Anybody here use Ipe wood on a deck. Is it worth it? Fir floor on our front porch is weathered badly. We put it down about 20 yrs ago. Gets a lot of UV exposure and has to be painted every few years. Thinking about unfinished Ipe but it's over $3 per linear foot for 6" wide.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My neighbor had an Ipe deck put in a few years ago. It seems to be holding up to Texas heat with minimal care or maintenance. Both the wood and the install were pricey. But paying for the quality workmanship is probably contributing to the durability of the deck.

I have a walk out area to my basement where I plan to build a raise deck over the walkout. I have to put in the support columns and frame, but here is the decking that I purchased:
LockDry Watertight Aluminum Decking

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Current:
1985 300D aka Miss Margaret
1991 300SE aka Alarice
1995 SL320 aka Samantha
1997 K1500 Silverado
Past:
1999 E300 ex-wife got it and let her son ruin it
1984 190 2.3 ex-wife got it and let her son destroy a great car
1985 300D (CA version) aka Maybelline lost to deer at high speed.
1981 300D aka Madeline (went to salvage at near 400k) rusty, yet best car I ever drove
Wishlist:
McFarlan TV6 (only a few privately owned)
ReVere with Rochester engine
1917 Premier (only one left)

I've looked at that in the past. It won't work aesthetically on our front porch.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I used it on a 900 sqft deck. It is very tough stuff. It's hard on drill bits and saw blades. You can't straigten any boards if they are warped like you can with PT lumber. Don't even think of painting it the wood is soo dense that paint will not stick. I put stain on my deck and after six months if was gone.

Peter

I have a side business building decks and have done over 30 large decks in the last 15 years. My main supplier carries Ipe. I've done some small projects (planters, benches, etc) with it but never a deck. None of my clients has gone for it for one reason or another.

In addition to it being a bear to work with, it is highly susceptible to checking. You are supposed to seal each and every cut with a waxy sealer.

Have you considered composites? Tons of choices these days.

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Behind every great man is a great woman. Behind every great woman is a great behind.

What about Redwood? I just built a deck with it myself. Seems to be a decent material to work with and not as expensive as Ipe.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Composites won't work due to the aesthetics of the house. It's an 1890 Victorian. Even Ipe is pushing it I think. I'm not sure Redwood will stand up. Fir has a good reputation but even after 5 years exposure to sun and snow at a mile high it deteriorated. A marina on a lake close by has Ipe docks and they seem to be holding up pretty well.

Porch is 80 sq feet and open to the elements on all sides.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

We'll I'm no expert but I thought Redwood was supposedly hardier than most other types. I weathersealed mine though as I don't want it greying out. I prefert he honey yellow color that the weatherseal stuff gives it. I would think that in Colorado you must be spoilt for choice in lumber though. Surely in a far better position than down here in the deserts.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I'd recommend an open minded look at some of the more high-end composite styles. Not the gray or brown Trex you see in HD or Lowe's.

There are some very attractive materials there. You might need to do some out-of-sight reinforcement since the joist spacing is less for composite than traditional planks.

If you prepare the material properly you can also use stains on it, so color matching and sun fade or bleaching are controllable.

Beautiful, vey hard and dense, rot resistant. many significant boardwalks have been buit with this. I believe the Atlantic City boardwalk is ipe wood.Pricey.