Ipe deck installation

When using the surface screw method, pre-drill pilot holes with a specially designed Smart-Bit. The Smart-Bit drills and counter-sink a perfect hole as it has a collar to prevent your drilling too deep. We suggest two 2 screws per joist when installing the deck boards. Always consult your local building codes for deck board fastening requirements.

Hidden Fasteners: We carry several types of hidden fastening system. The grooved board systems are quicker to install and seem much easier than other systems.

Unlike other hidden fasteners the grooved board systems are istalled completely from the top of the deck. Frequently decks are either high or very close to the ground. In these cases, a below deck hidden fastener would either require a ladder or laying on the ground. Either way it would require you to be constantly looking up and turning your head and neck into a cramped and un-natural position.

These screws have heads that are smaller than normal deck screws because they are less noticeable. Screw straight through the face of the decking.

We recommend screwing two screws per joist. Deck builders prefer using torx screws for hardwood decking. These screws resist striping much more than normal decking screws.

This span chart offers conventional joist spacing sizes and meant to have nearly zero deflection under standard loads. Please contact your local permit and building code department for proper joist spacing requirements.

The joist spacing shown is also valid if the decking is laid in a diagonal pattern to the joist. The spans shown are typically used even with heavy loads such as hot tubs.

This will allow the ipe decking to expand and contract without abutment. You can acquire this product in prefinished or unfinished. If you decide on an unfinished product then it should be finished with a polyurethane blend finishing solution.

We suggest finishing the decking once it has been installed if they are planning to do only a top coat. You can also apply the finish to all 4 sides of the decking. Decks that have very little ventilation will need to apply the finish to all four sides of the decking prior to installation. Finishing all four sides of the deck boards will ensure equal moisture content on all sides of the boards.

It will also help to stabilize the material after installation. Before you apply any deck oil, test the finishing solution on a few deck boards and see how they dry. If the finish is uniform and clean, you can proceed with confidence. Upon application, your ipe deck will darken slightly. However, these finishes are meant NOT to stain the decking. V rays. Around months later, you can apply another coat. Store Ipe deck boards outdoors or in a garage. Store out of direct sunlight and keep dry by covering.

Covering also prevents pre-mature oxidation and fading. Use dunnage between rows of stacked lumber for ventilation during acclimation. Stack deck boards with the longest lengths on the bottom, building to the shortest lengths on top. Ipe is heavy, so use enough support dunnage so that you stack does not sag from its weight. Line your dunnage up vertically for maximum stabilization and to prevent boards from warping.

Allow wood to acclimate and stabilize to installation environment humidity levels before installation! The wood will lose some moisture while air drying and may shrink laterally in warmer, dryer climates.

It may expand laterally in moist climates. Allow a minimum of two weeks to properly acclimate the wood if possible. Failing to properly acclimate the wood before installation could cause the wood to crack, buckle, warp, etc. Ipe will naturally darken upon exposure. Note that all wood will oxidize and turn gray after regular exposure. Depending upon the climate, you may see full gray within a year if you do not put any finish on your deck. Use all safety precautions when using tools, including wearing safety glasses and breathing mask.

Carbide-tipped saw blades are recommended for smooth cuts. Due to the density of the wood, go slower as you cut through the wood to get a smooth cut without excess dulling of the blade. This will minimize splintering on the bottom of the board.

Always cut with the good face up to minimize end-cut splintering. Seal all fresh-cut ends with an end-sealer immediately after cutting in order to minimize splitting. We carry anchor seal specifically for this application. Ipe should never be attached to a solid surface such as concrete. Sleepers, stringers or joists should be used to fasten the deck boards to the structure. Proper drainage and ventilation should be considered to avoid movement, cupping and checking.

Ventilation — Allow for air flow underneath and between the deck boards in your design for maximum long-term stability. Otherwise, follow these standard spans for installation for minimal deflection of the deck surface. If you have poor ventilation, wider is always better. Shrinkage will be less on kiln-dried KD boards. Expect more shrinkage of width in hot or dry areas.