Category Archives: Decking Maintenance

Gray Ipe Decking

What Does Gray Ipe Look Like?

Ipe is an incredible wood, especially for decking. One of the benefits we often mention is the low maintenance requirement. Once it’s installed, you barely have to touch an ipe deck! Virtually the only thing you have to do is oil it every year or so to preserve that rich brown color.

Of course, people looking for low-maintenance decking often want to know just how little work they can get away with. And who can blame them? Nobody builds a deck because they want to oil it every year! So what exactly will happen to your brand-new ipe deck if you decide to never oil it?

Un-Oiled Ipe Turns Gray

One of the first questions asked is what the decking will look like in a couple of years. It can actually be a little difficult to find pictures of weathered ipe; everyone just wants to show off that freshly oiled color! Well, you can put your curiosity to rest. Click on any of the photos below to see a bigger version:

Is Gray Ipe Weaker?

Another common question is whether the oil increases the ipe’s lifespan. Put another way, does letting ipe turn gray make it weaker?

You can relax. If you skip the maintenance, your ipe deck will still last up to 75 years. Regular oil treatments can increase that lifespan, but most people are pretty satisfied with three quarters of a century.

It’s also true that oiling can help make the wood resist cupping, especially in the case of ground-level decks, but as long as your deck was properly designed and built, this shouldn’t be a problem.

For proof, you need only look at the many large-scale, public projects that have used ipe decking. For instance, the Coney Island boardwalk used ipe for 90 years, and it was never oiled. Even after nearly a century of continual, heavy use, the wood was still strong enough when they replaced it that it was repurposed for use in high-end designer furniture!

Conclusion

If you don’t oil your ipe deck, it will turn gray, but that’s not a bad thing! A weathered ipe deck will still give you decades of low-maintenance backyard fun!

Is Your Ipe Decking Grey?

Powerwash Ipe Decking


If you have an Ipe deck that has been neglected or gone grey don’t worry you can quickly make it look new again. Naturally the UV rays of the sun will strip the color out of the surface of wood and many other materials, even composites that claim they won’t fade.

The problem with other materials is that they will eventually fade and there’s nothing you can do to them after that. Fortunately you have an Ipe deck and can quickly bring it back to life.

Here’s a picture of a customer’s deck on their seasonal summer home. This home sits vacant for 8 months out of the year and sees extreme winters and summers. The owners got busy with life as many of us do and let the deck go.

However as you can see in this picture a quick pressure wash with a wide fan tip brings it back to looking like new again. After the ipe decking dries all you need to do is simply roll on some Ipe Oil and you are good to go for awhile.

Re-oiling Your Deck During Fall: Good or Bad Idea?

Oiling your deck is usually done during spring to get the best looking deck for the summer BBQ’s and outdoor parties. Not a lot of people think of re-oiling their deck in fall just before the winter months hit but it’s a missed opportunity to give your deck a little protection from the rain and snow.

Wood is a naturally permeable material that absorbs and releases humidity and constantly adjusts to its environment. If wood is left on its own in a decking application, it will swell, crack, and deteriorate very quickly.

Domestic woods all share these characteristics and require water sealing every single time. Something that’s necessary if you want your deck to last more than a few years.

The density and hardness that characterizes our Brazilian Hardwoods already help curve the damage that constant snow and rain has on wood and without any oiling it’ll last for several decades; but applying oil gives the surface of each board a more impermeable layer for the winter months.

The combination of Ipe Oil and the wood’s natural density will undoubtedly help it arrive in spring with little damage making preparation for summer a lot easier.

5 Easy Fall Deck Cleanup Tips You Need to Use

Fall marks a welcomed change in weather, but it also means more maintenance for your deck. The trees around your home shed leaves and rain substitutes the endless summer sun. Follow these fall deck tips and you’ll be on your way enjoying autumn on your deck.

Reseal your deck

Before heavier rain rolls in, make sure your deck is sealed and ready to repel water. Exposing your deck to water without a sealant will result in swelling, twisting, cupping, or buckling. If you have an Ipe, Cumaru, or Tigerwood deck, you don’t need to seal anything; these woods are naturally water resistant.

Clean standing water

Standing water is wood’s worst enemy. If you leave puddles on your deck, they can penetrate improperly sealed wood or trigger surface mold growth. Grab a mop or stiff brush and remove the water to avoid costly replacements.

Don’t let leaves sit on your deck

This tip is often ignored, but it’s important to keep your deck looking good in fall. Not sweeping off fallen leaves, acorns, twigs, and pine needles will cause discoloration and mold growth on your deck boards. Be aware that all this debris also accumulates in the space between your boards, leading to rot.

Think about what decorations you’ll display

Fall also marks the beginning of pumpkin carving. This is a favorite activity among kids and adults. Remember to never place the carved pumpkin directly on your deck’s surface. The moisture from the pumpkin can help grow mold and lead to rotting wood. This tip applies to any decoration that accumulates moisture in the bottom, like flower pots.

Pumpkins

Check surrounding trees

tree hazard

If your deck has trees surrounding it, take an hour out of your weekend to make sure the branches are in good condition. The last thing you want is branches breaking and landing on your deck during snowfalls. If you see some weak branches, cut them and avoid the mess they’ll create on your deck otherwise.

Following these simple 5 tips, you’ll make your deck enjoyable during fall and ready for the winter snows.

Why Should I Oil My New Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Garapa, or Massaranduba Deck?

As our salespeople take care of both our current and potential customers, we get asked the question, “Why should I oil my deck and with what,” very often.  We always explain, as best as possible, why it’s a good idea to do so from the beginning and most of our customers understand the benefits. However, we feel this topic should be explored a little more in-depth.
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