For dense hardwoods like Ipe and Cumaru, we recommend the following:
- Use 80 grit sand paper.
- Attach the sand paper to the machine.
- Set on top of the hardwood.
- Following the grain of the wood, gently glide the sander over the surface.
Do I need to sand the ipe wood before sealing?
There are a few areas that need to be sanded (a few areas of minor rough finish and some minor scratches). After that we are cleaning all the new Ipe wood in the deck, rail and stair with Penofin 1st step prep, and then finally applying Wisecoat hardwood deck sealer to the underside of the deck and all top surfaces.
How do I take care of my ipe wood?
Maintaining your Ipe wood is typically very simple and these steps will help you keep your Ipe wood looking good for many years. You want to make sure our deck surface is free from dirt, debris, pollen and etc… before applying the oil on your Ipe wood. Follow all the instructions on the can of Ipe Oil.
Do I need an oil finish on IPE?
In the end since Ipe is so hard to begin with and already an oily tropical wood you don’t need to apply an oil or penetrating finish that will just darken the wood. What you want to do is seal it with a top coat to prevent additional absorption of material.
Can I brighten my IPE deck without sanding?
If you sand, most likely you can skip the brightener treatment but I would still clean the deck first as dirty and grime will just gum up your sandpaper and slow down that process. My IPE deck has black spots, some caused by metal pots, some unknown.
How do you refinish Ipe wood?
1:382:52Ipe Deck Refinishing Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe sealer penetrates into the wood and highlights the natural grain in color and dries matte theMoreThe sealer penetrates into the wood and highlights the natural grain in color and dries matte the microclimate your deck is located in will determine when it's time for maintenance.
Should I sand or pressure wash Ipe deck?
The recommendation by most professionals is to sand Ipe decking if the boards have grayed, become rough, or oil has built up and become sticky. Use a high grit 220 or more sandpaper on an orbital sander moving with the grain. Sweep or vacuum up the dust, and rinse the planks with a hose.
Does Ipe need to be sanded?
Ipe Deck Maintenance Typically Requires Cleaning and/or Sanding.
Can you sand ipe furniture?
You should clean the Ipe first with warm soapy water (dish soap will work) and then hose down the Ipe until the water runs clear of soap (let the Ipe completely dry). Then evenly sand the Ipe with 60-80 grit paper using an orbital sander. The color in the wood should appear quickly when sanding.
How do you keep Ipe looking new?
You should routinely sweep or vacuum the surface and rinse with a garden hose to wash away debris that can stain the wood, such as dirt, pollen, or sap. You can also use wood-safe cleaners to wipe away any remaining spots.
What is the best cleaner for Ipe wood?
Wash your Ipe wood surfaces with a nylon bristle brush or soft towel and Penofin® Pro-Tech Wood Cleaner to remove surface dirt, scrubbing in the same directions as the grain of the wood, then rinse off with water. Once complete allow to dry. In a pinch, you may use mild dish soap, then rinse clean with water.
How long does it take for Ipe to turn GREY?
From what we've seen, untreated Ipe decking that is in full exposure is grey in 6-12 months and needs some attention after about 3-5 years.
Should Ipe be stained?
IPE is an extremely beautiful wood when stained and will be the envy of your neighbors. The problem with exotic hardwood decking such as IPE is that it will require maintenance annually. It is best to choose a pigmented wood stain that will enhance the reddish brown tones of the IPE as if wet with water.
Does Ipe need to be oiled?
If you love the color of your new deck and want to preserve those hues, you'll need to use a sealer on your ipe every year or two. Consider Hardwood Decking's Ipe Oil Hardwood Deck Finish & UV Protector. This product protects and preserves the beauty of your ipe deck.
Is linseed oil good for Ipe wood?
Linseed oil is inexpensive and is available at any hardware store. Simply wipe linseed oil on your Ipe furniture with a rag, and wipe off any excess after 30 minutes. Even better than linseed oil is a UV-resistant penetrating oil called Penofin Exotic Hardwood Finish.
Do termites eat Ipe?
Do termites like Ipe decking? Surprisingly, enough termites and other insects from Brazil and the United States tend to stay away from Ipe Decking. Not because Ipe decking isn't delicious, but because this material is extremely dense. Ipe is so impervious that insects, including termites, don't stand a chance.
Do you need to treat Ipe wood?
Do I have to seal Ipe wood? No, but you really should. During the initial exposure of your Ipe decking or hardwood siding on site, weather, especially UV rays, take a toll on outdoor woods. Putting a coat of UV inhibitive sealer on exterior hardwoods is a great idea.
Can you pressure wash Ipe wood deck?
At The Decking Superstore, we recommend you DO NOT use a pressure washer to clean your ipe deck or to clear debris as it can damage the wood fibers and roughen the surface.
Do I sand deck before pressure washing it?
DO sand your deck before sealing. It can take up to 48 hours for the deck to fully dry. At that point, lightly sand the surface to remove splintery or fuzzy patches caused by pressure-washing the deck. A pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper will suffice; a power sander is overkill.
Should I wash deck after sanding?
After sanding, power-wash the deck and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before staining. Sanding exposes porous wood that's ready to soak up the stain, but this isn't possible if the wood is full of water.
How do you treat IPE decking?
If you love the color of your new deck and want to preserve those hues, you'll need to use a sealer on your ipe every year or two. Consider Hardwood Decking's Ipe Oil Hardwood Deck Finish & UV Protector. This product protects and preserves the beauty of your ipe deck.
How long does it take to sand a sandpaper?
The sanding took about 3 hours or so. All in all, it was real easy. Just hold onto the sander and steer it in the right direction.
Do we sand out decks?
We do sand out those things that you mention , but that is still a far cry from needing to sand out the whole deck.
Does a sander remove pencil marks?
The sander didn't remove all the pencil marks (I had a lot).....and it essentially just smoothed out the scratches...meaning you could still see the scratches...
Can you rent a vibratory floor sander?
On larger projects where the deck may get scratched a bit during the construction process, I rent a vibratory floor sander (NOT a belt floor sander). In fact, I am thinking of buying one.
Is Penofin easy to apply?
But the Penofin was easy to apply and it came out looking great. No lap marks and the coverage was even.
How long does ipe wood need to sit?
Ipe wood needs to acclimate to the local conditions (humidity and temperature). This is true of any hardwood. This means it needs to sit near where you will be installing it to adjust to its new climate. Leave it there for a least seven (7) days, or longer if you are in a drier climate. Don’t store Ipe wood for any more than 28 days without checking with us at Ipe Woods USA for additional handling tips.
What is ipe wood?
This guide is to help you simplify the installation process of your beautiful Ipe wood. Ipe wood is known as “ironwood” because it is so durable, but that means it also requires a few special considerations during installation. To install Ipe wood, we recommend following these directions to ensure your best result. Be sure to visit our page concerning common Ipe deck installation problems for common issues.
What type of wood decking is used under a covered porch?
One, pre-grooved Ipe wood decking, which allows for a clip between boards. Two, standard style. And three, tongue and groove boards. One of them will be perfect for your project. Be aware, tongue and groove Ipe wood decking should only be used under a covered porch or patio.
Why does ipe wood buckle?
When tongue and groove is used without protection, too much water can accumulate. This has the potential to cause your Ipe wood to buckle, swell and cup. Standard and regular pre-groove can be used without additional protection and are the woods most frequently used for projects exposed to the elements.
What is ipe lumber?
As we mentioned before, Ipe lumber is called ironwood. This hard and dense wood needs special saws and drill bits. Just a repeat to help you find the information…for sawing, go with premium carbide tipped saw blades. For drilling, we recommend Brad point or Fostner drill bits for a cleaner hole.
How long can Ipe lumber be stored?
We mentioned this above, but never store Ipe decking lumber for more than 28 days without double-checking with us at Ipe Woods USA.
What is the best finish for ipe wood?
Many oils and finishes may not properly work on Ipe. They don’t dry right and that ruins the whole effect. If you want to use an oil or finish, test it on one side of a few boards before applying. Messmers U.V. Seal is formulated for Ipe wood, so it matches the special needs of this denser lumber. It is the only finish we recommend.
What Maintenance Does Ipe Wood Require?
Unlike softwood decking Ipe wood does not require a waterproofing sealer to keep the wood from rotting.
How long does it take for ipe oil to soak up?
Ipe wood is so dense it will only soak up so much of the Ipe Oil. You need to go back with a clean rag after 10 minutes and wipe up any excess or wet looking spots.
How long does it take for a deck top coat to peel off?
These top coats will flake and peel off after only a year or two. Then ideally you would sand the entire deck and apply another sealer on top of the deck. This is a lot of maintenance and what most people think of when it comes to sealing a wood deck.
What is the structure of softwood?
These softwoods have an open grain structure that allows water to penetrate deep into the wood cells like a sponge.
Why is my wood turning grey?
The sun will bleach the color out of most materials and wood is no exception. UV rays are what causes wood to turn grey outdoors.
Does ipe peel off wood?
Ipe is so dense and contains a natural oil that if you tried to seal it like you do a traditional wood deck it would peel right off.
Does oil spread on ipe wood?
This process goes pretty fast since the oil spreads very easy and saturates the Ipe wood evenly.
Why sand ipe deck?
Sanding Ipe Deck to Remove Rough Spots from Raised Grain. Wood grain has a direction, and wood doesn’t like it when you “go against the grain” (yes, many of our everyday sayings come from the lumber industry). Grain direction is often compared to petting a cat.
What is the difference between ipe oil and penofin?
Ipe Oil is purely and oil that will soak in. It provides minimal protecting but helps to maintain the color. It needs to be reapplied annually but this easy as you just reapply. Penofin is also oil based but more dilute so it penetrates deeper into the wood. It also has wax in the mixture that will harden as it cures and helps to repel water very well. This adds a bit more of protection to the mix and will last longer that just an oil. In reality I don’t find a huge difference between the two finishes other than Penofin leaves a darker look because it penetrates deeper. I believe Penofin will last longer without reapplication. Most of our customers like Penofin for the initial look and the potential for a longer lasting color.
What to use to make a deck look better?
So even after taking into account all of the points above, the single most effective thing you can do to ensure your deck looks its best is to use a deck cleaner and brightener product .
Why do sanded decks look different?
A sanded area will look a bit different because you are abrading the surface and creating a scratch pattern that may be different from the surrounding area. It is best to go ahead and sand the entire deck lightly or at least blend those sanded areas on the pegs into the rest of the deck. Another option would be to flush the peg to the surface using a chisel and then you can skip the sanding entirely (unless the deck actually needs it)
Where do tropical decking boards come from?
From Forest: Tropical decking boards travel a very long way before they end up in your hands. These boards not only come from trees felled in the Amazon, but they are also sawn into boards in the same area and eventually milled into the S4S, E4E decking board. Following this, the decking boards are loaded onto a truck and driven to a port city, where the decking is loaded into a metal container and put on a ship to go for a very long boat ride.
How much moisture is in decking?
To Ocean: Now think about the moisture content of these boards. As an exterior product, decking is air dried to around 18% moisture content. When the decking is loaded into a metal container, it can be like putting the decking into a kiln as the sun beats down and raises the temperature inside the metal container. At night or when the temperature drops during the ocean transit, the container cools and condensation gathers on the walls of the container; this moisture then drips onto the boards. Then the shipping container heats up again and evaporates the standing water, depositing on the decking whatever minerals or impurities are in the air or on the inside of the container. This leaves water stains, and it is very common to find these stains throughout a pack of lumber that just arrived from a several thousand mile ocean journey.
How does a sawmill affect decking?
To Sawmill: Everything downstream of the milling-into-surfaced-boards is going to affect the appearance of the board and what you see when you get the decking for your project. It’s not uncommon for a load of boards to be stacked and unstacked several times before the load ever makes port. In many cases this stacking and unstacking is done by hand and can get messy. Mud and dirt get on the boards in the process, and that is to be expected; however, the fact that this mud then dries and gets compacted and ground into the wood fibers during all manner of transit activities can make it a lot more permanent than your typical mud.
What is ipe wood?
Ipe is most commonly used for outdoor applications. This is due to the durability and longevity of the material. Ipe is best used with an outdoor application when it is air-dried or kiln-dried. The moisture content of air-dried Ipe is usually around 18% this is perfect for outdoor application. It will keep the wood stable in heat, rain, wind, and cold temperature swings and maximize the over 75-year life of this wood. When Ipe is kiln-dried the moisture content is reduced to around 8-10%. Kiln-dried usually costs a bit more. The thing is that Kiln can be used anywhere, but air-dried is usually only used outdoors. However, if you desire kiln-dried we usually can accommodate that also.
How can I treat my Ipe to get a weathered look?
If you want that look you do not treat it with anything other than end sealers and it will naturally turn grey. Not only that if you decided to, but you can also bring it back to a beautiful brown. Ipe can last up to 75 years untreated.
How much does Ipe cost?
It also matters what quality and lengths, as low grade boards or short boards can be much less expensive. Ipe costs are usually around $2.50-$3.00/LF for 1×4 Standard boards. Today the cost of Ipe might be different than tomorrow, you really need to get a quote as the prices change by market demand and inventory. But you also have to understand if you are comparing it to other woods Ipe lasts up to 75 years! So it’s not really fair to compare Ipe on a price per linear foot basis. To be more specific and try to answer that question Ipe costs start at about $2/linear foot for 1×4 and go up from there. That would mean that it would be about $6/square foot.
How do you pronounce “Ipe”?
Ipe is actually pronounced E-Pay. The word is Portuguese so its not said how it is spelled. But don’t worry, no matter how you say it we will know what you are talking about! Use the sound clip below to hear how it is said.
Why Choose Ipe?
In our opinion, it is the best wood all around. The perfect mixture of most durable, lowest maintenance, best-looking wood mother nature makes. Withstands splintering or checking looks beautiful in its natural state or treated. Same fire rating as concrete and bugs don’t like eating it! Also, visit our what is ipe decking page if you have more questions.
What color variations does Ipe have?
Ipe can vary greatly from batch to batch and board to board. We do our best to prevent major color differences in our orders, but we do not color match. Remember the wood is natural so it varies. If you are treating the wood this may matter a bit less. Ipe color can vary as you see here. Sometimes orders will look much more similar and sometimes they will be very different. If you want to match color, you should order more to ensure you have a better selection or you can cull boards that are too drastically different. There is not a standard Ipe color.
Is Ipe real wood?
Yes, Ipe is real wood and it comes from real trees! Ipe is not a brand but the actual type of tree and lumber.
How to clean ipe wood?
Wash your Ipe wood surfaces with a nylon bristle brush or soft towel and Penofin ® Pro-Tech Wood Cleaner to remove surface dirt, scrubbing in the same directions as the grain of the wood, then rinse off with water. Once complete allow to dry. In a pinch, you may use mild dish soap, then rinse clean with water.
How to brighten ipe wood?
To brighten and re-establish the pH balance of Ipe wood to best accept the Penofin® Verde Oil Finish, use Penofin® Pro-Tech Wood Brightener, then rinse off with water and allow to dry completely.
What is Penofin Verde?
Penofin Verde is an oil based wood stain that brings out the deep-chocolate hue of Ipe. To keep an ‘as-new’ finish reapply 1x year.
What oil is used in Jensen outdoor furniture?
Jensen Outdoor’s Ipe furniture comes pre-stained with an exclusive color of Penofin Verde oil which protects and conditions the wood to prevent cracking and drying while allowing the wood to naturally gray over time.
How long does IPE furniture last?
Ipe furniture is meant to last for many years, however, during that long life an inappropriate paint or stain may be applied. If your Ipe furniture needs to be stripped and restored to the ‘as new’ finish, follow these steps:
How to remove oil from wood?
To remove excess oil finish that hasn’t been absorbed by the wood, rub the Ipe surface with smooth rags until dry to the touch. Dispose of rags in a metal bucket of water to avoid spontaneous combustion. After completely dry, apply Wood Shield to timber to provide additional protection against water and food stains.
What is ipe wood?
Ipe (pronounced “EE-pay”) is a hardwood timber prized for its beauty and long-lasting durability in any environment. Ipe timber exhibits a deep chocolate-brown grain when new that may be allowed to naturally age to an elegant silver patina or brought back to an as new finish at any time.
