Safety Tips

Safety first!  Any construction project will involve safety concerns, and ipe decking brings a little more than your average deck.

First of all, ipe is a very dense, and therefore very heavy wood.  Just keep this in mind when moving lumber around.  A bundle of ipe will weigh far more than other, more common wood.

We advise you wear a dust mask when cutting or sanding ipe.  Hardwood sawdust is carcinogenic and can cause breathing problems.

Many people have had allergic reactions to ipe dust.  Symptoms can include rashes, lethargy, and cold-like symptoms.  In addition to wearing a mask, we also advise wearing safety glasses, long sleeves and gloves.  And just because you’re cutting outdoors does not mean you don’t have to worry about sawdust.