Angelim Amargoso (Angelim Pedra) Decking Boards Smooth 21x145mm

Angelim Amargoso — sold in the UK under the trade name Angelim Pedra — is one of the hardest and most durable tropical hardwood decking timbers available. With a Janka hardness of approximately 3,040–3,160 lbf, it sits in the same elite tier as Ipe, making it a premium choice for decking projects where long-term performance, exceptional durability, and a distinctive natural appearance are the priority. These smooth-face boards at 21x145mm deliver a refined, clean deck surface with the warm tan-brown to reddish-brown tones and characteristic mineral spots that make Angelim Pedra immediately recognisable.

Less widely known in the UK than Balau or Jatoba, Angelim Pedra is well established across continental Europe — particularly in the Netherlands and Germany — where it has been used for decades in demanding outdoor applications including harbour decking, bridge construction, and street furniture. For residential gardens, commercial terraces, and high-traffic outdoor spaces in the UK, it represents a genuinely premium hardwood decking option that is rarely matched for hardness and longevity.

Product Specifications

About Angelim Amargoso (Angelim Pedra)

Angelim Amargoso and Angelim Pedra are closely related trade names for the same category of dense Brazilian hardwood — primarily Dinizia excelsa — native to the Amazon forests of Brazil and Guyana. The name Angelim Pedra translates literally as "stone angelim", a reference to the distinctive small mineral inclusions found in the sapwood that give the timber one of its most recognisable characteristics. Angelim Amargoso ("bitter angelim") is the Portugeuse botanical trade name used in Brazil; Angelim Pedra is the name under which it is most widely traded in Europe and the UK.

The heartwood of Angelim Pedra ranges from warm tan-brown to reddish-brown, often with darker vertical streaking that adds depth and character to the finished deck surface. The grain is typically interlocked with a medium-coarse texture and moderate natural lustre — a more restrained, architectural appearance than the vivid reddish tones of Jatoba or the deep brown of Ipe, but no less premium. Freshly sawn boards may show lighter olive hues that deepen to the characteristic warm brown tones as the timber dries and is exposed to light.

Angelim Pedra's exceptional density — approximately 1,000–1,070 kg/m³ — places it among the heaviest commercially available decking timbers. This density is the root of all its performance characteristics: outstanding hardness, natural resistance to rot and insect attack, dimensional stability under load, and a surface that resists wear and denting far beyond what softer decking species can achieve.

Hardness and Durability

With a Janka hardness of approximately 3,040–3,160 lbf, Angelim Pedra is more than twice as hard as European oak (approx. 1,360 lbf) and significantly harder than Yellow Balau (approx. 1,600 lbf) and Jatoba (approx. 2,350 lbf). It sits alongside Ipe as one of the hardest decking timbers in commercial use, making it the specification choice for applications where the deck surface must withstand the most intensive daily use — commercial hospitality terraces, poolside decking, public boardwalks, and high-footfall outdoor spaces.

Its natural durability class of 1–2 reflects strong resistance to brown-rot and white-rot fungi, decay, and wood-boring insects — all without chemical preservative treatment. This is the same durability class achieved by Ipe and places Angelim Pedra among a small group of tropical hardwoods genuinely suited to the demanding outdoor conditions of the UK climate.

Angelim Pedra vs Ipe — The Key Differences

Ipe (Lapacho) is the benchmark premium hardwood decking species in the UK — widely specified, well known, and commanding a premium price. Angelim Pedra is increasingly recognised as the closest practical alternative, with comparable hardness, the same durability class, and a long service life. The key differences worth understanding:

Colour: Ipe is a deep olive-brown to near-black tone. Angelim Pedra is warmer — tan-brown to reddish-brown — giving a lighter, more open appearance that suits a wider range of design contexts.

Workability: Both species require pre-drilling and carbide-tipped blades. Angelim Pedra absorbs oils and stains more readily than Ipe, making surface finishing and ongoing maintenance more straightforward.

Availability: Ipe supply has tightened significantly due to export restrictions from Brazil. Angelim Pedra is more consistently available from sustainably managed sources.

Price: Angelim Pedra typically offers comparable performance to Ipe at a more accessible price point, making it an increasingly popular specification choice for projects where Ipe performance is required without Ipe pricing.

Angelim Pedra vs Yellow Balau

Yellow Balau is the most widely used hardwood decking species in the UK and a well-established, cost-effective choice for residential and commercial projects. Angelim Pedra is the step up — approximately twice the hardness, a denser grain structure, and a more distinctive appearance. For projects where maximum durability and a premium tropical hardwood specification are the brief, Angelim Pedra is the stronger choice. For projects where budget is a primary consideration and good durability is sufficient, our Yellow Balau decking range delivers excellent long-term performance at a lower cost per square metre.

Installation

These Angelim Pedra decking boards are face fixed. Pre-drilling pilot holes before driving screws is essential without exception — Angelim Pedra is one of the hardest commercially available decking timbers and will split boards and shear screw heads without pilot holes. Use stainless steel A2 or A4 screws throughout and carbide-tipped saw blades for all cutting operations. Standard HSS blades will blunt rapidly on timber of this density.

Leave a 5–6 mm gap between boards for drainage and seasonal movement. Acclimate boards on site for a minimum of 48–72 hours before installation. Install on a level, well-ventilated subframe with joists at maximum 400mm centres for residential use, reducing to 300mm for commercial or high-traffic applications. Seal all cut ends immediately after cutting with a hardwood end-grain sealer or decking oil to prevent moisture uptake at exposed grain.

We stock stainless steel screws and hardwood decking oils and stains suitable for Angelim Pedra decking.

Finishing and Maintenance

Angelim Pedra does not require treatment to maintain structural performance outdoors. Left untreated the boards will weather from their warm tan-brown to a silver-grey over approximately 12–18 months — a natural process that does not affect durability or lifespan. One of Angelim Pedra's practical advantages over Ipe is that it absorbs oils and stains particularly readily, making it straightforward to treat before installation and easy to maintain annually. Apply a UV-stable penetrating hardwood decking oil before installation to retain the warm natural colour and reapply as the surface demands.

Keep the deck clear of leaf debris and organic matter. Clean with a stiff brush and warm water — avoid pressure washing on hardwood decking. We stock Remmers and Koopmans hardwood oils and stains suitable for dense tropical hardwoods including Angelim Pedra.

Frequently Asked Questions