Ipe Finishing--State of the Art?

15 years ago

We are getting ready to build a three porches and three decks at our new home, and have been reading past posts on the highs and lows of Ipe decking material.

It seems that installation has standardized to get consistent results with the material, but so far, all I've read about finishing resembles black alchemy.

I totally understand that horizontal surfaces will need more maintenance--but I wonder what's the best program to follow in a northern clime. What is the best product to put a deep color down (or in), seal or help the wood shed water and prevent checking. Even if semi-annual maintenance is required, all the multi-step cleaners and brighteners should not -- I do not want to get involved with a product that needs to be stripped and redone to maintain a decent appearance, and this is the one issue that's keeping me from committing to this material.

Which finishing product(s) work(s) best for porch, for deck? We want a deep red-brown color. Material can be opaque, semi-opaque, or be absorbed into the wood.

Thanks for the latest "real world" information from the greatest community, Mark

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Comments (4)

john_hyatt
15 years ago
Mark, I like your way,the black alchemy really tiped the scale.

I had completley goten out of out door finish questions over here because of all the total shiitttt I got reaching from it cant be done or should not be done or something else is so much better. But one more time, just because you word things well.

Any outdoor project is going to require>>WorkI use twp 100 series sometimes the rustic,sometimes a mix cedartone natural/dark oak 3-2. I dont use any prep on a new ipe project one coat on right away. Twp calls for two coats but I have found one lasts just as long as two on new wood. Twp calls it wet on wet,man I love how that sounds,keep in mind there is a twp corp office 20 mi from my Butler Manor and that we dont agree on this.

After a month or so put on another coat and just wait. This time of year till the early spring at this point do an oxalic acid wash after a good cleaning including inbetween the gaps then do the wet on wet. Done right and in the sprit of a sound mind you are good for 3-5 years.

Done right= wait for good weather,clean the thing before you do anything,dont glob the twp on you are looking for several light coats. I use a paint pad on a pole for the deck push the extra along as you go you can go against the boards to get in the gap just make sure the last pass is with the boards any little cross lap or swiggle will show,forever on the first coat. Brush the rails fade in any drops that get on the decking with a dry brush that is one you have already been using but not diped into the can for a while. Done right you will never have to use a stripper that is take everything off and start again.

Sprit of a sound mind =Wait for good weather Dont get on the decking while its still wet, work with the stuff, its not all that hard, geting a feel for this finish is not hard, try some test shorts and you will see what I mean.

There is a lot of stupid stuff in print about ipe not taking finish. Its total Bul;sh(t from my stand point just put a brush load of twp 100 series on a short of ipe and try to get it off.

The TWP finish has a very long track record and a few folks who have copied it with good results,the twp 2000 series put on under shop conditions on ipe man hole covers in sothern Cal has folks driving on it. If your state is under green mafia control the 500 series works about the same but takes much longer to set up and requires more work.

I am not going to reply to any flames,hot shots from the maney Forever deck finish jerks, you cant do that guys, or any other things that pop up. This is what I have done,it works, my very own S American deck out back of Butler Manor 10 years old or so was done that way and I am very pleased to go on out there and have a bud lite lime. Side Note>> the 2'' copper pipe in my rail detail got twp finish as well not a trace of green
sparks66
15 years ago
Thanks for a timely post (I'm close to doing my ipe deck).

John...how do you usually put finish on a large deck. Mine is 12x20. Do you do it in stages or just work your way across in one push.
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deckman22
15 years ago
12x20 is not a large deck, that's less than a days work.

al
john_hyatt
15 years ago
Do it all at the same time make sure the last pass is with the boards. J.

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Ipe Finishing--State of the Art?

Comments (4)

john_hyatt

sparks66

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