Ipe decking

[aceinthehole4212]

anyone ever use it for decking??

I'm in the design phase of my deck, and am looking for options for the decking material. I dont want to use pressure treated lumber because the maintanance involved is too great, not to mention I dont really like the look of it after 10 or 15 years.

I have also looked into many of the composites out there, but haven't really found anything I like yet...

So I have turned to hardwoods, and found this stuff.
http://www.ipedepot.com/deckpicks.htm
http://www.ironwoods.com/ironwoods_ipe.html
This stuff is beautifull!! Expensive, but beautiful. I have done alot of research on it, it seems like an unbelievable product for what I want. It is a little more expensive then composite, but for the look, I am willing to pay a little extra for a superior product.

What im looking for is input from anyone who has used it or know someone who has used or worked with it.

I plan to use the grooved wood with the hidden fastener system.

Thoughts, suggestions, ideas, comments........

[T]

MORE expensive than composite? I hope its not a huge deck! Good luck with that. Looks great. make sure you take photos.

T

[Crawland]

I didn't use it, but I did research it a lot. It is beautiful wood. Very dense and hard. I've heard it is so dense that it doesn't float. That also makes it resistent/impervious to rot and bug problems. It has a very high fire rating too.

Plan on going through quite a few drill bits and blades cutting it. If you like the deep rich color of it you need to keep it protected with some type of finish. If you don't mind it going to a grey color you don't have to put anything on it and it won't split and splinter like regular pressure treated decking would.

If you can afford it I would definately go for it.

[aceinthehole4212]

I didn't use it, but I did research it a lot. It is beautiful wood. Very dense and hard. I've heard it is so dense that it doesn't float. That also makes it resistent/impervious to rot and bug problems. It has a very high fire rating too.

Plan on going through quite a few drill bits and blades cutting it. If you like the deep rich color of it you need to keep it protected with some type of finish. If you don't mind it going to a grey color you don't have to put anything on it and it won't split and splinter like regular pressure treated decking would.

If you can afford it I would definately go for it.

What did you use instead? I wouldnt mind using a composite if I can find something similar in look and color.

I have read alot about it, even got a sample in the mail. It is very impressive to see in person. I know about the drill bits and blades to cut it, thats not a problem. Actually with the hidden fasteners, you dont need to predrill, as you are not drilling thru the board, just thru the concealed fastener.

[Crawland]

I ended up using TimberTech. They have a tounge-in-grove system that I used. The decking looks great. I am having a problem with the fascia though. It keeps snapping screw heads off when it expands and contracts. I'm sure it doesn't help that I live in Michigan and have to go through the hot summers and cold winters.

I did a lot of research. I stumbled onto one deck forum that had a lot of professionals on it. They all seemed to like to use Ipe. There were a few that said the only composite they would consider is TimberTech. Trex was pretty much hated across the board. These were obviously professionals that enjoyed what they do and took pride in their work.

I'd give you a link to the forum, but once I finally finished my deck I wanted to purge all memory of building it from my mind.:)

[aceinthehole4212]

I ended up using TimberTech. They have a tounge-in-grove system that I used. The decking looks great. I am having a problem with the fascia though. It keeps snapping screw heads off when it expands and contracts. I'm sure it doesn't help that I live in Michigan and have to go through the hot summers and cold winters.

I did a lot of research. I stumbled onto one deck forum that had a lot of professionals on it. They all seemed to like to use Ipe. There were a few that said the only composite they would consider is TimberTech. Trex was pretty much hated across the board. These were obviously professionals that enjoyed what they do and took pride in their work.

I'd give you a link to the forum, but once I finally finished my deck I wanted to purge all memory of building it from my mind.:)

Do you have any pics of your deck?? Mind if I ask how you settled on a tongue and groove system for your deck? Does it drain water ok?

[Crawland]

I don't have any pictures handy. The TnG draines fine. It has holes in the tounge part every several inches that allowes water to drain. I liked the system becuase of the clean look and since you screwed into the tounge all the fasteners are hidden.

This (http://www.timbertech.com/products/decking-planks/floorizon-plank/default.aspx) is the stuff I used.

If I remember, I'll try to take some pictures tonight.

[Hirize]

Many of the ultra high end homes here use it and it does look great.

Don't know much else about it.

Aloha, Pete

[IslandHopper]

Timbertech is by far the best-selling composite decking we do here a the lumberyard, Ace, and Crawland speaks the truth. Timbertech is definitely a better product. Trex isn't bad, but their board is made of nearly 100% recycled/reclaimed materials. The largest percentage of it's make-up is plastic shopping bags, believe it or not. Timbertech uses 50% recycled materials just to satisfy the requirements to be considered a "green" product, but the other half is new plastics. As a result, you get a denser board with less voids. The means it doesn't move around as much, is easier to work with and holds it color better, whereas Trex is famous for fading considerably. Timbertech is cheaper, too. For what it's worth, we used to stock the entire Trex line, and about 2.5 years ago swapped it out for Timbertech.

If you're concerned with drainage, you can build your deck with a 16" oc joist spacing and use Timbertech's Twinfinish board instead of the tongue & groove system Crawland went with. The Twinfinish is a 5/4x6 product (compared to Crawland's 2x6 t&g system that's meant to span a 24"oc joist), so it's quite a bit less cost-wise. You can get the Twinfinish in a grooved plank that uses the same style of hidden fastener system (Concealoc) that you're looking at for your ipe. (Saves you having to drill into the deckboards themselves).

Around here, the three standard Twinfinish colors in a grooved or solid plank sells for $5.48/sqft, plus $100/per 100sqft for the Concealoc hardware. Timbertech also has a line called Earthwoods that mimics tropical/ipe decking really well, if that's the look you want. The Earthwoods will run you $6.90/sqft, and you can get that in a grooved plank as well. Use the link Crawland posted above to get a look at the Twinfinish & Earthwoods products.

It's a tough call, boss. Nothing beats the look of a real wood deck, especially ipe/tropical decking. But you mess with a composite deck just once and you're done. No maintenance, rot, splinters, etc. The comparison chart on the ironwood.com wesbite is BS, BTW. Timbertech carries the same 25yr warranty that they're offering for the ipe decking. And while ipe is definitely a denser, stiffer board, that makes not a single bit of difference if you frame the deck correctly. I've been on numerous Timbertech decks and there's no bounce/flex at all. (And I weigh 320lbs)

[MisterShark]

IslandHopper,
I'd love to get your take on (but fearful of what I'm about to hear) Home Depot's 'Veranda (http://www.verandadeck.com/)' brand composite decking.

I've been pricing composite decking brands and it's the least expensive. Do you have any knowledge of the brand?



Crawland,
Did you come across anything about this brand during your researching via that forum you mentioned?

Thanks guys.

[Crawland]

I don't remember specifically researching Veranda. My neighbor bought his composite material at HD. He has a bad problem with mold spots. They show up like little black spots a little smaller than a dime all over the deck. I know there was some class action lawsuits against Trex for mold issues too. That is one problem with some of the composites. Depending what they are made of they can have issues like that. I have had my deck for two years now and don't have any issues with mold.

All that being said, I don't know for sure if what my neighbor bought from HD was Veranda or not. It seems like they have a different product each year.

[IslandHopper]

Shark, I'd have to second what Crawland said. I've never sold/seen Veranda decking before and haven't heard anything good or bad about it. The problem is that once Trex and Timbertech caught on so huge, companies started jumping on the composite bandwagon. There are more than 2 dozen brands of the stuff out there now. And the mold problem he mentioned has been an issue for most of them, since most of them use a higher percentage of reclaimed wood (cheaper for the company to use than plastic) in their manufacture.

The three I'd feel OK recommending are Timbertech, Trex and Fiberon. After that it's a crapshoot, senor.

[MisterShark]

Thanks guys.

I'd wager that the mold issue would also depend at least somewhat on the amount of sunshine that the deck surface received daily.

For my purposes (if my assumption above is correct) I'll probably be OK as my deck gets plenty of sun exposure amd has no shade at the peak heat time of day.


Crawland,

If you wanna shoot that decking craftsman's forum addy our way anytime: I'm all eras :)

[Crawland]

Thanks guys.

If you wanna shoot that decking craftsman's forum addy our way anytime: I'm all eras :)

I'd love to help you out, but I can't remember what it was. I googled it but none of the results looked familiar. I do remember that they were having a huge spam problem on the forum and contributions to the forum were starting to tail off towards the end of my project. It was a pretty low tech forum. Nothing like PMC.:)

Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Crawland]

Regarding your mold hypothesis, location could have an affect, but it isn't the sole cause of the problem. I would google the trex class action lawsuit to research the problems they were having. I don't know if Trex got their problems worked out or not.

[Crawland]

Here are a couple pictures of my deck that I promised. Again, this is Timbertech Floorizon planks.

This is my first time posting pictures. I hope it works.

http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/crclemens/P1050699.jpg
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/crclemens/P1050700.jpg

[Directional]

Sweet deck

To the OP, i have Ipe hardwood floors on one level in my house, and i can verify it is a super hard wood. Half the time my cleat nailer wouldn't drive a nail through it, and when i got close to the walls, where the nailer wouldn't fit, i couldn't even drive a 15 gauge finishing nail through it. All the nail holes had to be pilot drilled. I will say that the floor is incredibly solid though. Ours is a very high gloss, so you are constantly mopping it, but i'll admit it looks very good when clean.

[aceinthehole4212]

Crawland, thanks for the pics, your deck looks great!!!

I'm still kicking around the idea of the Ipe, but have been giving much consideration to composite. Some of the downsides that I have read about is the fact that the composites get very hot to the touch. Crawland, what could you interject on this?? Is this true??

[Crawland]

Some of the downsides that I have read about is the fact that the composites get very hot to the touch. Crawland, what could you interject on this?? Is this true??

I have heard that too. I don't have a problem with that on my deck. I think it does get hotter than wood, but it's not hot to the point that you can't stand on it.

Something to think about is if you have a southern exposure and your deck is baking in the sun to the point where it is too hot to stand on are you really going to be using it that much? At that point I would think you would want some kind of awning or shade.

[MisterShark]

For heat consideration, you might also opt for the lighter-colored composite choices (like the sand colored shades) which should retain less heat than the darker colored choices.

[Crawland]

In a side bar to the heat issue, I was walking on my deck the other day with bare feet. As I was rubbing my feet across the decking I was thinking how nice it was that I didn't have to worry about getting any slivers. That and the low maintenance are why I went with the composite.:D

To stay on topic with the ipe, I don't think you have a big problem with splinters in ipe either. If I was ever to build another deck, ipe would be the only wood I would consider over a composite.

[MisterShark]

I just checked Consumer Reports for the brand I'm planning on purchasing (Veranda composite decking) and thought I'd share what I found.

These are screen captures I copied/pasted into MS Paint and saved as a jpeg, so some of the text is kinda compressed near the bottom in order to fit into the page, but you can still make it out I think:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b201/MisterShark/Misc%20Pics/DeckingRatings.jpg

Regarding mildew: it seems like my assumption about sun versus shade may indeed be an important factor, as it's noted in the ratings that the mildew issue that's rated above is dependant on the decking being in a moist and shady area.