating in VHFHSZ areas. Hot inland (Encino, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Woodland Hills): all three perform well with periodic sealing; UV exposure can fade unsealed surfaces faster in inland LA.
Price comparison
Per linear foot for fence builds (fully installed): Ipe $140–$225, Cumaru $110–$175, Garapa $85–$135. Per square foot for decks: Ipe $95–$195, Cumaru $75–$160, Garapa $65–$135. Raw board-foot pricing for reference: Ipe $11–$18, Cumaru $8.50–$14, Garapa $6–$10. Across the same project scope, the spread is roughly Ipe = 1.0x, Cumaru = 0.78x, Garapa = 0.62x.
Which to choose — our actual recommendations
Cumaru for 60% of our projects. It's the right answer for most LA homeowners — premium look, 25-35 year lifespan, mid-tier price. Ipe for 20% — clients who want 50+ year lifespan, coastal or hillside cantilever builds, or fire-zone Class A natural rating. Garapa for 15% — clients who want bright honey color, are budget-conscious but want real hardwood, or are doing inland builds where salt isn't a factor. Cedar (with Cumaru caps) for the remaining 5% — budget-driven, short-hold, or HOA-required cedar specifications.
Questions homeowners ask