Maintaining Ipe Decking

Ipe’s strength and hardness makes it one of the easiest decking materials to maintain.

After installation
Ipe boards have a natural finish and are ready to be sanded lightly after installation. Use a 5” electric palm salnder with #80 grit sandpaper to remove installation and transportation scratches. Sand the deck lightly, while paying attention to visible imperfections. Blow or sweep the dust off and a coat of exterior hardwood oil for decking can be applied.

Note
Wear protective gear to prevent dust inhalation and injuries from woodworking (including while cutting and sanding). It is highly advisable to wear gloves, a dust mask and protective eye wear.

ipe decking

Maintenance
tips

Annual maintenance is sufficient to keep the deck looking great, while bi-annual maintenance can yield even better results. The best seasons for that are springtime and just before autumn. This is important if you want to retain the rich red-brown colour of Ipe decking for longer, instead of letting it acquire a silvery overtone.

Getting the right results is all about preparing the surface of the deck. Following a regular annual maintenance also reduces the amount of work required. A light sanding with #80 grit sanding paper with an orbital palm sander is sufficient. Remove the dust that has accumulated and the wood is ready to re-oil.

If maintenance is not performed for a long time and the wood has become grey, pressure wash it and then let it dry for a couple of days. Sand lightly to remove grey spots and oil afterwards.

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Letting Ipe acquire its natural color

Ipe decking does not require regular maintenance and can be left to acquire its natural colour. The UV rays in the sun will change the deck’s colour to a silver patina which can be left as is for as long as needed. To bring back the original colour simply pressure wash the decking.

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