Finishing

Ipe decking has a lifespan of over 75 years, so treating it is not really necessary. It will, however, fade over time when exposed to the sun. Many people will like the silver-gray color that results, but if you would rather retain the wood’s natural color you should apply an oil based UV inhibitor such as Ipe Oil™.

Before applying any finishing oil to your ipe deck, make sure any sticker marks have faded and give the surface a thorough cleaning. Apply a light coat of oil, then wipe up any excess.

Comments

Mark Siegal

May 9, 2014

I had a new deck installed with ipe several years ago. After installation I had the deck stained with Cabots Australian oil. After a couple of years the stain on the deck that was exposed to the sun faded and required another treatment of stain. It has now faded again and requires another treatment. Is there a recommended procedure that I should follow so that I can treat the deck so that the stain will better withstand the effects of the sun. Is power sanding the surface prior to re-staining an acceptable strategy?

Thank you
Mark Siegal

    Ipe Deck Builder

    May 12, 2014

    I’m not too familiar with Cabot’s Austrailian Oil. Cabot’s web page does have some instructions for preparing your deck surface.

    The finish I recommend for ipe decks is Ipe Oil, but regardless of which product you use, you should make sure the deck is clean, free of any dirt or loose wood fibers. The wood should also be dry.

    However, if you want to retain the original color of the wood, re-applying the finish every couple years seems to be the norm.

Leave a Reply

All fields are required.