This post was updated on March 5, 2024
Ipe Oil Hardwood Stain Stain Review 2024
IPE Oil has become popular in the past years. It is an oil-based semi-transparent stain that will give a brownish tint to your IPE or other exotic hardwoods.
If you have used the Ipe Oil Hardwood Stain, please post a review in our Star Ratings and or comment area. Our comment system does allow the ability to post pictures of your deck or exterior wood.
Note: See here for other exotic hardwood and Ipe Stain Reviews: Exotic Hardwood Stain Reviews
IPE Oil Wood Stain Review
Ipe Oil™ Hardwood Deck Finish is designed specifically for IPE and other Brazilian Hardwoods. Ipe Oil™ Hardwood Deck Finish offers deep penetration into dense exotic woods protecting the wood from water and UV damage.
Ipe Oil™ can be used on all types of wood including ipe, tigerwood, cumaru, or and hardwood decking and wood siding, preserving the natural grain while enhancing at the same time. Ipe Oil™ Deck Finish is a 250 VOC compliant oil-based finish that can be used in all 50 states.
Important Note: Testing for Exotic Hardwood Deck Stains
Exotic hardwoods such as IPE are extremely dense and difficult to penetrate. These wood types when stained will always fade faster than other woods such as Cedar, Redwood, and Pine. Testing will be changed to 1 year instead of 2 years for exotic hardwoods.
IPE Oil Hardwood Stain Stain Rating (1-10)
Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8
– IPE Oil comes in only a Natural Finish. This is a transparent but pigmented color that really enhances the natural grain of the wood. The finished look after drying was a beautiful rich tone of brown with a hint of red throughout our IPE wood.
Preventing UV Graying at 1 Year Mark: 5
– We only test exotic hardwoods for 1 year. IPE oil had retained most of its color. Only about 30% of the color has faded from the wood. The was still a decent amount of color left.
Wear/Tear and Peeling: 9
– IPE Oil penetrates very well into exotic hardwoods. There wasn’t any peeling of the stain from the wood, even in the high traffic areas.
Cost Per Square Foot: 6
– IPE Oil Finish retails for an expensive $60.99 per gallon. Fortunately, the IPE Oil spreads extremely well. The coverage per gallon was over 300 feet per gallon. This is double the coverage on a soft wood such as Cedar or Pressure Treated Pine. We only used 2.5 gallons for the 800 sq. foot test deck.
Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 7
– Small amounts of algae were present after 2 years around the outside railings and in corners. We did not find any mold growing in or on the IPE Oil Stain.
Ease of Application: 8
– The coverage is excellent. We applied with a pad applicator, waited 20 minutes and back wiped the excess stain residue. The entire project was completed in about 3 hours.
Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 8
– The IPE Oil did not color shift/darken noticeably. No mold/mildew and very little dirt accumulation.
Difficulty of Reapplication: 8
– Future maintenance would require a wood deck cleaner and some scrubbing to alleviate the wood of dirt. This would be enough prep prior to applying a maintenance coat of stain.
Overall Score IPE Oil Hardwood Stain at 1 Year Period: 7.38
– We liked the IPE Oil overall. Easy to apply, coverage per gallon was excellent, and the finished look was stunning. This would be a decent product for any exotic hardwood that requires annual maintenance.
Note: See here for other exotic hardwood and Ipe Stain Reviews: Exotic Hardwood Stain Reviews
Product Information:
Where To Buy: Mostly Online with a few retail stores, Home Depot
Cost: $65.99 per Gallon
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent – Oil-Based for Hardwoods
Available Colors: Natural Finish
Application Temperature: 45-95 F
Coats Required: 1 coat for most hardwood decking surfaces
Coverage Per Gallon: 300+ sq. ft for Exotic Hardwoods
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 4-12 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States
Manufacturer: IPE Clip
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: IPE Exotic Wood
Deck Square Footage: 800 Square feet
UV Exposure: Full Sun
How Many Years Tested: 1 Year
Stain Color Used: Natural Finish
*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take into consideration that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
The Best IPE Hardwood Deck Stain Video – DeckStainHelp.com
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Can you use Ipe oil stain on a cedar deck? Looking for a penetrating oil based stain for longevity.
Yes but there are much better brands such as TWP 1500 Series or Armstrong Clark.
Will the ipe oil ruin a non reinforced rubber roof membrane? We are doing a tiger wood deck with a rubber membrane underneath it, I just want to make sure when we put the oil on it won’t ruin the rubber.
It shouldn’t.
We used this on our Ipe deck and after 4 months it looks dark, dry, and patchy with gray scrapes all over from furniture movement. I want the wood to look oiled and not dried out. Two coats would have made it too dark and would not absorb. What product would you recommend to keep a medium brown saturated looking oil finish (like new teak furniture)? Our expensive deck looks awful. Unsure of how to post a picture.
Strip and brighten for prep and try one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
Can ipe oil be used on pressure treated pine? It has dried for a year, and recently has been cleaned and brightened.
Yes, but it will not make your PTP look like IPE wood like the picture above. It is not possible to make PTP look as beautiful as IPE when stained. It does not matter the brand of stain you use.
Hi Crew,
We are installing an ipe deck as we speak. I see from the post below that we have to let it sit for a few weeks and breathe before we do any stains to it(great info).
My question is is there a ipe oil that can stain it black or very dark ?
We have an old Queen Anne house and it will go with the color scheme.
Thank you for your time.
Sit for a few months then clean and prep before staining. Look at Armstrong Clark in their Black Walnut hardwood color.
My deck is a mix of pressure treated and ipe wood can I stain the treated wood with with ipe oil
Yes.
I had a contractor use this on my IPE deck which had not been treated in 3 yrs. It was cleaned properly, however once the IPE oil was applied the wood looks like it needs another coat? A lot of the wood did not come out dark and is light in some areas and darker in others,
IPE wood will not take another coat of stain. It is too dense.
Our Ipe deck was installed three weeks ago. We are trying to find someone to seal it for us. We are getting different recommendations on when to treat it. One company says to wait a few weeks , another says treat it as soon as possible. What do you recommend ?
You need to wait a few months and prep first. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Thank you!
Do I need any special skills to be able to apply this to my ipe deck? Kind of a novice
No. Just make sure prep correctly and apply correctly. If you have prep questions, respond with a picture of the current condition.
Will do! And thanks for the response. Couple questions I had: everywhere I’ve looked just says to clean first, but do I need to sand it? Also, maybe a dumb question, but after you apply the oil, it’s supposed to sit for 30 min before you wipe it down, if you did a large job in one go, wouldn’t you be stepping in the wet oil as you do it? And would that affect its appearance afterwards?
You always have to prep. Clean or strip depending on the current condition. No need to sand unless you have to remove a coating that cannot be stripped. You will not harm the finish if you step on it while wiping. Just make sure back yourself off and while wiping your footprints.
Open to other stain if you have a favorite for ipe…
Need to clean house with bleach based product before cleaning ipe deck,porches, stairs…if I wet the ipe first do you think the cleaner run off will be a problem for unfinished ipe? Then planning two step cleaning: do you have a preference for rad or deck Wise 2 step kits? Hope for matte rich natural color…preference? Considering rad in light walnut and ipe deck oil…close to 2000 sq ft so want to get it right…thinking no finish on ipe currently…purchased 3 yr old home with no info from previous owner
Go with the RAD in Light Walnut.
Thank you! And the two step kit? Rad also? And bleach run off ok?
Yes on the prep kit. Make sure to rinse the bleach well after the house washing and you should be okay.
We built an ipe picnic table. Is there an oil that is safe for food?
Try Defy Hardwood stain instead.
Hi, looking at doing my annual oiling for cumaru decking. Used Cabot Australian Timber Oil last fall and was very unhappy with how long it lasted. The majority of the deck is now grayed, what should I use to clean it up before oiling? Or just power wash it? If we’d like to stick closest to the natural look of the wood, which oil would you suggest?
Strip and brighten for prep. Try the IPE Oil for this.
Hi,
just had IPE deck installed. My contractor used this oil to finish it but after three days it is still sticky and shiny in most parts.
Should I let it sit or is there something I need to do? It is still sticky to the point if I walk on it it will leave foot marks.
You may need to strip it and start over. You should not stain brand new wood right away. Needs to weather a few months and be prepped first.
Can you give me more details? What do I need to use to strip it? Also you mention prepping hoy do i do this? First time Deck Owner here
Prep with the Restore A Deck Stripper and Brightener Kits.
I have a 500 sq/ft ipe deck and I’m building a pergola over one side of it. I have used nothing but ipe oil on it for that last 9 years and love it. Don’t have the quid for ipe lumber so gonna use all cedar. Is the ipe oil an option on the cedar? If not, For color matching any ideas.
You can use the IPE oil on cedar but it will not match the IPE wood after stained. It is virtually impossible to match cedar wood to the beautiful IPE wood. Closest would be a darker brown with a hint of red deck stain. Maye Rustic Brown from Armstrong Clark.
Hi there,
The deck is 150 feet from ocean in FL panhandle and receives full sun. Based on your reviews we are planning to use Armstrong Clark mahogany for our ipé deck stain (pictured below).
We have KDAT pine substructure (which is part of the outdoor living space and will be seen) and we have already stained it with Sherwin Williams Super Deck IR Reflective Exterior Waterborn deckstain. We want the KDAT to look like the ipé. How do we change the KDAT stain to Armstrong mahogany?
Ken, it is very hard and nearly impossible to get pine wood to look like IPE when stained. The IPE will always look better and richer. The easiest thing to do would be to stain the floor first with the AC and then find an SW color of the same type that is close as possible to the IPE flooring. The harder way to approach this would be to remove the SW first and then stain the flooring and the posts with the AC products. Closest AC color that would resemble the IPE/Mahogany on the floor would be the Chestnut for the pine.
Either way, it will not match exactly.
Thanks for your prompt reply! Two follow up questions: How do you rate the SW product vs the AC? How do I remove the SW? We may want to use AC everywhere for simpler maintenance.
Many thanks,
Ken
We are not fans of the SW products for decking but will work fine for your vertical posts.. To remove the SW, you will need to strip, possibly sand, and brighten after to neutralize.
How long after application can it rain without harm
4-12 hours depending on the temps.
Just tried this last week on my IPE fence. Goes on very well with a brush. Better and quicker than using a rag to apply. The stain with some coloring seems to soak in better and normalize the color a bit more, for a darker reddish brown look.
I stained my deck with IPE Oil but thinking of switching to Armstrong Clark Amber next year to give it more of a yellow/brown look rather than the brown/red look. Also doing it because it seems AC is a better quality stain. What do you think of the idea? Can I just apply the AC over the IPE Oil or do I need to strip first? Thanks!
Strip it. Look at amber color. For IPE, you will need to reapply annually.
Thanks. Is the color between IPE Oil and Armstrong Clark Amber that much different? Or are they about the same?
IPE Oil seems to be more brown while the AC Amber is more a golden tint.
hi guys good morning here is my question I have a large ipe deck to strain it which is the best stain can you guys recommend me
Please
Thanks
Alex ventura:
IPE Oil works decently. Also look at the Armstrong Clark in Mahogany color.
We used ipe oil on 1500 Sf Brazilian masauranduba 4" deck boards in June 2015. Within 4 mos. the wood changed from a beautiful red brown to silver.
I would not recommend this product
DO NOT USE THIS OIL unless you want to risk water stains showing up every time it rains or using a hose. We sealed a 320 sq. ft. Ipe deck with Ipe oil, following instructions to the T; one week later, the customer insisted that we refinish the deck due to extensive water stains. 1/3 of my entire income for a 3 week job installing a rooftop deck and building planters, was spent refinishing the deck and applying another coat. I have little confidence that the product will hold up.
Mineral deposits drying from water on top of a newly applied stain can happen no matter what brand you use. This wipes or rinses off. Typically this issue goes away in a couple of weeks.
I have the same problem. It is not water stains on top of finish, it is water penetrating the finish and causing staining under the oil. Very poor problem and not water repellent at all.
I applied IPE Oil to my mystery exotic hardwood screened porch floor. I did not know how long to wait before wiping & probably wiped it after about 7 minutes. Should I reapply IPE Oil since I see you recommending waiting 20 minutes before wiping? Is there any problem with reapplying too soon, other than needing to wipe up excess after 20 minutes? Thanks
Leave it alone as it is probably fine. It will need another application next year anyhow.
We are looking at a home to purchase and the pool has an IPE deck around it. It does need to be refinished based as it is basically grey now. I read the comments below and see what needs to be done to refinish. (Thank you!)
My question is about loose boards…I do not see nails or screws fastening down the boards. Any ideas on how to best secure these?
Those are hidden fasteners. Can you get under the deck? If not then you will need to pre drill and secure from top with stainless steel screws.
I have a 1200 sqft IPE deck just completed. The construction company made the mistake of using Cuprinol oil for impregnated wood. As a result, the finish is uneven and I guess that it will wipe off with some rain. Should we sand the deck before applying IPE oil? The property is located in Sweden with cold snowy/wet winters and dry warm/wet summers. What oil is recommended? Thanks.
Strip or sand it off first. Not sure what stains you can get there. Ipe Oil is not available there. Most that we use probably will not be available in Sweden.
I am thinking of using Fijian Genuine Mahogany decking offered through Green World Lumber in Toronto Ontario. They recommended I try Messmers UV plus. I tested it out on a sample and I don't like the colour – its got an orangy/red tint to it.
I like the way Linseed oil makes the Genuine mahogany decking look, but it doesn't have UV protection i need.
Can you recommend a UV/weather protective oil? are their oils with a brownish tone?
Thanks
M
IPE Oil has more of a brownish tint and can be used on your wood type. Do not use straight linseed oil unless you are okay with mildew and no UV protection.