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Porches & Decks

IPE Deck Project Complete! - Pictures

17 years ago

I recently completed a 225 sq ft, irregular shaped, second level deck project. The 5/4 Ipe deck boards are face screwed and plugged. I could not have completed the project without the help of this forum.

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Comments (16)

pressurepros
17 years ago
Beautiful! Nice job. I hope you get many years of enjoyment from it.
nutsandbolts
17 years ago
The only problem I see with it is it is not on my house! Awesome job. I am jealous of your skill and handywork. Makes me want to go out and redo portioons of mine...thanks a lot.
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All of the finishing touches are nearly completed; door installed, water mister installed, low-voltage lighting, ceiling fan and post lighting installed. My local urban landscape expert planted 5 burning bushes. They used an old cable-company bucket truck to get 500 lbs of soil and the plants to the 3rd story deck. I took a ride in the bucket at the end of the day and got some really great pictures of the deck from a vantage point I wouldn't otherwise be able to acheive. Next, I need to get a couple coats of TWP 116 stain down. After that, my landscape guy can come back and plant a wisteria in each of the large terra cotta-colored planters that are on either side of the deck. The hope is that, over time, they will grow and create a canopy over the pergola.
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Guess the links didn't work!! Here: http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck2.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/kiwi.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_7.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_7.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_6.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_1.html http://photos.gardenweb.com/home/galleries/2009/07/deck_3.html
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My partially completed Ipe deck, I got some questions...
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First I'd like to thank everyone for the info on this site. Second this is an update to my Ipe deck project. I finished the back deck, except for the step, and am working on the front deck now (pics of that someday). Check the link below to see my photos. Weedy, how exactly do you post the photos directly in this message? I don't see any obvious way to do it. I guess you have to write some (fairly simple) html? This project is taking me forever, being a weekend warrior, having 3 young kids, and 2 unfinished bathrooms inside the house. So the staining will have to wait until next year. Should be ok, right? So right now I am having some concerns with the quality of the Ipe I got. Seems ok, but who knows, this is the one-and-only Ipe deck I have ever built. Some pieces are real dark, some are real light. Some are really really hard (dark boards), some are softer (light boards). Some are clear, some have a tiger-like grain to them. Some seem a bit rough when you run your hand up one way, then smooth if you rub the other way. 3 or 4 boards have lots and lots of checks, almost the whole 15 foot length of board. Most of the boards have no checks. I have one board that looks like it will destroy your foot if you walk on it. I think I'll have to replace that board, I don't know how I did not notice it, when I put that board down. It looks like the grain is sort of lifted, and could cause nasty splinters in your foot (See pictures 10 and 11). 3 or 4 few boards seem fine, but have knots in them (pics 13 and 15). Will these spots worsen over time? I bought 1725 linear feet of boards. There are probably six 15-footers that I probably should toss in the dumpster. Maybe six others that are usable but not the greatest. Not really sure about the rest, if it is so-so, good, great, top quality or not. Of course I was assured that the Ipe was top quality, all heart wood clear Ipe, blah blah blah. Would anyone expert here want me to mail them some scrap cuts to examine? Or even better, stop by and look at my deck? Just kidding… The railings. I chickened out on the Ipe railings. No way I get the project done this year. So I did the shiny PVC rail, and put an Ipe rail on top of it. I like it, I think the front deck I will do the same. The pics in that gallery are hi-res, so you can view full screen, or better yet download them and zoom in real close to see the detail. Any info appreciated, Jim. Here is a link that might be useful: Ipe deck gallery
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IPE Deck Progress........with pictures
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Comments (12)
Just finished Weekend #3 (Day 5 1/2)..... Progress is pictured below. A few thoughts: -- Did a 1/16" gap.....Seems a little tight now, but hopefully with a little shrinkage in the boards, they will widen to a nice gap. My wife likes the small gap.....she says it looks more like flooring, than decking. -- Doing the Brown Headocote screws (Thanks Manasquan fasteners). Awesome screws....But what a Pain the Arse to keep the screws in line. Thank god they are brown and blend into the IPE boards real well.....cause the train does does come off the track on some of the screw lines.....oh well. cest la vie. -- Laying down the boards, squaring the cuts, lining up the screw holes, pre-drilling, then sending in the screw. PHEW. Quite a slow process for me and my partner. Still have to go back and fill in some screws.... -- Got a few Anchor Seal stains. They'll blend in eventually. -- I got my IPE from a local lumber supply shop in CT...a high end shop. But I was surprised about the bows and whips in the boards. The framing PT was significantly straighter than the IPE. I was shocked by this. Is it normal for the IPE boards to be so bowed?? -- Been using the Smart Bit....Awesome little tool. I was using the old one too (the one that you can't change the bit if it breaks). I had just remarked to my partner that we had gone almost the whole way so far without breaking the bit....then BAM! Snapped three bits with in a matter of a half hour. I think the battery in my Makita 14.4 was going dead and the drill just was working to hard.... To top it off I lost the set screw in the new Smart Bit. ugh. -- Oh, yeah the Makita 14.4 Drill and Impact Driver Set......one word: awesome. The impact driver sends in the Headcote screws no problem. Will post more pics and update next weekend. Thanks again to everyone on the forum who has helped me in this Do-It-Yourselfer endeavor....
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sweet11395
17 years ago
NICE JOB STU_R!!!! BTW what finish did you use on the IPE???
stu_r
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for all of the positive comments!

This project was a long time in the planning so I was able to obtain samples of various finishes and apply them to test strips of Ipe and let them age in the sun. I sampled Behr, Cabots ATO, One Time Wood, Pentofin, Flood CWF, and TWP. I ended up using TWP 116 because it had the best color and retained the finish the longest.
john_hyatt
17 years ago
Looking Goooood Stu! that end grain trim makes it all so easy did you put a router detail on it? and those curved balusters really make it nice, a major thumbs up from the John Mon, dont you luv that 116. J
brooklyndecks
17 years ago
Stu,
Beautiful deck dude. I often wonder why DIYers think that they can build their own deck. I know that it isn't brain surgery, but it does require skills and tools. You obviously have both.

I wanted to zoom in on some of the details, but the link took me to photobucket.com, and I couldn't get to your pics

well done

steve
joefromsd
17 years ago
Beautiful job Stu! Geeze, wish I could get that 116 in Cali.

Where did you get those balusters??
stu_r
Original Author
17 years ago
The balusters are Deckorators Architectural Balusters. I special ordered mine from lowes but they are also available on the Deckorators web site at deckorators.com I also found mcfeeleys to have better prices on samll quantities of SS nuts, hex bolts, and carriage bolts.
stanza30
17 years ago
Why did you choose to connect the boards with face screws and plugging. We are going to use IPE for our front porch and back deck. Our contractor has discouraged me from this technique because he felt it would have problems down the road. I think he said that the plugs would eventually come out due to the weathering it would receive. So he is looking at hidden fastening systems. Can you give me you opinon on this?
pressurepros
17 years ago
do a search on the topic (this board has a search option) I think it is universal among every pro here that those hidden fasteners can present many more problems. If you use the right glue those plugs will never come out or, in the worst case scenario every five years you may replace a total of five of them
john_hyatt
17 years ago
I am thinking>> A- your Contractor has never used either of these fasteners,,B-your Contractor has never worked with ipe,,C your contractor wants to sell a few ipe clips.

John agrees with the Ken far as the plugs being light years ahead of the clips in a lot of areas. Done right a joint done with Tightbond111 is stronger than the wood itself. J
stu_r
Original Author
17 years ago
Stanza:
I'm a DIY'er and I researched "hidden fasteners" on this forum. The overwhelming advise on the hidden fasteners is "DON'T USE THEM" . Since I did my deck myself, the cost of labor was not an issue. Face screwing and plugging was less expensive than buying pre-grooved IPE and special clips that probably will fail. I'm not concerned with the plugs popping out. Gorilla Glue is plenty strong!
Stu
ekoreilly
17 years ago
Hey OP, what railing system is that? IPE too? wide rail?
commanche
17 years ago
real nice job,wish i had skill and health to do it that way..

i am using the headcote screws with no plugs..
stu_r
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for all of the compliments. The railing is constructed of an IPE 2X4 on edge betweeen the posts. The top rail is an IPE 2X6. After the top was installed I took my router with a 3/8 radius bit along the top.
Stu
bosco_deck
15 years ago
Getting my IPE lumber tom. Is it ok to install it the same day or does it need a few days to breathe to get use to the climate?

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