Sealing or Oiling Ipe Decks

Sealing or Oiling Ipe Decks:

Ipe is a very dense wood and have been called names such as “Ironwood,”because it’s tough like steel; and the correct way to pronounce Ipe would be “ee-pay.” Since Ipe decking is incredibly dense, you must treat the decking with an oil based stain in a certain way, to maintain the original exotic look of the wood.

Ipe has no one-coat solution and can absorb only a small amount of oil on the first application, if you were to apply to much oil it would begin to puddle up and not absorb. We feel it’s best to build up coats of sealant over a period of time for optimal results. After we finished sanding the deck down, we begin to apply a couple of coats, keeping in consideration of not over doing it. Depending on the location of your deck and how much sunlight directly hits your deck, will determine how many coats in your first year you’ll do. It’s not all that uncommon to have to apply 2-4 coats of oil on your decking. Basically, once you’ve applied the first couple of coats let the deck become seasoned before you apply another coat –typically 1-2 months time, then again 6 months later.

The natural look of Ipe:

Ipe wood has its own natural decay defenses, so sealing is not necessary. Ipe’s natural density will prevent water absorption, cupping, splintering and twisting issues common with traditional decking materials. It will remain smooth and splinter free, aging to a silver patina that will outlast most woods with no chemical coating.

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