Ipe Deck

13 years ago

(reported from remodleing forum)

Building a new 14"x30' Ipe deck (screened in). My contractor (with great references) is planning to install the ipe deck (7/8th thickness?) with finish nails, that he claims never move and will never protrude because the wood never moves. He plans to seal them. I am not even sure I want the look by using clips, but that sounds appealing. I know everyone on the forum says never to use nails, but why it is that big a problem? Is it because they eventually come out?

The difference in price from nail to clips is like $2,500 because it seems like thicker decking is usually required and installing with clips it is much more labor intensive.

btw- if I go with clips, which are the best? (I am not doing myself). Thanks all...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

aidan_m
13 years ago
You are either misinformed or dealing with a complete beginner. Go have a look at another job this guy did with Ipe and nails, then come back here.

OK, John have some fun with this. ; )
mikebdeck
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks, kind of what I expected to hear so makes me even more nervous. He has told me that the nails are really to keep in place (the nails are really only need to keep the wood straight until the glue drys). He did say he nails right into it though (with a nail gun)!

I did check out one deck he made this way, but it was Port Orford Cedar (obviously a lot softer). It looked fine, but he said has made like 30 decks this way without a problem...
Related Discussions
Deck mat on Ipe deck?
Q
Comments (4)
Hey thanks for the responses. I've decided to install a small concrete pad next to the deck and build a platform (the elevation of the deck at this point is under 24 inches and won't impede airflow under the deck) to permanently house the smoker and grill. It'll be kind of like an outdoor kitchen. Thanks again, Bryan
...See More
Ipe Deck -- Joists and Deck Board thickness questions
Q
Comments (2)
1. I would go w/ 2X10s for the ledger & joists. While most 2X8s can span 12 feet it depends on your local jurisdiction's code & what the live & dead loads are, the deflection coefficients, and the type joists. Plus 2X10s will reduce the floor bounce better than 2X8s. Also, since you are cantilevering the IRC code requires that 2X10 joists be used. The size girder is dependant on the post spacing. I would go w/ 5 posts spaced at 6'. Three 2X10s are plenty sufficient for that. 2. I would go w/ 5/4 if money is no object & probably even it it was. Less cupping typically & if you want to run the decking on a diagonal that increases the span but no problem w/ 5/4 IPE. 3. The joist's spacing is related to the joist span (which is 12' approximately (I guess 11' since it sounds like it will be cantilevered by 1')) and to the size & type of joists used. I would go w/ 16" OC.
...See More
Ipe deck stain job with Restore-a-Deck and TWP116 - 1 year later
Q
Comments (41)
Jim, I just cant see you diging up really old posts, going on and on about it, with out some type of goal. Exactley what are you trying to prove??? Go to my site, All the ipe projects have 116 on them. As you can see they are not Red or Redwood or anything close to that. Saying it is makes me Mad clear and simple. Now if you put 116 on say preasure treated,garapa or any light color wood then Yes its going to come out a different color than 116 on ipe. This is basic 101 wood finish. Any of the resin base twp products can be mixed together to come up with a different color. I have used combos like that when puting finish on Garapa and other woods. I put cedar tone natural on ipe one time because the Wallet asked for it the result was bad but I did what they wanted however for ipe its most always the 116. Ipe itself is not one color it ranges from almost black to a light tan 116 levals out the differances but the result is not Red. Any color chip you get from Any finish store is going to be different on another kind of wood other than the wood used on the chip you cant expect them to have samples of finish on every kind of product. Just get off it Man. Its up to the Customer to know if one finish is the right one for them. There is no way twp is showing product online / samples / or color chips that dont match up with what they sell. You might not agree with what they call it if so just pick another name for your self and call it that but it Defentley is what they say it is and what they say they sell is what they sell. The JonMon has been a little tense latley after a long term project was real hard on me. This is a mixed site if I could I would edit my last response but O Well. J.
...See More
New Deck at Night - IPE Deck completed
Q
Comments (15)
Hi My, To answer your question. No, I don't have a per Sq. ft figure, but my deck is about 430 square feet. I purchased about 550sq ft. of materials from www.ipedepot.com, 5/4 6" pre-grooved ipe decking mixed lengths and the stainless steel clips (5 boxes) 80 feet of the large hand rail caps (deck railing) and about 10 feet of the small rail caps (Stairs)and solid 4X4 ipe posts for about $5800 including shipping to Long Island, NY. You should check out Gearge@eastteak for comporable pricing as well. I also spent another $1500 on the substructure (concrete and the ACQ PT pine) and about $6000 for the labor. Deck was completed in two weeks from start to finish. The glass balusters were purchased serperately @ $53.00 per box. MSRP $89.99 and each box has 5 pieces of balusters and exact hardware for each of the 5 panes. The lights are from hpdlighting.com and the tiffany post caps are about $25.00 per cap (non lighted). I customized the caps to have them lit up... Hope this helps? -Alex
...See More
brooklyndecks
13 years ago
If he nails your ipe deck, you'll be screwed.

steve
mikebdeck
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks. I am off of nails for sure. I guess screwing in is the way to go, but...

I know people don't like clips, but if you had to choose one, which would it be? Does it matter what the thickness of the wood would be? My understanding is that for a deck on 16" joists, the 3/4 inches (or 7/8?) will work just fine.
john_hyatt
13 years ago
Back in the old days of ipe. There was a Guy puting down 5/4 ipe with a 16 g trim nailer over adhesive. This was from a site that got shut down by the spamers, you know Steve.

Anyway I dident think the gun could do it until I tried. and it would do it with a counter sink even. The thing is it would do it a few times. Going thru ipe is really hard on the tool so with my test it took several driver replacments to even get some production going at all. Then there was the inbetween times when it was worn out a little and started shining the nails up about a 1/4''. So everything had to stop to repair the tool and pull those stupid little nails out,a chore all by itself, and start again. I also had to wait on the compreser to be up to full 120 lb before pulling the trigger or the nails would shine up for that reason too.

All and All its a stupid thing to do, even if a Person could make it work there is no reason to trust that kind of fastening on Ipe. J.
salmon_slayer
13 years ago
Mike,

Run..............

That dog don't hunt!!! (Hows that John?)

Anyway, look at the link for Ipe installation info

Here is a link that might be useful: Ipe information
deckman22
13 years ago
I'd like to see an ipe deck that was fastened with trim nails & glue that was a few years old. I bet it would look as bad as if eb-ty's were used.
brooklyndecks
13 years ago
John,

That was a good forum, with a great group of guys...till the spam ruined it.
Setting 5/4 ipe with 16 ga nails just seems wrong for a few reasons, and shooting large nails is just dumb. Ipe is so hard that if a big nail could get thru it, it would split it, especially at the ends.
Nothing beats screwing down decking, and my clients deserve the best.

steve
mikebdeck
Original Author
13 years ago
It was indeed small nails to hold for the glue - - seems like it would work for a few years, but down the road could be a mess.

So everyone says don't use the tigerclaw clips then? Seems like the only viable option other than screws, but maybe even that won't cut it.
john_hyatt
13 years ago
Fastening ipe with ss screws is a sure thing. Tried and True.

Screwing and pluging is also a sure thing and a sweet look.

You defentley need another Contractor Mike.

Thanks for the Help Guys!!! Yo Steve I remember on the old site Joe Wood was just geting into Sekch up , now he is a total master/ adviser with the program. " I got the Ipe Blues!!!!!!!!!! " JonMon

Ipe Deck

Comments (10)

aidan_m

mikebdeck
Original Author

Related Discussions

brooklyndecks

mikebdeck
Original Author

john_hyatt

salmon_slayer

deckman22

brooklyndecks

mikebdeck
Original Author

john_hyatt

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Ipe Deck

Comments (10)

aidan_m

mikebdeckOriginal Author

Related Discussions

brooklyndecks

mikebdeckOriginal Author

john_hyatt

salmon_slayer

deckman22

brooklyndecks

mikebdeckOriginal Author

john_hyatt

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

mikebdeck
Original Author

mikebdeck
Original Author

mikebdeck
Original Author