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Porches & Decks

Ipe board scalloping

14 years ago

Hi all,

I just received my shipment of Ipe 5/4x6 from a local yard and many of the boards have 1" scalloping of varying depths - about 1/32" to 3/32" - running along the width, every 3 feet or so. It's like a repeating pattern, so I assume this is from a planer. It's similar to the scalloping on oak flooring that is sanded out when finished. Is this normal for Ipe? In all other respects, the boards look good.

Thanks

Bill

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Comments (9)

john_hyatt
14 years ago
Some Folks would complain if they got hung with a brand new rope. J.
weedyacres
14 years ago
Can you post a close-up photo?
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No problem, install cup down. That board was most likely on top of the stack as it sat in the lumberyard and the top dried out more than the rest of the boards. Since you are seasoning the Ipe for a month, the wood will be drier than if you installed it right away. The wood will continue to dry out after installation, especially in the sun. All the boards will cup (just slightly) as the wood dries out quickly, but the decking will flatten out as it reaches a stable moisture content. So don't panic. The wood may not look so great as it is drying out. It will show considerable surface checking (small cracks) and some minor cupping during the first season as the hot sun dries out one side. The surface checking is how the wood breathes. The cracks close up and the cupping flattens out (if the decking is installed correctly) once the wood reaches a stable moisture content. So keep these properties in mind as you design & install the deck. The boards have to be able to reach the stable moisture content. That is why cross ventilation is essential. Both sides need to dry out. The decking needs to be screwed very securely to the joist and a little adhesive will help keep the board flat. After a couple of seasons the boards will not want to cup anymoore, so by the time the adhesive wears out it has done its job.
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Jon, Yes, I agree and thanks for the rebuke :) . There isn't a problem now and I suppose it was more of a concern. My Porter Cable (wide plate) did most of the cutting. I opted out on the Dremel. I did a test and yes, the smoke was a pillar, and I thought I would destroy my Dremel. So, off to Lowes for a Bosch, flush cut, reprocating saw. It was worth the extra money and after a test cut I had no concerns. There may be other brands and locations out there but I like Bosch. I have the end board layed out and screwed onto the frame. Counter sunk screws with 3/8" bit, 1/8" predrilled holes, and the IPE torx head screws, holes plugged and wood glued.
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eden_ma
Original Author
14 years ago
Here is a close up shot. If these marks are par for the course (are they?), then should they sand out OK with an ROS with 60 grit?

Thanks,

Bill
sweet11395
14 years ago
eden,
hard to tell from the small pic but I don't think this is from a planer but rather from the metal banding they use to secure the bails of IPE which during shipment rub up against the board and cause this well defined band....I had a few and sanded them right out.
eden_ma
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for your responses. There are so many marks, that we'll go ahead and sand the whole deck.

Am now getting ready to buy TWP. Can't seem to find it locally. John - do you have any pictures on your website of the Dark Oak/Cedartone mix that you've written about? Sweet - how is your TWP finish holding up (ran across your old posts on this today).
john_hyatt
14 years ago
TWP 100 series is a build coat finish the Co recomends wet on wet or the second coat on right away. I have gone beyond that. Corectley done a twp outdoor finish will last 3-5 years and will never have to be striped down.

A 2 part dark oak/3 part cedartone natural twp mix will provide a brown color. TWP dark oak has a lot of solids using it will require a learning curve compaired with cedartone natural by itself. J.
deckman22
14 years ago
Those look like marks made by the sticks used to air dry the bundles of ipe lumber. The metal bands usually leave rust stains. Both will sand out easily.
weedyacres
14 years ago
I couldn't find TWP retailer within 100 miles of me, even though there were half a dozen listed on the Amteco web site. I called them all and no one seemed to even have heard of it, and Amteco was clueless. I bought mine from mfgsealants.com, which ships out of Atlanta. Their price was slightly lower than other internet vendors and had free shipping if you order 2 or more gallons. It arrived about 1 week after order.

We ended up falling in love with how Dark Oak looks on garapa (might even pass for ipe :-)). I'll post photos in my "big ol' garapa deck" thread tomorrow with the requisite updates.
eden_ma
Original Author
14 years ago
Weedy,

Looking forward to seeing your latest pictures with the TWP Dark Oak. Saw the mfgsealants website, and may use them as well. Just for clarification, you sanded first, then did your cleaning and brightening, right? I don't know if the order matters.

Thanks,
Eden

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