Now that we are near the end of the Summer, many people are wondering if they should take the opportunity to build their own ipe deck considering that the ipe prices are looking attractive right now.
The truth is that you can definitely take advantage of such a deal. Even though ipe is now a lot more affordable than it was just a couple of years back, the truth is that you never know how the price is going to be tomorrow.
However, when you are building a deck, there are some things that you need to consider. These things will not only allow the installation of the new deck to be simpler and easier as well as it will ensure that your ipe decking will look amazing and strong now as well as in the future.
#1: Before you immediately start cutting the ipe decking as soon as it gets to your home, just let it adapt to your humidity levels and immediate environment. As a rule of thumb, let the ipe bundles be there between 3 to 5 days.
#2: One of the reasons why a lot of people chooses ipe deckings is because ipe is naturally resistant to mold. However, if even in this situation you are concerned about the wet leaves covering your ipe wood or about the excess moisture, you can always build a simple canopy over the wood. While you could also use a tarp to cover it up, the truth is that a canopy works a lot better because it allows the air circulation and it also is a time-saving solution.
#3: You probably already heard that you should apply deck oil finish. However, make sure that you only apply it once the ipe wood has acclimated as well as after you install the ipe decking. If you apply the Ipe Oil before you finish the installation, you may end up with some scratched ipe boards. Even though they can be fixed, this means more time and energy spent.
#4: The best time to apply an ipe end sealer is immediately after you cut the decking. Please note that this is a critical step to ensure the health of your deck boards. If you end up waiting for one hour or more, this can be enough for the ipe to end up with split or check ends.
#5: Since you’re planning on installing your ipe deck on fall, it means that in the next few months it will need to deal with rain, wind, and possibly snow. So, your deck will have a lot of moisture content. This is why you need to make sure that you build a deck as tight and stiff as possible because when spring and summer arrive, the boards will start to contract. So, if your ipe decking isn’t as strong as it should be, you’ll start to see some warped and loose boards.
One of the best ways that you have to assure that your deck is well built even if you’re doing it in the Fall is to pre-drill the ipe with deck screws.