Fall is a great time to build an ipe deck. With our low ipe prices, cool weather & these how-to tips, you'll install an ipe deck alot easier than in the Summer!

Now that Summer is finally over, many people are taking advantage of our ipe decking sale and asking, “Do you have any tips on how to build a deck in the Fall?”

In fact, there are some critical things you can do to make your ipe deck installation easier. These tips will ensure that, when you’re done building an ipe deck, you can rest easy knowing that it will remain strong and look great for many years to come.

1. Let your bundles of ipe decking acclimate to your immediate environment and humidity levels. We recommend that you allow for 3-5 days to pass before you start cutting the decking.
2. Even though ipe is naturally resistant to mold, if you’re concerned about excess moisture or wet leaves covering your ipe wood, we recommend building a simple canopy over the wood. Why not just cover the wood with a tarp? Simply covering the wood in this manner will prohibit and extremely slow down the acclimation process. A canopy that covers, but allows for easy air circulation is a much better and time-saving solution.
3. Do NOT apply a deck oil finish until after:
   1. The Ipe wood has acclimated and
   2. You install the ipe decking. Applying a finish prior to installation will lead to more work later on since, during the installation process, the finished ipe can scratch. If that occurs, then you’ll have to reapply your finish. Save yourself time and energy.
4. Apply an ipe end sealer immediately after you cut the decking. This is a critical step when it comes to ensuring the overall health of the ipe deck boards. If you wait over an hour to apply the end sealer, the ipe can end up with checks/split ends
5. Finally, since the next few months tends to be both rainy and, in certain areas, snowy, installing an ipe deck in the Fall means that your decking will have a higher moisture content. This is why you’ll need to build as tight and as stiff of a deck as possible. During the Spring and Summer, the decking will naturally dry and start to contract. If your deck was not as strong as it could have been, you could end up with loose, or warped boards come the warmer months. How can you ensure that your ipe deck installation is as tight as possible?
   1. Pre-drill, baby! Pre-drill! Seriously. Pre-drilling ipe with high-grade deck screws will help ensure a tight fit to the joist.
   2. With pre-grooved ipe decking, always use deck fasteners that require installation at a 45° angle. Independent scientific studies prove that installing at an angle provides a much tighter fit. Installing ipe this way also ensures that each individual deck board does not act independently and that the decking, as a whole, moves as one solid structure.

Finally, be sure to buy premium grade ipe decking from Advantage Trim & Lumber. We have everything you need to make building an ipe deck in the Fall an enjoyable experience. Remember, we’re running two great decking sales that will help you save hundreds of dollars on your order.

The Ipe discount sale at Advantage Trim & Lumber Company is going on right now. For a limited time, we are dropping the price of ipe decking!

Right now is the time to take advantage of these ipe decking discounts.

Check out our holiday decking sale info!

Why buy ipe from Advantage Trim & Lumber?

• We are the leading ipe supplier in the United States
  • Even the big hardware stores & online lumber stores can’t compete, why?
• We directly import from the best lumber mills in Brazil
  • We personally inspect each mill to ensure eco-friendly standards are met
• We sell the highest grade of ipe, period!
  • You won’t get green material from us unless requested!
• We offer convenient office hours
• We own our own truck fleet & mills in the U.S.
• Extremely fast and straightforward order process & shipping times

Oh, and don’t forget…we are also offering decking discounts on other exotic hardwood:

• Tigerwood decking
• Cumaru decking
• Brazilian Walnut flooring

What are you waiting for? Contact Advantage today to buy ipe at discount prices!

Deck Design of the Week

Duval House by The Mark Odom Studio

I recently had the privilege of speaking directly to head designer behind this week’s Deck Design of the Week, Mark Odom. The Mark Odom Studio is an architect firm out of Austin, Texas who creates unique homes for discerning homeowners who want a contemporary, yet warm environment to live in.

As a well-established designer in the Austin, Texas area, I am thankful and honored to have pried him away from his innovative projects to talk to him about one of his most recent homes, The Duval House. This contemporary home has features that incorporate ipe decking.

The Mark Odom Studio an Austin Architect & Designer Firm Created this Highly Functional Deck Design (check out the fence and bench made from ipe decking!)

Why did you chose ipe for this project?

“Due to the density of IPE, it presents an opportunity to have natural grade lumber in wet or weathered areas that won’t deflect, bow, or lose its original state.  This allows us to use natural wood throughout interior and exterior while maintaining a slender tolerance between edges; clean non-compromising lines are important in modern work.”

Have you chosen ipe for any other projects/applications?

“We’ve used ipe on wood fencing, rain-screens, floors & walls in wet areas and visual screens between spaces.  Again, the density of wood and sharp edges allows us to achieve these moves without having to use steel.”

What was it like to install?

“Ipe is fairly easy to install.  There’s really no special skill needed beyond deck construction other than a high level of precision and eye for detail.”

Thanks for sharing this info, Mark! I really appreciate your time!

As you can see from the pic above, this modest deck is ideal for outdoor gatherings. I can’t thank the Mark Odom Studio enough for sharing allowing us to feature their design. If you’re looking for an interior designer in Austin, be sure to add the Mark Odom Studio to your short list.

And, if your goal is to incorporate ipe decking into your home renovation project, look no further than Advantage Trim & Lumber Company. Now that we’re running two great decking sales (Ipe Decking Sale & Exotic Hardwood Sale), you can buy ipe and other exotic hardwood options at prices not available anywhere else!