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Ipe Deck Restoration in Los Angeles, CA

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Ipe Deck Restoration and Refinishing

While our process for refinishing your ipe wood deck is simple, we take the time to understand the unique conditions of your deck. The care your ipe deck needs will depend on the climate where you live, as California has several microclimates to consider, and how often and what you use the deck for.

Before starting the refinishing project, we thoroughly inspect your deck. We’ll look for any boards or hardware needing fixing or replacing. We also consider how long it’s been since the deck was treated and what coating was applied. Once we know the condition of your deck, our team begins the refinishing process. Read below to learn what this process entails.

Cleaning

The first step in any deck refinishing project is cleaning. Cleaning will remove any of the previous coatings on the deck. It also removes surface dirt and eliminates built-up debris. Gray oxidation comes off with a bit of scrubbing as well. We avoid using any harsh strippers or chemicals that may cause damage to your landscaping or end up contaminating our oceans.

Sanding

The next step in our ipe deck refinishing process is sanding. Our team will do a thorough job of sanding your deck down to its original layer. This will eliminate any coating that cleaning alone doesn’t. Sanding the surface of the ipe wood also opens up the grains and creates a smooth surface. After sanding is complete, we clean it with a wood brightener, which helps eliminate mold and mildew. Your deck will now look fresh and bright.

Sealing

Finally, we’ll apply a sealant. The sealant we use is specially formulated for ipe and hardwood. Our sealer penetrates the wood to best protect it from the elements. We’ll apply it by hand using brushes to get the coating even. You can count on us to cover every inch of exposed wood so that you don’t have to worry about any part of your deck.

Our Ipe Deck Refinishing Process

How to Restore Ipe Wood Decks

We stated that we have seen it all when it comes to nightmarish projects, and that is actually an understatement. We have seen brand new decks with 3 or 4 layers of oil and anything that lands on it sticks to it, even a poor old bird in one case! Owning this type of wood deck does not have to be so difficult. We begin each and every Ipe deck refinishing project with a thorough evaluation. We look at how the deck has been maintained through the years. We look for the previous coating that may still be on the surface and check to see how long the deck has been left unprotected. Our deck refinishing technique begins with cleaning to remove surface dirt, gray oxidation, previous coating, and any contaminants that have landed on the surface. Strippers and harsh chemicals are almost never used because we do not want to chance runoff ending up damaging plants or hardscape and god forbid ending up in our oceans. Good old fashion cleaning and sanding usually does the trick and will eliminate even the most stubborn coatings. Once the surface is clean, thorough sanding will be employed. Sanding is absolutely necessary because it removes debris that cleaning does not. It also exposes fresh new and smooth raw timber, while opening the grain. The surface will be cleaned with wood brightener to promote color and eliminate contaminants such as mildew and black mold. The wood will be coated with penetrating sealer specifically formulated to Ipe and hardwoods decks. The sealer is applied the old-fashioned way by hand with a brush. This ensures maximum penetration while achieving a consistent application even between boards.

Our Ipe Deck Varner Removal Process

How to Maintain an Ipe Wood Deck

It seems like the maintenance of decks is a taboo subject. Many gather snippets of misleading information they read from the internet or from their general contractor. Where else are you supposed to go, right? Teak Master is here to set the record straight. There are two main factors to determine when it’s time for maintenance, microclimate, and its visual appearance. The various microclimates of Southern California each have their own properties that can break down a protective coating. Climates such as Malibu, La Jolla, or Newport Beach will need maintenance more often because of the constant barrage of moisture and salt air. Inland city climates such as Los Angeles, San Diego, or Calabasas receive constant sun and high heat that can also contribute to weathering. Also, despite manufacturer’s claims on the longevity of any particular product, the only official way to determine the frequency of maintenance is by visual inspection. We formulate a maintenance schedule based on these factors coupled with years of experience servicing Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, and San Diego. We begin our service with a thorough cleaning to remove the accumulation of debris on the surface. The wood may be spot sanded to remove stubborn stains and water spots. Wood brightener will be applied to promote a natural tone and help prevent mold and mildew. The same sealer will be applied by brush to replenish and nourish the wood. The vibrancy will be restored and the surface will be protected for roughly, the same period of time.

Protective Coatings

Sealer

The best way to protect your Ipe deck is with an application of an oil base penetrating sealer. The naturally dense cell structure and natural oils in the wood can make the application of the protective coating difficult. Our proprietary blend of Ipe sealer has sophisticated solvents that allow oils to penetrate deep into the surface. The protective coatings also have special UV reflectors called trans oxide pigments that prevent the wood from premature graying and oxidizing. We apply the protective coatings with a special marine-grade brush that holds a large amount of sealer. Each and every board is sealed from end to end to achieve a clean and even look. Brushing the sealer allows us to coat between boards as well. The oils are allowed to penetrate and excess is wiped clean with a rag. We never apply coatings with anything except a good ol’ fashioned brush. Our Ipe sealers are a one-coat system, which means multiple layers are not needed as the wood can only accept so much oil. We never apply varnish or water-base coatings to horizontal surfaces because they will blister and peel and are not maintainable. In fact, varnishes and water-based top coatings are unsafe when wet. The oils will magnify and highlight the natural grain and color of the Ipe wood and will dry matte. Sealers are also available in various tints to slightly change the natural appearance of the wood. Over the course of several months, the oils will naturally dissipate due to weathering characteristics in your area. General maintenance of your deck will be in the range of 4 to 8 months or whenever visually necessary.

Protecting Your Ipe Deck

The damaging effects of weather will immediately attack wood that is unprotected. We recommend protecting your new Ipe deck within 2 weeks of it being built. Allowing 2 weeks before application of the protective coating will give the wood time to acclimate and expand and contract with hot and cold. It will also allow some of the natural oils to dissipate so the protective coating can penetrate. We begin our new deck sealing process by lightly sanding to remove mill glaze and open the grain. We will clean with brightener to eliminate contaminants. The wood will be coated with an oil base penetrating sealer specifically formulated for Ipe decking. The sealer is brushed for a clean and even appearance. Never apply multiple coats to any deck to avoid stickiness and a shiny appearance. The sealer magnifies the natural grain and color of the wood and dries matte.

Repair

Being a relatively newer wood type used for decking, Ipe has a plethora of fastening systems. Many of these systems are not as well designed as others and problems may arise. We are experienced with all types of fastening systems and can help correct boards that may be loose or fastened incorrectly. We can also replace severely cupped or checked boards.

Ipe Deck FAQ

What is the best way to protect an ipe deck?

The best way to protect an ipe deck is by applying an oil-based penetrating finish. The oil-based finishes have solvents that delve deep into the wood’s grain and protects it from within. It allows for a natural appearance while keeping maintainability with relative ease.

Why does my ipe deck have water stains?

You may notice that some of the boards on your ipe wood deck have water spots or stains. The reason this occurs is that ipe boards have microscopic cups that hold water. Spots will form in places where water sits for long periods because it extracts oils from the wood. Since the outer edges of the boards dry first, areas that have microscopic cups dry later, which leaves stains.

Does pool water damage an ipe deck?

Pool water often contains chlorine or other chemicals. These additives in the water will definitely leave water spots on your ipe wood deck if left for an extended period or to dry in the sun. These chemicals can damage the wood, so it’s advisable to use a squeegee to push pool water off the wood.

How often should I maintain my ipe deck?

An ipe deck should ideally have maintenance performed whenever it’s visually necessary – e.g., whenever it looks like it’s weathering or losing color. Ipe deck maintenance can be estimated according to the climate the deck is located in. Usually, ipe decks should be serviced every 4-8 months.

What causes an ipe wood deck to fade?

The sun plays a significant role in causing your ipe wood deck to fade. However, other things contribute to the fading color of your deck boards. Weather patterns can vary from one year to the next, which means you may see the color of your deck get worse more rapidly in some years than in others. How often you use your deck and how many people are walking on it is another consideration when determining why your ipe wood deck is fading.
 
Our team at Teak Master considers all these things when coming up with a plan to care for and restore your ipe wood deck. Although ipe wood is sustainable due to its durability and low maintenance, you’ll still want to have a plan for the care and maintenance of this prominent feature of your home. So, give us a call, and one of our experts will help you develop a maintenance strategy.

Ipe Deck Refinishing Fact Sheet

Ipe Deck RefinishingDetails
What is Ipe?Ipe is a hardwood from Brazil that is commonly used for decks and siding in the united States. It is prized for its strength and durability and unique grain and color.
Are Ipe Decks Durable?Ipe decks can last a lifetime. If you choose to keep it in its natural look, only simple care and maintenance is needed.
How to Clean Ipe Decks?The best way to keep your Ipe deck clean is by using a leaf blower to remove surface dirt and debris. You may also mop the wood clean with a mild soap and water.
Ipe SealersThe best Ipe sealers are oil based. Oil base sealer gradually dissipate over time and allow for realatively easy maintenance.
Safe to Pressure Wash Ipe Decks?It is entirely safe to pressure wash and Ipe deck. Experience is the key in presuure washing as it can permenently scar the wood without proper pressure, height, and nozzle.
Are Ipe Deck Oils Safe?Ipe deck oils are safe to use and apply. Safety is the key, as oil base ipe deck oils are flammable.

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Tim Gilliam
Tim Gilliam

I am as passionate about the services our company provides as the day I started as Teak Masters' only employee in 1997. For 2 decades I have been obsessed with continuing to developing state of the art refinishing techniques and application of the finest cutting edge wood coatings modern science can create. I have training certifications and have been hired as a consultant for esteemed companies such as Benjamin Moore, Arborcoat, Messmers, Dewalt, Porter Cable, TWP, Sikkens, Tropitone, and Brown Jordan.