Introducing the best deck oil available, Ipe Oil!
Recently, the Ipe Clip® Company unveiled a new deck finish product called Ipe Oil™. This premium decking oil, finished hardwood decks made from durable, and some would say stubborn, hardwoods like ipe. Ipe Oil™ offers deck builders and homeowners who are installing an ipe deck with:
- Superior protection from both:
- U.V. rays
- Water
- A low VOC deck finish
- Coverage of approx. 300 sq. ft.
- Over 40% solids content
- A low odor decking oil
- Reduces the chances of deck boards cracking and warping
- Aids in keeping the hardwoods like ipe looking new
If you want to finish your hardwood deck using the best deck oil, contact us today to order. That’s right, Ipe Oil works with all exotic hardwoods including Cumaru, Tigerwood, Garapa, Meranti, Brazilian Cherry, Massaranduba, Bangkirai, Red Balau, and many more!
UPDATE 6/27/2011: As you can see below, we are getting a lot of questions about Ipe Oil™. We’re happy to answer any question you might have. Tell us how this product has helped. We’d love to see BEFORE and AFTER pictures! Upload your newly oiled hardwood deck pictures here! The best pictures will be featured in our newsletter as well as our Featured Deck Projects section!
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We tried your ipe oil and it worked very well. We put it on tiger wood and it penatrated very good. Vince
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We had our ipe deck installed last October and had ipe oil applied. All the snow and ice this winter seems to have caused some spotting, dry patches & discoloration. We would like to oil again this spring but have read on other websites that because the wood doesn’t really absorb the oil, it is not a good idea to apply over an existing application of oil. How often should we apply the oil in order to keep the rich color orpatina of the wood (which is why we chose it), but not cause a build-up? Thanks so much
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How did you apply the oil? Do you have to put it on every year?
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Curt,
The application depends on where you live and how much sunlight the decking will see. You will want to apply the first coat once the deck is done and then again about 6-8 months later. After this it will be as needed which on average is every two years. If you live up north and your deck is covered with snow for 6 months of the year then you may only need to do this once every three years. If you live in an area like the Florida Keys, or a warm beach, you may need to re-finish every year.
The product that we suggest using is called Ipe Oil and can be applied using a 3/8” nap paint roller. Clean the deck surface and allow to dry, then apply the Ipe oil allow to dry for about 10 minutes and wipe any areas of the deck that appear to be pooling with a dry rag. This must be done on a day with no rain (24 hours) and temperatures in at least the 50’s.
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Jo,
I would be more than happy to help you out with this. Before we go any further I do need to know why type of oil or finish was used on the surface of the decking. At your convenience please let me know. Thank you for your time.
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When using the “Ipe Oil” brand oil on a new Ipe deck (less than 1 month old) what is required as far as prep for the deck boards before applying the finish? Do you need to use a cleaner and brightener or just hose off and let dry? My deck has not started to gray yet so I am not sure what prep products are required at this point.
Thank you for any help.
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Phil,
Honestly it’s all going to depend on the condition of the lumber. If it is still fairly new and still turns to that rich brown when wet, then chances are a pressure wash of the surface and a drying period of 24 hours is all you will need prior to applying the oil finish. We do carry a cleaner and brightener that would be used if the decking is very dirty and has a lot of sating or if the deck has begun to silver out. These two products when used together will help to clean the material while preparing it to absorb the most oil as possible. I hope this helps please let me know if you have any other questions or if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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Can this decking material be painted with exterior paint? And if so, how? Thank you Catherine
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Hello Catherine,
Ipe can not be painted. Problem is the Ipe is too dense and has too high of an oil content to allow paint to adhere to the surface. If paint is applied to the Ipe it will simply dry, peel and or crack off. I hope this helps, please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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can Ipe be stained? if so, what are some tips or tricks to consider. Is there a type of stain that works better than another? (oil, waterbased,alcohol,lacquer)
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Dave,
Ipe can have an oil finish applied to help maintain the natural color. The two products that we suggest using are either Ipe Oil or Messmers U.V. Plus. Both will bring back the natural color of the material and give it a wet appearance. For application make sure you are starting with a clean dry surface, this can be obtained with a pressure wash and allowing the material to dry. Then apply either product using a 3/8” nap paint roller. Allow the oil finish to dry for 5-10 minutes then go back over the surface of the deck and wipe any access oil with a dry rag. Allow the material to further dry for another 24 hours. This process must take place with temperatures 50 degrees or high and the oil finish must have at least 24 -48 hours with out rain. I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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Hi
I oiled my IPE deck and then it rained 12 hours later for 2 days, it dosnt look bad but I would assume that it will take a little longer to dry, am I correct?
John
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John,
What we often see when something of this nature happens is what I call leopard prints. Where you see lighter color dots all over the surface of the deck where the rain had prevented the oil from penetrating the surface of the decking material. This normally will start to show after the deck has dried. If you had back wiped the deck after application so there was no extra oil sitting on the surface you may be alright. Once the deck has dried (24-48 hours) go and check to see if these dots are appearing. If you can shoot over a picture of the decking so I can see first had what we are dealing with and the best way to rectify the situation. It could be nothing and you will not have to do anything to the deck but it could be as severe as having to sand the surface and refinish.
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Hi,
I made a gate out of Ipe two years ago and used a water-based sealer and it still looks great. I then decided to build a deck out of Ipe. However, the product I used for the gate was not recommended for horizontal surfaces. So I started out using the Messmer oil. It would not dry properly and the dirt and dust adhered to the surface. I’m not sure if the product had gone bad. So I ended up sanding the entire deck down and applied a new water-based sealer introduced on the market. After a recent rain storm the product is now peeling off and is oxidizing. Needless to say, I am now in the process of re-sanding the deck! Will the Ipe oil dry within 24 hours and provide a natural look? The Messmer turn the wood very red in color.
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Brian,
The Messmers U.V. Plus or the Ipe Oil are the products you want to use. As instructed on the cans of finish you have to back wipe the surface of the deck after the oil was applied. The reason you have to do this is so that any excess oil is taken off the surface of the wood. If this is not done you will in turn see the problems that you are dealing with, the oil doesn’t seem to dry, stays tacky and collects dirt and dust. Apply the oil finish with a 3/8” nap paint roller, allow it to dry for 5-10 minutes then with a dry rag wipe the entire surface of the material again to ensure you do not have excess oil on the surface of the wood. Then allow the deck to sit for 24-48 hours.
The water base sealer that you had used did not adhere to the surface of the Ipe due to Ipe being naturally water resistant and in turn will lead to the sealer peeling or chipping off.
I would suggest doing a pressure wash on the deck after you sand the material. This will ensure you are working with a clean surface and you won’t have to worry about saw dust and old finish clogging the pores of the wood. After the pressure wash allow the material to dry for about 24 hours before applying the oil finish. Also make sure that when you apply the oil that you are dealing with temperatures of 50 degrees or high for at least 24 hours as well as no rain in the forecast for at least 24 hours.
I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else that we can do for you, thank you for your time.
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Hi – My Ipe was installed by a contractor and they use Danish Oil to treat, however approximately 4 months later I needed to repeat this same process as instructed by the landscaper as it looked so tired, dull and patchy. We’ve since experience a heavy snowfall which lasted about 4 weeks and now that I can see the decking it looks terrible, e.g. white/silver and very patchy. What action must I take to so that I can restore it to its former glory and look good as new. The decking was only installed June 10 and its only now Jan 11.
Please Help!
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Teri,
I’m not familiar with Danish Oil. So, in all honesty I don’t know what kind of affect this may have had on the material itself. I think the best thing to do is to play it safe. I would sand the surface of the decking with 80 grit sand paper until you are down to raw wood. At that point I would pressure wash the surface to ensure that you are dealing with a clean surface and that all the saw dust and old finish are no longer present. Allow the deck to dry for about 24 hours. Then apply an oil finish to the surface of the material. The product that we suggest using is called Ipe Oil. Oil finishes should be applied on a day where you will have 24 hours of no rain and temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. I hope this helps with your issues, please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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We have not yet installed our deck but want to be prepared. We live in the Florida Keys and would prefer the brown finish to remain over time. Will applying the oil on a regular schedule assure the rich color remains? If so, what is your recommendation for our climate?
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Susan,
What we suggest doing to maintain the nice color of the decking is to apply an oil finish to the surface. We suggest using Ipe Oil for this.
You will want to apply one coat after the deck has been installed, then again about 6-8 months later and then every other year after that or as needed. I personal suggest doing a pressure wash on deck before each coat is applied this will simply ensure that you are applying the oil finish to a clean surface.
Pressure wash the surface and allow to dry for about 24 hours. Then apply the Ipe Oil using a 3/8” nap paint roller allow the oil to sit for about 5-10 minutes then with a dry rag wipe the surface of the deck to ensure that you do not have any excess oil on the decking. Allow the material to dry for about 24 hours and you should be all set. Keep in mind you will want to do this when you will have temperatures in the 50s or higher for at least 24 hours and no rain for at least 24 hours.
I hope this helps, please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time and inquiry.
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We have a home in mid-New Hampshire and last fall we added a covered, screened porch using Ipe. Our builder advised us that no treatment was necessary, but with a little research I discovered we probably should treat the wood at least initially with Ipe Oil or a similar product. Because the deck is covered, only one side of the deck has some water spots from snow and rain. I’d like to keep the brown color, but don’t want to get involved with a lot of maintenance.
The deck was installed about 6 months ago. Is it too late to put the oil on? What should I do to prepare the deck for the oil and clean off some of the water stains?
Thank you.
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Rosemary,
What I would suggest doing is a pressure wash on the material to get any stains or water marks of the surface of the deck, this will also ensure that you are finishing a clean surface. A pressure was at about 1000 psi with a fan tip should be what you are looking to do this with. Then allow the material to dry for about 24 hours or so. If the stains are still present after the pressure wash I would suggest using a cleaning agent.
The best product that we have found for this is Messmers Part A Cleaner and Messmers Part B Brightener (which we do carry).
Next apply Ipe Oil using a 3/8” nap paint roller allow the oil finish to sit for about 5-10 minutes and then with a dry rag wipe the surface of the decking to ensure there is no oil pooling on the surface. Allow the deck to dry for at least 24 hours and then feel free to relax and enjoy your decking again.
I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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Refinishing Ipe furniture. If I want to put a wiping stain on the wood prior to using Ipe Oil is that ok as long as the stain is wiped off good and allowed to dry?
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Tim,
Great question!
This is not something we would suggest doing for two reasons.
First would be that the oil finish is a penetrating oil. And, by applying a stain, this will prevent the oil finish from fully penetrating the surface of the hardwood. It would also decrease the overall UV protection Ipe Oil provides.
Second, due to the density of Ipe, most stains will not take and will simply sit on the surface and wipe off.
I hope this helps. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.
Thanks again for that great question!
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I purchased pre-finished (4-sides) ipe decking, finished with Duckback #1905 from a local vendor. I also purchased unfinished cumaru from Advantage for the same decking project. Now that the deck is installed, I am wondering if the IPE OIL can be used over both woods, or if you would recommend only using it on the Cumaru?
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Jason,
The Ipe Oil can be used on Cumaru with out any issues. Now for the material that was sent prefinished you need to check with the people who had supplied this to you and see what their recommendation is. I apologize for not being able to help you out any more than that, but like anything you always want to check with the original manufacturer and get their official recommendation. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with. Thank you for your time and business it is greatly appreciated.
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Can IPE oil be used on cedar? I have a srubborn deck that i have to strip and refinish every year and im looking for a product that will last. Thanks
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Dan,
I’ve never used Ipe Oil on cedar. We do offer sample cans that you could apply in a small area to see how if it works. Let me know if you are interested in this option and I will get you taken care of. Please feel free to contact us at anytime.
Thanks,
Chris Foreman
General Manager
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I coated my deck sat morning, by 11am the first and only coat had been applied, a sunny 16 deg day. Come Sunday evening the deck seemed dry as only one coat had been applied the previous day, however later that evening it started to rain some parts seemed milky, what to next.
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Marco,
I would be more than happy to help you out as much as I can. If at all possible can you send me a few pictures of what we are looking at in terms of the “milky” appearance. This will help me to determine what we are dealing with and what the next step would be. Also please let me know what you had used to coat the surface of the material with. Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply.
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Ipe flooring or interior furnature finished with tung oil that is sanded into the bare wood with 320 wet or dry sand paper produces a FABULOUS finish….
Also,to even out irregularities in Ipe decking that is new…any thoughts on sanding with 220 to 320 before finishing with Ipe oil ???
if sanded do you recommend pressure washing after sanding /before applying ipe oil ?
Thanks
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We have a five year old Ipe deck that is on a covered porch. The wood has turned the predicted silver grey which we don’t mind. We have a dining table on the porch and four young grandchildren who are constantly spilling food on the deck which often leaves oil stains. How can I get these out? If I am successful, will Ipe Oil help protect the deck in the future? We live at the NJ shore. Thanks, John
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Can tongue and groove Ipe flooring under a covered patio be safely pressure washed (i.e. no concerns about warping, separating, etc.)?
Preparing to do my first oil coat (~2 months after floor was installed) and trying to decide between Exterior PROx Nontoxic Deck & Patio Cleaner (low pressure/bristle brush) and simple pressure wash.
Thanks!
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Phil,
Pressure washing Ipe won’t hurt the material as long as you use a lower setting around 1000 psi with a fan tip. Personally, what I would look at is using the Messmers Part A Cleaner, following by the Messmers Part B Brightener and then apply the oil finish. The product I would suggest for this would be Ipe Oil deck finish. While pressure washing is good to get the surface clean, the Messmers products will fully prep the wood to be able to accept the maximum amount of oil finish as possible. The more oil finish the material can absorb, the longer it will be before the finish needs to be reapplied.
I hope this helps, if you have any other questions, or concerns, please feel free to ask. Thank you for your time.
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John,
Depending on what kind of oil stain it is, it may require a different type of fix. You can try a pressure wash at about 1000 psi with a fan tip or you could use the Messmers Part A Cleaner as this will get almost anything out of the wood. Worst case scenario is you may need to sand the material down to get the stains out. I personally would try the Messmers Part A cleaner first as this is the easiest and cheapest way. It fixes most things more times than not.
As for the Ipe Oil, this will not protect the wood from oil or greasy stains. This is simply a UV inhibiting oil finish used to help maintain the color of the decking while helping to keep the material stable.
I hope this helps, if you have any other questions, or concerns, please feel free to ask. Thank you for your time.
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Hello
I just bought new IPE and will be installing in about 3 days.
I assume that I simply need to wash with a plain water and bristle brush before applying
Messmers oil and that not deck cleaner or soap is needed since the wood is brand new.
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Hello Sanjay,
For a new installation, I would suggest pressure washing the material first using a fan tip to ensure you’re dealing with a clean surface. You might want to use a deck cleaner and deck brightener (Messmers Part A and Part B), depending on how dirty the material has gotten during the installation process, or if the material was sanded after installation. After either the pressure wash or the Messmers Part A and B, allow the material to dry for 24 hours. After the material is dry, then apply the deck oil finish using a paint roller. This must be done when you have at least 24 of no rain and temperatures above 50 degrees. I hope this helps, please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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Mr. Ipe,
I have installed a Cumaru deck., Often with hardwoods I wet the boards down with water to see the effect a finish might have. When the Cumaru is wet, the butt ends in the field show the wax sealer on the top surface of the boards that was applied after the ends were cut and sealed per the directions of installation. I have cleaned the deck as instructed with the Messners product. The wax still shows and displaces the water. Will the Ipe oil look similar when applied ? Do I need to clean better or sand these wax areas prior to finishing with IPE OIL ? I have used this water test on many hardwoods and it proves very accurate in providing a preview of the finished oiled product. Appreciate your opinion.
Thanks
Ray
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Ray,
If the endseal has gotten on the surface a piece of 80 grit sand paper should be all you need to take this little bit of wax off. I personally would use an orbital sander to make this process a little bit faster. I hope this helps. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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I am using ipe for an exterior table. I am going to finish with Ipe Oil along with Anchor Seal for the end grain. I assume I need to coat the ends with Anchor seal prior to finishing with the oil? Or, can I coat all the surfaces, end grain included, with the Ipe Oil, then come back and coat the end grain with Anchor Seal? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Jason,
The anchorseal (end grain seal) should be applied right after the material has been cut and allowed to dry for about 5-10 minutes. The oil finish should be applied after the anchor seal has been applied. There is no need to apply the oil finish to the end grain of the material. I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can assist you with. Thank you for your time.
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Does Tigerwood better absorb the oil than Ipe due to the fact it is less dense, and therefore require less applications? I am trying to decide between Ipe and Tigerwood and it is down to which one would be easier to keep the new look. Thanks.
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Tanner,
While Ipe and Tigerwood do have different densities, the density is not the only factor that will play in to the amount of oil absorption. Things such as oil content, silica, and grain structure all play in to this. To make it easy, you can honestly expect to finish the same for both products. Application once the deck is done then again 6-8 months later and every other year or as needed after that. Thank you for your time and please let me know if there is anything else we may assist with.
If I may make a suggestion. Take a look at our Cumaru decking. It is about as equally dense and strong as Ipe but about 20% less the cost while offering the same relative longevity and stability.
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I used an [decking] brand cleaner to prep my deck for Ipe oil,( I know, I should’ve stuck with the messmers and will from now on!) and it turned the Cumaru silvey gray, which is what I was trying to avoid! Will the Ipe oil bring back the original color. I hate to reclean with more chemicals in such a short time. Thankyou!
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Pamela,
I would be more than happy to assist. I have to ask if the material turns brown when it gets rained on or gets wet? If you can send me a picture of the material so I can see what it currently looks like, I can see what we may need to do.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you.
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I recently installed a new ipe deck. I applied IPE Oil to the surface with a 3/8″ nap roller but did not wipe off the excess. About 4 hours later a summer thunderstorm popped up and the deck got about an inch of rain. Now there are areas of the deck that are sticky and even some “boils” where the rain sat on the deck. Where do I go from here? Do I need to strip the IPE OIL off and pressure wash it? Do I need to sand it down to wood? Or can I just pressure wash the excess off? It has been on for a week now. Let me know where to go from here, Thanks
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Tom,
It sounds like you may need to sand the deck down to raw wood and re-finish. It is very important to allow the material to sit for about 10 minutes and then to wipe off any pooling or excess oil finish. Equally important is the material can not be rained on for at least 24 hours. If you can send me a few pictures of what the material looks like so we can figure out the best game plan. Thank you for your time.
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We will be installing IPE decking in a month or so. Do you recommend pre finishing the material with IPE oil or after installation?
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Louis,
It all depends on the application. Generally speaking, a top coat after installation is all that is needed. There are a few instances where we would suggest applying the oil finish too all 4 sides. One of these would be for low ventilation applications as this will help stabilize the material. If you don’t mind let me know a little bit about the application and I can make a suggestion as to what should be done. Ventilation space as well as what the material will be installed over would be my main questions.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you.
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After applying the IPE oil with a 3/8″ nap roller, I understand I need to wipe the deck with a soft cloth 5 – 10 minutes later. Is that 5 – 10 minutes after beginning, so two people are needed, or is that 5 – 10 minutes after I’ve finished oiling the entire deck? It is 1,000 sq. ft.
Also, I understand the deck needs to dry at least 24 hours after applying the IPE oil. Does that mean we should not walk on it during that time?
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Hi Mr. Ipe Hardwood,
My husband just built a beautiful, large deck out of Tigerwood. He builds the projects and I finish them! So, I oiled the Tigerwood with Ipe deck oil and did not wipe off the excess. I called another company and was told to apply M.E.K with a rag and wipe off to break the tacky areas and dissolve the sheen. Well, I still have tacky areas and many of them. Do you suggest just starting over with fresh wood and start sanding. I now understand the importance of wiping off the excess. I did the second half of the deck the right way. Please help!!!
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Erin,
I’m sorry to say but it seems at this point you will need to sand the surface of the material. To sand the decking use 80 grit sand paper on the machine you feel must comfortable using whether it be a drum flooring sander, or an orbital sander. After the material has been sanded, you are going to want to ensure you are dealing with a clean surface with no saw dust or oil residue still left. The easiest way to achieve this is to do a pressure wash on the material at 1000-1500 psi with a 40 degree tip (normally the white tip). Allow the material to dry for 24-48 hours. After the material is dry, then you can apply the oil finish using a 3/8” nap paint roller, allow the oil to penetrate for about 10 minutes and then wipe the surface to ensure no pooling or excess oil. I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you.
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Amanda,
5-10 minutes after the oil finish has been applied it needs to be wiped off. With a deck your size, it would be easier if there were two people. I hope this helps. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with.
Thank you for your time.
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Hi Mr. Ipe Hardwood,
We recieved our Ipe about a week ago and are now in the process of building our deck. However, the weather suddenly turned cold and rainy half-way through the build. Because of this, i have a couple questions. If I am unable to finish installation, is it best to stack the Ipe boards in the garage for the winter? Any risk of cupping? If I won’t get 24hrs where it is above 50 degrees for the rest of the winter, and therefore can’t apply Ipe Oil, will my installed boards turn silver? If so, what process is there to get them brown again and prepared for Ipe Oil in the spring?
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Kasey,
Install the material tight just as if it were still summer. The only thing you most likely will not be able to do is apply the oil finish. Chances are, if you’re in the North like I happen to be, we will not see night time temperatures be over 50 degrees anytime soon. That being said, simply hold off on applying the Ipe Oil until spring. You may see the material fade in color, but once the oil finish is applied, the natural color of the material will come right back. So to recap, feel free to finish installing the decking material but I would advise against applying the oil finish if you will not have 24-48 hours of 50 degree or higher temperatures until the spring. If you do not install the rest of the decking please do not store the material in a garage. The material needs to be stored outside, uncovered, and off the ground. Here is the link our ipe installation instructions as a quick reference.
I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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We built our rear stairs (for a four storey building) out of IPE in 2009, and the stairs receive moderate sunlight (though fourth floor is high sun). We’ve never treated the stairs and railings, and while faded, we don’t have the silvering quite yet…. I think I’d like to seal with Ipe oil…We’ve cleaned the treads (scrub-brush). Do we need to power wash the railings and ballisters (vertical) too? (Live in San Francisco, so weather is moderate, with heavy rains in winter).. tx
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I just put IPE oil on my newer ipe deck. The product was easier to use than expected and looks AMAZING. Hoping it lasts. My deck gets little sun so I am optimistic. SHould I expect to put another coat on next yr since this was my first one or could that not be necessary with the little to no direct sun it gets?
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Andrew,
It really depends on location and amount of sun light. Generally speaking, your first coat will last 6-8 months, second coat about a year and third coat about a year and half or so. Before each coat you will want to ensure you are dealing with a clean surface. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist with. Thank you for your time.
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Lou,
I would pressure wash the verticals and rail system. This way you can ensure you are dealing with a clean surface. Allow the decking to dry (24-48 hours) and then apply the Ipe Oil. The Ipe Oil can be applied using a 3/8” nap paint roller. After applying the oil finish allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes and then wipe any access oil off the surface using a dry rag. This must be done when you will have 24-48 hours of no rain and temperatures of 50 degrees or higher. I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you, thank you for your time.
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HI,
We installed our deck about 5 months ago (June) and it was unfinished. Trying to decide whether or not we have to pressure wash it and use the Messmer’s cleaning agent or if it is ok to just wash the deck and seal it? The deck has faded slightly but it still has some of the original color. Is it a good idea to seal the deck before the winter months or should we do it this spring? Thanks for your help!
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Alex,
It really all depends on what the decking looks like. If the material has become grey I would suggest using the Messmers Part A Cleaner and Part B Brightener followed by power wash and deck oil finish. If the material has not turned grey, then just power wash and finish. If you would like, send me over a few pictures of what the material looks like currently and I should be able to make the best suggestion as to how to proceed.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you.
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Hello,
I just finished installing a tongue & groove porch floor. I would like to sand it, but I understand that if I do, I will have to power wash it before I apply the ipe oil. I would like to know wether a very thorough and vigorous scrubbing with a hard bristle brush and Messmers deck cleaner would be an sufficient preparation before oiling, since I am somewhat reluctant to power wash so close to the foundations of the house (I also just replaced and painted the siding along the porch floor).
Also, I am running out of warm days to oil, and was wondering if I sand now, and wait for the spring to wash and oil, wether I would be able to regain the original color of the wood (supposing that some fading occurred over the winter).
I thank you in advance for your attention,
James
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With this being Tongue & Groove decking, I personally would suggest sanding the surface of the material to ensure you have no lips in between the boards due to un-level frame work. Just like an interior hardwood floor, you want everything to be nice and even. To sand the material use 80 grit sand paper and the sanding machine you feel most comfortable using. You can use a flooring sander which will be the quickest, but if you don’t know how to use it, this will also be the quickest way to destroy the decking. So again use the sanding machine you feel most comfortable with.
After you sand the material you will want to pressure wash the decking to ensure you get any left over saw dust off the surface. The reason you have to pressure wash is that when sanding an oily wood such as Ipe you will be pushing gummy saw dust in to the pores of the wood and a pressure wash is one of the best ways to get this out and open the pores up to accept the oil finish. Once you pressure wash, allow the material 24-48 hours to dry. After the material is dry then you can apply the oil finish. The product we suggest using is called Ipe Oil. To apply this use a 3/8” nap paint roller when you will have 24-48 hours of no rain and temperatures at least 50 degrees or high (that’s 24-48 hours of 50 degrees). If you are like me and you won’t see 50 degree temperatures at night for another 7 months or so then its best to wait on applying the oil finish until the spring. While the material will fade slightly in color, once the oil finish is applied it will bring the natural color right back for you. I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for your time.
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Our contractor installed our Ipe deck appx 5yrs ago and we have never sealed the wood. Unlike most of the others, with whom you have been communicating, we like the silver grey patina the wood takes on when weathered. The issue we have is when the wood is not sealed dirt seems collect on the surface and in the pores of the wood very quickly. We are looking for a sealer that would maintain the silver grey color but seal the wood to perhaps make it easier to keep clean.
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Jacque,
Ipe decking can not have a sealer applied as the material is very dense and sealers will not adhere to the surface. In turn they will peel and chip away. The only product that can be applied to Ipe is an oil finish such as Ipe Oil. This is to maintain the natural color of the decking and will bring back some of the natural brown color of the decking. If you are looking to keep the grey color of the decking but clean the surface I would first suggest doing a pressure was at about 1000-1500 psi. You can also use decking clean products. The products that we have found to work best on Ipe are Messmers Part A Cleaner and Part B Brightener in which we do offer both.
I hope this helps please let me know if there is anything else we can help with. Thank you for your time and inquiry.
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Hi there –
We are about to have a front (covered) porch installed with Ipe wood. We definitely want to keep the brown color in the wood. Do you suggest that we put an oil finish on it? Some people that I have talked with say there is no need because it is covered – others say do an initial coat and you will never need to do it again… I would guess that we need to do an initial coat, but figured I would ask the expert. If we do need to oil to keep the natural beauty of the wood – how often if the porch is covered?
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Jen,
For new decking what I would suggest doing is a pressure wash after the material has been installed. This will ensure you are dealing with a clean surface. Allow the material to dry for about 24-48 hours after the pressure wash. Once the material is dry you can apply the oil finish. The product we suggest doing this with is Ipe Oil. This can be applied using a 3/8” nap paint roller. Once the oil has been applied allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes and then wipe the surface of the material with a dry rag to ensure there is no excess oil on the surface of the decking. The oil finish will need to be applied when you will have 24-48 hours of temperatures of 50 degrees or high and also the same time fame with out any rain. You will want to re-apply the oil finish about 6-8 months later following the same steps. After the second coat the oil finish will need to be re-applied as needed. This will depend on how much sunlight the decking will see, on average you would be looking at every other year for re-application. Thank you for your time and if there is anything else we can help with please don’t hesitate to ask.
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