What is a Corbel?

Corbel, pronounced ‘kȯr-bəl’ is an architectural support that projects upward and outward from within a wall, and supports weight. Here is an example of a detailed corbel from a JKath project.

Durability of Ipe

Brazilian Walnut, also referred to as Ipe (pronounced e-pay) or Ironwood, is an extremely dense, tight grained wood that typically grows in tropical South America. Ipe trees may grow to 140 feet in height with trunk diameter of up to 6 feet. It is one of the tallest trees of the Amazon region. This exotic wood is generally a deep rich brown color with some pieces displaying red and amber hues.

Ipe can be used both inside and outside your home. In the decking industry it is considered the premier wood material with the highest rating for insect, decay and fire resistance. Due to the wood’s fine texture and interlocking grain it offers superior slip resistance. This wood is so durable that, left untreated, it will last over 40 years, and up to 100 years if deck oil is used. In North America, the most commonly used wood decking, Western Cedar, pales in comparison. Ipe is almost seven times harder and has 3 times the bending strength of Western Cedar. Ipe decking is heavy, sinks in water and has a class A fire rating –the same as concrete. This is the main reason why the building inspector allowed this fireplace to be built on a wood deck! A deck made out of Ipe will give you decades of solid performance and beauty.

Reclaim a Story

What do you think of when you look at this fireplace mantle? “Wow! that mantle has been there a long time and is really old?” You are half right… The wood used to craft this mantle is over a hundred years old, but the mantle only a few months. The Douglas Fir timber in this picture was harvested from a century-old barn that has fallen into disrepair. Rather then send the aged wood to landfill, specialists take the building apart piece by piece, saving timbers that are valuable for another purpose… fine carpentry. When you choose reclaimed lumber for your project, you are not only buying recycled wood, you are buying a story. Reclaimed wood has already served a purpose in a previous life and you are giving it another in your home!

J Kath specializes in projects that integrate this unique, innovative and sustainable material. Reclaimed antique lumber has warmth, character and patina unlike any other lumber.