A complete Tigerwood deck typically costs about $40 to $65 per square foot installed in 2026. Published market estimates extend from roughly $30 to $70 per square foot because some figures cover only the finished surface while others include a new support structure, railings or difficult installation. Tigerwood boards alone commonly cost about $6 to $12 per square foot before freight, waste and fasteners.
At the typical complete-deck range, a 12-by-12-foot Tigerwood deck costs approximately $5,800 to $9,400, and a 20-by-20-foot project costs about $16,000 to $26,000. Elevated construction, premium lengths, complicated borders, extensive stairs and long-distance freight can raise the final price.
Tigerwood is a dense tropical hardwood recognized by dark streaks across an orange-brown or reddish-brown background. It offers a distinctive natural appearance but requires careful sourcing, board selection and installation. Compare it with Ipe, redwood and composite decking before deciding.
In this Cost Guide
Tigerwood Deck Cost at a Glance
| Cost level | Typical 2026 range | What the figure generally covers |
|---|---|---|
| Tigerwood boards | $6–$12+ per sq. ft. | Decking surface only; freight, waste, fasteners and structure are additional |
| Typical complete deck | $40–$65 per sq. ft. | A new straightforward deck with framing and professional installation |
| Broader quoted market | $30–$70 per sq. ft. | Varied scopes, regions, grades and project complexity |
| Common additions | Priced separately | Railings, stairs, demolition, engineering and major site preparation |
Do not add the rows together. Board-only pricing is useful for material comparison, while the installed range is a whole-project planning figure. Ask contractors to separate the surface, structure, railings, stairs and site work. Our deck cost estimator can help establish an initial budget.
Tigerwood Deck Cost by Size
The examples below multiply common deck areas by the typical $40 to $65 complete-project range. They assume a rectangular layout and ordinary site access.
| Deck size | Deck area | Estimated installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 feet | 100 sq. ft. | $4,000–$6,500 |
| 12 × 12 feet | 144 sq. ft. | $5,800–$9,400 |
| 10 × 20 feet | 200 sq. ft. | $8,000–$13,000 |
| 15 × 20 feet | 300 sq. ft. | $12,000–$19,500 |
| 20 × 20 feet | 400 sq. ft. | $16,000–$26,000 |
Small decks can cost more per square foot because mobilization, footings and permits are spread across less area. Large elevated decks may require heavier structure, longer stairs and more guardrail, so their total can exceed a simple area calculation.
What Is Tigerwood Decking?
In the U.S. decking market, Tigerwood commonly refers to Gonçalo Alves, often associated with Astronium species from Central and South America. The dark irregular striping creates its characteristic appearance. Because “Tigerwood” is also used for more than one commercial wood, ask the supplier for the botanical name, origin and grading information for the actual shipment.
The wood is dense, hard and naturally durable, but boards vary considerably in color and stripe pattern. A representative sample does not guarantee that every board will look the same. Good installers sort and blend the shipment across the deck before fastening.
What Changes the Price?
Grade and appearance selection
Clearer boards, stronger striping, carefully matched color and premium lengths generally cost more. Some suppliers offer standard, pre-grooved, tongue-and-groove or dimensional profiles. Tongue-and-groove material is normally intended for approved covered-porch applications, not an exposed deck where drainage between boards is required.
Board lengths and waste
Long boards reduce butt joints but can be more expensive to ship and handle. Straight layouts may need about 10% extra material. Diagonal decking, picture frames, multiple levels and selective color blending commonly need 15% or more.
Freight and availability
Tigerwood is imported and often sold through specialist hardwood distributors. Warehouse location, order size, board length and residential delivery affect landed cost. Confirm whether quoted prices include freight, unloading and any minimum order.
Installation labor
Dense hardwood takes longer to cut and fasten than softwood. Predrilling, carbide tooling, end sealing, hidden fasteners, plugs and careful board sorting increase labor. An installer unfamiliar with the species can waste expensive material or create avoidable checking and movement problems.
Structure and site conditions
Footings, posts, beams, joists, ledger flashing and connectors are a significant part of the project. Height, soil, frost depth, drainage, access and demolition can matter more than the deck-board price. Existing framing should be reused only after a qualified inspection confirms its condition, spacing and compatibility.
Railings and stairs
A low platform may not require a guard under local rules, while an elevated deck needs railings and access stairs. Those components are normally priced separately. Review material choices in our deck railing cost guide.
Tigerwood Decking Pros and Cons
Advantages
- Distinctive appearance: Dark striping and warm background colors create a natural surface unlike uniform manufactured boards.
- Natural durability: Properly specified heartwood has good resistance to decay and insects without pressure-treatment chemicals.
- Hard wearing: Dense boards resist many everyday dents and scratches better than softer woods.
- Long service potential: A well-detailed deck can provide decades of use when drainage, fastening and maintenance are appropriate.
- Finish choice: Owners can maintain more of the original color with a suitable penetrating finish or allow the surface to weather gray.
Disadvantages
- Natural variation: Stripe pattern and color differ from board to board and may be more dramatic than expected.
- Specialist installation: Density makes predrilling, sharp tools and correct fasteners important.
- Import and sourcing considerations: Availability, freight and documentation vary by supplier.
- Color maintenance: Retaining the fresh orange-brown tone requires periodic finish care.
- Surface heat: Dark boards can become hot in direct sun; temperature depends on color, exposure and local climate.
Tigerwood vs. Ipe and Composite Decking
Ipe decking is usually denser, darker and more expensive at about $50 to $70 per square foot installed. Tigerwood offers a more dramatic stripe pattern and can reduce the material budget, but both require hardwood installation practices and responsible sourcing checks.
Composite decking provides predictable colors, product-specific warranties and no need for a wood oil finish. Tigerwood provides real grain, can be refinished and develops a natural patina. Composite may be easier to source locally, while Tigerwood appeals to buyers who specifically want an exotic hardwood appearance.
Compare full project scopes rather than surface prices. Framing, stairs, railings, demolition and permits can narrow or widen the difference between materials.
Sourcing Tigerwood Responsibly
Do not assume every tropical-hardwood shipment has the same environmental credentials. Ask for the botanical species, country of origin, supplier documentation and evidence supporting any legal-harvest or certified-forest claim. If FSC certification is required, confirm that the certificate and chain-of-custody details apply to the product being purchased—not merely to the company in general.
Purchase from an established distributor that can provide grading, moisture, installation and warranty information. Very low prices may reflect short lengths, mixed quality, incomplete freight or a different species sold under the same trade name.
Installation Details That Matter
- Store and acclimate correctly. Keep boards supported, covered from direct rain and ventilated. Follow the supplier’s instructions for the shipment’s moisture condition and destination climate.
- Sort before fastening. Blend light, dark and strongly striped boards across the deck so variation looks intentional.
- Use the specified gap. Spacing depends on board moisture and expected movement. One fixed gap is not correct for every shipment.
- Predrill and use sharp carbide tooling. Dense hardwood can split fasteners, burn during cutting or damage ordinary blades.
- Seal fresh end cuts. Apply the supplier-approved end sealer promptly to reduce end checking.
- Use compatible fasteners. Stainless-steel screws or an approved hidden-fastener system are common choices, particularly in coastal exposure.
- Provide drainage and airflow. Do not fasten deck boards directly to concrete or another solid surface. Use an approved joist or sleeper system and avoid trapping water.
- Control dust. Use extraction, eye protection and respiratory protection appropriate for fine hardwood dust.
Framing spans, footing depth, ledger attachment, guard heights and stair geometry are governed by the design and local code. Manufacturer instructions for the decking do not replace structural plans.
Finishing and Maintenance
Tigerwood does not have to be coated to retain its basic identity as a hardwood surface, but unfinished boards weather toward silver-gray. If you want to preserve more of the original color and contrast, choose a penetrating exterior finish specifically approved for dense tropical hardwood.
Follow the finish manufacturer’s preparation, application and recoat instructions. Tigerwood’s density and extractives can interfere with unsuitable products, so avoid broad rules such as “always use water-based” or “always use oil-based.” The correct answer depends on the tested product.
Sweep away grit and leaves, keep gaps and drainage paths clear, and move mats or planters periodically so areas can dry. Clean with the least aggressive approved method. High-pressure washing can roughen fibers and damage edges; it should not be treated as routine care.
Inspect the entire deck at least annually for loose fasteners, checking, movement, trapped moisture, failing finish and structural problems. Recoat according to exposure and product condition rather than an arbitrary calendar.
How Long Does Tigerwood Decking Last?
A properly installed Tigerwood deck can reasonably be planned as a 25- to 30-plus-year surface, and favorable conditions may produce a longer service life. That is not a guarantee. Species, heartwood content, drainage, ventilation, finish care, climate and construction quality all matter.
The supporting structure may need repair before the hardwood surface. On an older deck, inspect the ledger, flashing, posts, beams, joists, footings and connectors before resurfacing. See our deck repair guidance for warning signs.
DIY or Professional Installation?
Tigerwood is not an ideal first decking project. It is expensive to miscut, dense enough to demand good tools and unforgiving when moisture, spacing or end-sealing details are missed.
An experienced carpenter may handle a small low platform using approved plans and supplier instructions. Hire a qualified deck builder for elevated structures, structural replacement, complicated layouts, hidden-fastener systems or projects requiring permits and engineering.
How to Compare Tigerwood Deck Quotes
Ask at least three contractors to price the same drawings and written specification. Each proposal should identify:
- Botanical species or supplier product, origin, grade, profile and actual dimensions
- Board lengths, appearance-selection expectations and waste allowance
- Requested certification or chain-of-custody documentation
- Framing species, treatment, joist layout, footings and ledger flashing
- Fastener system, connector coatings and end-seal product
- Freight, delivery, storage and site handling
- Railings, stairs, borders, fascia, lighting and built-ins as separate items
- Demolition, disposal, permits, engineering, inspections and cleanup
- Finish system, warranties, exclusions and payment schedule
A board-only quote may look inexpensive while omitting freight, waste, structure and installation. Compare scope and contractor experience as well as price.
Tigerwood Decking FAQs
How much do Tigerwood boards cost?
Current supplier estimates commonly place Tigerwood boards around $6 to $12 per square foot before freight, waste, fasteners, framing and labor. Premium lengths and profiles can cost more.
How much is a complete Tigerwood deck?
A typical complete new deck costs about $40 to $65 per square foot installed. A broader $30 to $70 market range reflects differences in scope, region, grade and complexity.
Does Tigerwood need to be sealed?
It can weather naturally to gray. Use a penetrating finish approved for dense hardwood if retaining more of the original color is important. Follow the product instructions rather than applying a generic annual schedule.
Can Tigerwood go over pressure-treated framing?
It often can when the structure is sound, properly spaced and compatible with the deck-board and fastener requirements. Movement, ventilation, flashing and connector specifications must be considered as a complete assembly.
How much waste should I order?
Allow about 10% for a simple straight layout. Diagonal patterns, borders, complex shapes, long-board selection and deliberate color blending may require 15% or more.
Is Tigerwood the same as Ipe?
No. Both are dense tropical hardwoods, but they have different appearance, physical properties, availability and pricing. Verify the botanical species because trade names can be used inconsistently.
Sources and Cost Methodology
We triangulated the price range rather than copying one figure. HomeGuide’s February 2026 deck-cost data reports Tigerwood at approximately $40 to $64 per square foot for a complete new deck. Current Angi market data reports a wider installed range of about $30 to $70, while Ipe Woods USA places material alone around $6 to $12 per square foot. Our $40 to $65 typical range and size examples reconcile those scopes and round the calculations for planning.
Installation guidance was checked against current information from TigerDeck and AdvantageLumber, including end sealing and system-specific maintenance. Always follow the instructions supplied with the actual product.
Local prices can differ materially. See How We Research Deck Costs for our editorial methodology and affiliate disclosure.