This post was updated on April 4, 2025
I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood. My IPE Wood and Deck stain reviews and help tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top product choices. See here for more info about me.
IPE Deck Staining Tips
DeckStainHelp.com has become the Internet’s go-to site for all things related to wood deck restoration. As with all types of wood surfaces, correctly prepping your IPE wood before staining it with a penetrating exotic hardwood stain is crucial. Feel free to leave a comment with pictures and any questions below!
💡 TIP: These IPE staining tips will work for all exterior hardwoods such as Mahogany, Cumaru, Merbau, etc.
What is IPE Wood?
IPE is a gorgeous Brazilian hardwood that is becoming increasingly popular for exterior wood surfaces. This extremely dense wood is naturally resistant to decay and rot, making it a durable choice that can last for decades.
When freshly cut, IPE often appears in shades of reddish-brown and exhibits rich brown color tones. However, one drawback is its tendency to turn silvery-grey over time due to UV exposure. With proper staining and maintenance, you can prevent this and retain its natural beauty.
Best IPE Staining Tips
To maximize the longevity and enhance the beauty of your IPE deck, follow these expert tips:
1. Measure and Plan
- Measure the wood surface to determine the square footage to be stained.
- Check the coverage rate of your chosen IPE deck stain to ensure you purchase the correct amount.
- Choose a stain color that complements the age and condition of your IPE wood. Color samples are available for $10 each for the top rated IPE Stains.
2. Prep the Wood Properly
Never stain IPE wood without proper preparation. Follow these steps:
- Clean the surface using a high-quality deck cleaner such as Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner.
- Apply a wood brightener to neutralize the cleaner and open up the wood’s pores for better stain absorption.
- Allow the wood to dry for 24–48 hours before staining.
3. Apply the Stain Correctly
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- Thoroughly mix the stain before applying.
- Use a brush, roller, pump sprayer, or airless sprayer to apply the stain evenly.
- Protect surrounding areas (plants, windows, and concrete) from stain overspray.
- Allow the stain to penetrate for several minutes, then wipe away excess stain to prevent puddling.
- Dispose of oil-soaked rags properly—soak them in water and lay them flat to dry outdoors to prevent combustion.
Maintaining an IPE wood surface can be made easy with proper IPE staining instructions. A quality IPE Wood Stain will enhance your deck’s or wood surface’s beauty while giving it lasting protection from the elements.
Note: Always follow the directions of the stain manufacturer you choose, as they differ between brands.
My Top IPE and Exotic Hardwood Stain Ratings
1. Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain
| Image | Title | Price | Add to cart | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $51.99 | |||
 | Price range: $239.99 through $257.99 |
2. Armstrong Clark Wood Stain
3. TWP Natural Effect Hardwood Stain Review
#1 Best Hardwood Deck Stain | #2 Best Hardwood Deck Stain | #3 Best Hardwood Deck Stain |
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From: $51.99 *Free Shipping | From: $83.99 *Free Shipping | From: $99.99 *Free Shipping |
| ; | ; | ; |
Is Your IPE Deck Turning Grey?
Preventing Greying in IPE Wood
To prevent IPE wood from greying, apply a UV-resistant stain immediately after installation. Routine annual maintenance includes:
- Cleaning – Use a deck wood cleaner and gently scrub to remove oxidation, dirt, mold, and mildew.
- Sanding (if needed) – Lightly sand rough areas or splinters.
- Applying a Wood Brightener – This helps restore color and prepares the wood for staining.
- Staining with a Hardwood-Specific Formula – Use a penetrating stain containing UV inhibitors.
IPE Wood Naturally Ages from UV Exposure
When left untreated, IPE wood will naturally turn silver-grey within a few months due to sun exposure. This process is faster for decks in full sunlight.
How to Restore Greying IPE Wood
If your IPE deck has turned grey, follow these steps to restore its natural color:
- Clean & Brighten – Apply a wood cleaner, scrub gently, rinse, and follow up with a brightener.
- Allow to Dry – Ensure the wood is completely dry before staining.
- Apply a Quality IPE Deck Stain – Choose a semi-transparent penetrating stain formulated for hardwoods, such as:
- Wipe Excess Stain – IPE wood is dense and does not absorb stain like softer woods, so excess stain must be wiped off after application.
IPE and Hardwood Stained Photos
My IPE Hardwood Deck Stain Video
Final Thoughts
Consistent annual maintenance is the key to keeping your IPE deck looking fresh and preventing it from turning grey. Regular cleaning, brightening, and staining will ensure it remains protected from the elements.
Have a question? Drop a comment below, and we’d love to help! Also, check out our in-depth IPE Stain Reviews for product recommendations.
We had a “professional” stain our IPE deck. He used a roller soaked in the stain, left puddles of the stain, did not wipe it off and told us the stain needed to stay for a few days until it dried. He did this also on a very humid and rainy day (the deck is under cover). The deck is now an ice rink so we need to start over and get the slippery and sticky stuff off of the deck. Any suggestions on how to do that? We have tried mineral spirits and other products and nothing is helping.
You probably have to remove it all by stripping and even sanding down to the bare wood. What brand of stain and post a picture.
I see that you generally recommend applying Restore-A Deck stain to damp wood but this article states one should allow ipe wood to dry for a day or two before applying. I have pressure-treated vertical risers and supporting posts and ironwood decking and rails. Should I let the whole thing dry for a day or two before application or do the uprights first on damp wood and then do the ironwood?
Just do it all to dry wood.
Let the wood dry before application even if I am following the use of restore-a-deck brightener and using restore-a-deck semitransparent stain? The restore-a-deck site says to apply when the deck is still damp.
You can do dry or damp wood.
We just installed our ipe deck in may. And used oil because that’s what I was told was what you do. Now its July and it is dulling up everywhere. is it normal after 2 months for this to happen with oil. And I’m guessing your recommendation is to stain it. Which leads to when can I strain if I oiled it 2 months ago? Or is there no difference in wear time between oil and stain
You need a stain, not oil. You will have to strip off the oil first.
I have Ipe wood decorative siding on my house and it’s very hard to maintain.
I’d like to paint it with Marine paint so that I can hose it down and minimize maintenance.
Can anyone suggest the right process? Products?
You cannot paint IPE, it will peel within a year. Best to continue with a penetrating stain that can be cleaned and recoated annually. https://www.twpstainhelp.com/prepping-new-wood-for-twp-stains/
We are looking to stain an ipe deck it is currently a grey color due to pressure washing and not treating for 3 years. What is the best way to treat and fix this??
Prep with Restore A Deck Cleaner/Brightener Kits. Stain with one of these stain brands for IPE: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
Hello,
I am installing brand new ipe wood fence and wall cover. Do I have to prep brand new IPE ? I want to give the cherry color look, I don’t like the dark brown color, I want to have brown cherry look. what is the best way to maintain that color ? please I need help. I am spending around 26k I want to give the gorgeous look which I am looking for.
Once again my goal is to have light and dark cherry ( that’s based on the cut of the IPE wood)
please help
I live California Los Angeles.
can you please let me know the steps that I must take to do the prep and reach the color I am dreaming for.
Yes, you have to weather and prep new IPE. Maybe Armstrong Clark in Mahogany color.
I am about to clean and restain my ipe deck. Last year my grandmother was over with her walker and a pebble was stuck in the leg of it and made a long scratch across the deck spanning about 15 ft from the stairs of the deck to the door. What’s the best way to address this? Can I just spot sand it on the boards were the scratch is? should I use an orbital sander or can I just hand sand the boards in the spot where the scratches are? what grit am I looking at here or does it really matter so long as the scratches come out? Thanks for your help.
If you spot sand it will show up even worse when you stain. There is really no easy way to fix this. If it is a must, spot sand now then let the wood naturally weather for 3-6 months. This will even out the porosity of the wood where you sanded. Clean and brighten the wood for prep and then stain.
I am in the process of making two large patio tables out of 3 X 8 IPE wood. I put IPE oil on the top of one of the tables and some of the color has come out very brown and some of the boards are more redish brown. While I like both a lot my son and daughter in law like the brown and the redish brown not so much. I am making the tables for them so want them to like the coloring a lot. The tables themselves came out great using IPE wood.
Is it possible to put a brownish stain over recently applied IPE oil?
No, you cannot stain over IPE Oil.
I will be sanding the IPE deck first as it does need it. What chemical should I use first before putting Armstrong Clark stain on. It has been 3 years since last stain with Armstrong stain.
Use a deck cleaner and a wood brightener.
Can you leave a Brazilian Wood deck without stain after powerwashing
It will not be protected and it will gray in a matter of months.
What is the best oil based stain to use on a Brazilian Wood deck
Try this: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/armstrong-clark-hardwood-stain-review/
We have a 17 year old pie deck that some moron stained with a water based stain!!!!
Can you suggest a process to refurbish the deck?
Thanks
Picture, please of the current condition.
Photo from today
Thanks
Strip and brighten the wood for the prep. Stain with Armstrong Clark in one of their hardwood colors.
Thanks for the fast response. Sorry I did not respond sooner.
As soon as I find a suitable contractor I will be ordering the stripper and brightner along with theAC stain.
My deck is approximately 500 ft2. How much of each would you estimate?
Thanks
TD
About 3 gallons of stain. If using RAD prep products, you will need one of each Stripper and Brightener.
Did I see a recommendation for a particular stain type and color for use on IPE decking?
If so, I cannot locate,
Thanks
AC comes in 3 hardwood colors: Amber, Mahogany, Black Walnut.
Photos attached
When cleaning IPE Brazilian hardwood should I also brighten it afterwards like I would a Pressure Treated pine?
Yes, to neutralize the cleaner.
Ok thank you very much
We had an ipedeck installed about 1.5 years ago that has frayed and we want to restore the natural wood color. We plan to clean and brighten using the Restore a deck or Messmers product. But don’t know what to use for the restoration. I assume we want to use an oil based product but would appreciate guidance on what to use. Is there a difference between Ipe Oil and the Armstrong Clark stain products? Thank you so much for the guidance.
If you want oil-based, use the Armstrong Clark. It has the best overall reviews and feedback. Better than Ipe Oil.
One more clarification question. What are the pros/cons of using oil vs. water-based stain on Ipe decking? Thank you so much!
If you are using high-end brands, then they are all good. Restore-A-Deck Stain and Defy Hardwood are water-based and work very well for IPE. Actually holds color better and with less chance of mildew. They can be cleaned and recoated as needed.
IPE wood does require an annual clean and recoat.
Yes- it’s worth it for such a beautiful product. Thank you for your assistance!
I completely stained my entire Ipe deck last year and now want to apply a maintenance coat to even out some faded areas. I probably need to do a light cleaning to get off some mildew and grime. Any suggestions on how to prep without stripping the stain while having the maintenance coat be absorbed by the wood?
You have to prep when doing a maintenance coat and it is normal that some of the current stain will come off. That is okay if you are using the same brand and color as last time. It will blend. Use Restore A Deck Cleaner Kits.
Should you back oil or stain Ipe?
I have a large IPE deck that is 10 years old, we sealed/stained it with a dark color (not sure of brand or whether it was oil-based or water-based). We kept it up for a few years, but now we would like to just let it turn grey. What do you recommend to remove all the stain off the deck? Do we need to sand it (we were told not to sand the IPE)? And after removing the stain, would we just leave it alone at that point, or do we need a clear sealer to protect it? Thanks for your help!
Best to remove it all. Sand or strip. Posting a picture would help determine the best way to prep. IPE doesn’t rot so no need to seal when done. Just let the wood gray naturally.
I refinished my Ipe deck yesterday and today we ended up with cold overcast skies. I used Wolman F&P, which is the same as 3 years ago. The moisture is graying the finish before its had a chance to dry. Any suggestions? Am I doomed to have to do the entire process all over again? If so, can I switch to the Defy?
You will need to sand off with a power sander 1005 to fix this. After that is done, lightly clean for the final prep before switching to the Defy Hardwood.
Drats!! Not familiar with sander, but will look it up. Thank you so much for your reply.
About to install new Ipe wood on exterior wall (shiplap siding) do i need to install it, let the new wood season for a few months, and then clean and brighten for prep before applying the Ipe oil? also do i apply the oil on top of the Ipe or should i take it down to apply oil and re-install it?
Install, wait a few months, prep, and then stain is the correct way.
We just installed an Ipe wood porch and used Ipe Oil on it but dirt seems to stick to it! We carefully sanded it and wiped it down before applying the oil. It took the oil several days to dry and we had to eventually wipe it down in a few spots. Our problem is that now the dirt seems to stick to the Ipe. What did we do wrong?
New wood cannot be stained right away as it is not porous enough to accept the stain. Did you let the new wood season for a few months and then clean and brighten for prep?
It seasoned for about 3 months before sealing. I know it was sanded and cleaned but don’t know about the brighten step.
We had a horizontal ipe fence installed and the stain they applied is not lasting very long. They used some over the counter product that is not a hardwood specific stain. What is best process to prepare fence to apply correct stain and what stain is recommended?
Strip and brighten for the prep. Stain with Armstrong Clark in one of their Hardwood colors.
We have have a covered porch with about 700 sq ft of ipe and is now four years old. It has been restored twice with a stain manufactured by Woodrich-Brand. The color when restored looks great but we believe it has not lasted as long as it should given that the porch is covered and shaded by oaks. What is the best ipe stain you recommend?
IPE requires annual maintenance. When covered you may get slightly longer. Try Defy Hardwood stain: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/defy-hardwood-stain-review-2014/
We just purchased Tigerwood for the top railing of our deck. The salesman said because it is a hard wood we should seal it right away instead of waiting until next spring. We don’t want it to gray. Is this correct or should we wait. We are thinking of using Messmers UV for hardwood in a natural color. Thank you
You have to let it weather and the prep will remove any graying. Do in Spring.
Just installed Ipe on my small covered front porch. I love the variety of tones that it has when it’s just wet. What is the best product to use to achieve this look, but also keep it from turning gray? Are there any truly clear finishes that offer substantial UV protection? Thank you!
Clear = no UV protection from graying and also will not give a wet look. Try Armstrong Clark in Amber or Defy Hardwood in Natural Pine tint.
What a great resource, thank you for these great articles!
I have a covered, screened porch with Ipe flooring that gets exposed to rain and snow around the perimeter and direct sun on two sides.
What will happen if I don’t finish the ipe? Am I cutting it’s life short? If so, how much will I lose by not finishing it?
I Dont mind the grey look and prefer to not use any chemicals as I have a small child that plays and sometimes eats off of the floor.
Would it be an option to wait 4-5 years to apply a finish after my daughter has grown up a bit? Would that extends it’s life or would it either be too little too late or too late to apply a finish at all.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Thank you again for this great resource!
Try Defy Hardwood Stain. It is eco-safe and easy to maintain. Better to start maintaining now than later.
what is the best stain for redwood railings?
Try TWP 1500 Series.
I am installing brand new Ipe tiles (2′ by 2′) soon and want to stain some of them using a semitransparent black stain (Armstrong Clark black walnut) to create a pattern in the deck. How long do I wait to apply Ipe oil over the stained tiles? Also, how many days after installation should I wait to apply Ipe oil to the unstained Ipe tiles? Do they need to “age” first? Thank you – this forum is a great resource.
You cannot apply IPE Oil over a deck stain like the AC. No reason to and it will not soak in. Yes, the IPE should weather for a few months before prepping (deck cleaner and pressure washing) and staining.
STEPS SO FAR
1. Used Sherwin Williams Stain and Sealer Remover….It did “pretty well” but just a little blotchy and there was some pressure washing damage so I decided to sand it.
2. Sanded with 120 Grit
QUESTIONS NOW
1. I resanded a couple of areas with 80 grit where I had previously sanded with 120. I am no difference in how it takes the stain at all. And am thinking that maybe I am okay. Thoughts?
2. SW Stain and Sealer Remover says that you MUST USE REVIVE PRODUCT TO BRIGHTEN AND NEUTRALIZE after using REMOVAL. I tested REVIVE product and I think it lightens the wood too much and prefer the way the wood looks without it. Is it bad if I skip this step to keep the wood darker looking?
Thank you, I am hoping to work on deck today….hoping for quick response, but realize that is a lot to hope for.
1, You have to sand it evenly with the same girt or the stain will be blotchy.
2. You have to brighten to neutralize the stripper or you will have issues going forward with the stain. No way around this.
Oops, should have checked here first. Just sanded my HUGE IPE (not pipe) deck with 120 grit. Do I need to resand it with 80 grit??? Arghhh, not sure knees and back can take it.
It would be easier to let it sit for about a month now. After the month, go over the deck with a deck cleaner and pressure washer. This will open up the wood grain for your stain.
Hello, We had an Ipe wood deck installed in July. It is in full exposure to everything – all day sun, rain and snow. I would like it not to turn grey – I really like the rich color (especially when it is wet). Nothing has been applied to the wood. I have read here that I should wait 4 – 12 months before doing anything. Due to weather here, I may not be able to do anything till next Spring/Summer. I think I’ve already noticed some greying from the sun. So here are my questions:
1) If I wait that long, will I lose the rich color I want to maintain?
2) Do I need to do anything to the deck/wood before applying a coating?
3) Would the Deckwise Ipe Oil or Olympic Maximum clear waterproofing sealant (what I can easily pick up locally) be good or do you recommend something else? One with a color stain?
4) I’ve read that the oil should be applied and then any excess wiped off. How do you do this? Can you walk over the wet deck or do you apply foot by foot (roll/paint on, wipe, roll/paint on wipe, etc.)?
I’m sorry if these are really dumb questions. I just don’t have a clue and want to protect my new deck.
Thank you
1. No. After prep you will restore the wood.
2. Clean and brighten the wood for the prep.
3. Use Armstrong Clark in Amber hardwood color.
4. The AC is not back wiped. Just apply and let dry.
My deck is made of IPE and is over 20 years old with no issues except when I stained last year with Penofin red label, it turned very dark using a red cedar color. Any thoughts why and how to avoid this the next time I stain? I stain every two years after power washing and light sanding
Hi there!
I have a realist my small porch and the builder used IPE for the flooring. I pressure washed it the other day and left some pressure marks in some areas (Whoops). Can I sand the flooring to get the marks out before I restain? If so what grit would you recommend?
Do the marks show when wet with water? Picture, please.
Yes, just a little darker. We were trying to clean the wood prior to staining.
You still have old stain showing. Best to strip and brighten this to give it a more uniform appearance. Try the RAD Stripper/Brightener products. Only sand lightly if needed after.
builder put a coat of helmsman varnish on my IPE railing already. How do I remove this so that I can then apply a penetrating oil finish?
You will need to power sand to remove this.
I have the same issue with the railing which I believe is ironwood/IPE which was sealed with some sort of marine varnish and it is failing badly. I’ve sanded it with 80 grit to bare wood. Was thinking about going to 120 grit before finishing but I’ve noted you don’t advise that.
Do I need to do anything after sanding before applying a penetrating oil finish?
Also what is the difference between IPE oil, AC amber/Mahogany, Defy? Defy looks like it water based (that’s what it says on their web site) so that makes me think it won’t work well.
So I’m thinking either IPE oil or AC and I’ve seen a number of complaints here about IPE not holding up all that well.
IPE requires annual cleaning and recoating that is why it is best to use a penetrating stain that can be reapplied as needed. Any of the three you mentioned can be cleaned and reapplied as needed.
After the sanding is done, do a light pressure wash with a deck cleaner for the final prep.
Thanks!
Sand it down. Do not use chemicals such as paint strippers. They can change the natural colors of ipe and remove some of the resins that make it such a great outdoor wood.
what is the best way to finish ipe railings? Oil or Spar Varnish? Which one?
Penetrating oil finish. You cannot use varnish on exterior wood decking or railings.
Best temperature to oil stain an Pie deck
Depends on the brand of stain but 50-90 degrees is a normal range.
Should the wood be sanded after cleaning and before staining
No need.
Have a relatively small IPE deck (8 x13) with railings and 12 steps with some exterior IPE trim. It has never been treated. I want to make sure it is done right and relatively easily. It is excessively gray with some mold. I was thinking of pressure washing, using Restore-a-deck (wondering if I need to use brightener as well), sanding flat surfaces, and then using AC mahogany stain.
Questions:
1) Would you recommend using brightener?
2) What grit sandpaper would I use?
3) Do I need to do anything between sanding and staining?
3) Would you recommend AC or another stain?
Thanks
Lynn
1. Yes
2. No need to sand. If you really want to sand, do it before the cleaning and brightening.
3. See #2
4. Ac works well for IPE and cane be easily cleaned and reapplied annually.
Thanks for your response. I have been told that traditionally sanding is not needed on a deck except in rare instances – however, I have also been researching and many say because IPE is so dense – while sanding usually closes the grain – it helps IPE absorb the stain – especially more evenly. If I do choose to sand – what grit would I use? And can you eleaborate on your thoughts about not sanding?
Sanding IPE makes it even more dense at the surface which results in less absorption. Not a fan of sanding because of this. Ig you sand, try 60-80 grit.
Hi – I have about 2,000 sqft of hardwood decking. Most of the decks are IPE but we have a large Tigerwood deck around the pool. I have been using Penofin Brazilian Rosewood for the past four years, cleaning and applying oil every year. Looks great after it’s done but quickly loses its luster. After reading your site (great job, btw) I am thinking of changing to the Anderson Clark product in Mahogany. Also, the site is located in the Cascade mountains and gets everything from hot sun to snow sitting on the deck for 3-4 months a year.
Three questions:
1) Do you think it’s worth it to change from Penofin to AC?
2) Is AC the product you’d recommend?
3) If I move from Penofin to AC (or some other product) do I need to strip the decks or just clean them? And if I do need to strip, what do you recommend?
Thanks for the site. It’s super helpful.
1. Yes, but will still need to be done annualy on your wood type. We do not care for Penofin. Turns dark in color.
2. Yes that will work.
3. Strip and brighten. Our favorite thing about Penofin is that it is very easy to strip. Use the Restore A Deck Stripper and Brightener Kits.
Thank you for the quick response! And thanks for the site!
We have an Epay wood deck (not sure if its same as IPE). I am planning to stain it this summer. Any recommendation on the brand name to use for the stains?
SuperDeck (Sherwin Williams) stains has decent reviews (6.8 overall) but not sure if there is a brand that works well with Epay wood. I am thinking of either going with natural or walnut.
IPE is the correct spelling. Use the Armstrong Clark in a hardwood color or the Defy Hardwood Stains.
We have a Cedar deck and not happy with the finish previously applied. We want to refinish it & use IPE oil, question being how well will the IPE oil work on a cedar deck, live in the Chicago IL area. Any help would be appreciated…
The IPE Oil will not make the cedar look like IPE wood. On cedar it will look more golden in color. It will last about 18-24 months on cedar on IL.
we built our deck window frame style, can I add an oil based stain to the IPE oil to make some of the boards a different/deeper color?
You cannot add tint to a deck stain like IPE Oil.
We built a Window Frame deck, wondering if we could add an oil based stain to the IPE sealer to apply to certain sections of the deck for a different color?
Hardwood stains for IPE can be slightly different in color but you will not get that much of a noticeable difference.
I have an Ipe deck that I’ve been treating annually with DEFY Deck Stain for Hardwoods Light Walnut. I am thinking of switching to Armstrong Clark Mahogany this year. Will this kind of switch work and what kind of prep do I need to do,
Thanks
For the prep, you would need to strip and brighten the wood. Once removed, you can switch.
What do I use to strip DEFY Deck Stain for Hardwoods off IPE deck?
Defy Stain Stripper or Restore A Deck Stain Stripper. Brightener when done.
I’m thinking of using Ipe as a countertop in my bathroom. Is that a crazy idea? If not, are there particular concerns you recommend I look out for?
The wood will stain from water marks.
Can I use ipe oil on a cedar table top
Yes, but it will not make the cedar wood look like IPE wood.
My contractors sanded my new ipe before installing it in the interior wall. They have not sanded the exterior wall yet, but have completed that install. I read in one of your comments not to sand ipe. Sanding it blocks the absorption. I am also grateful to have read to let it rest for two months before staining it. Do I sand the other wall? The walls are next to each other with the entrance door separating the two. I want them to match, but definitely want the exterior wall to absorb the protection. This a great site. Thank you so much!
No need to sand the other wall. Just let the wood weather for 2-3 months and prep all with a deck cleaner followed by a wood brightener before applying.
Thanks so much for your help and quick response!
Installed a 1500sqft tigerwood deck with ipe boarder. Used ipe oil. We did sand with a quick pass with 120 grit the entire deck to clean some rough spots and plugs. We have oiled it 2 times in 4 mth per wood supplier because it started graying in a month. And is now graying again. They said first coat takes a couple applications. Any tips would be appreciated.
Wait until Spring and strip it all off. Brighten the wood after. Try the Defy Hardwood Stain or Armstrong Clark in Amber or Mahogany colors.
Thank you. Will do. Do you have an idea why the ipe oil not last more than a month or 2? This deck is not in the direct sun but a couple hours a day. Lots of trees.
Any ideas why the ipe is fading so quickly. Only has about 2hrs of direct sun also. And the weather here is still in the 60s can I go ahead and strip and reoil?
It is the density of the wood, not the Ipe Oils fault. Yes, you can strip and stain in the Spring.
Are the Sickens products suitable for ipe ?
I do not think so but best to ask them.
Hi. We had a new ipe deck put in a little over two years ago but the builder never treated it, so now is looks gray and weathered. Do I need to sand it before staining it to restore the luster or will just washing it before staining suffice?
Prepping with the Restore A Deck Kits is easier and will restore the wood grain.
Thank you for a great site! I recently moved into a house which has a new, tall IPE fence around a large trex deck. I’m planning to treat the fence. What prep and product would you recommend for a large vertical surface with some exposure to sun (7-8 feet tall, facing NW in MA)? I’ve seen some sites recommend different products for vertical structures but was hoping to use Armstrong Clark Amber. Would that work and be easy to maintain? The house also has two IPE porches with solid stain that is peeling. Is it correct that I need to sand off the solid stain before re-treating these or can I strip and brighten?
You will need to sand to remove the solid stain. For the fence, clean and brighten the wood. The AC Amber will work well.
I had a large new 2nd story IPE deck built in 2013. My contractor told me the wood came pre-stained but he did re-stain soon after it was installed. I believe he used Penofin and it looked gorgeous for a while but I have done nothing to it since. I am assuming that since it hasn’t been stained in 4 years that I do not need to strip? I am thinking of using AC restore-a-deck kit (the cleaner and brightener not the stripper and brightener) and then using AC stain in amber. Would this be correct or do I need to use the stripper? Also, there are some spots on the privacy screen wall that I think need sanding. Would I sand before using the cleaner (or stripper) and brightener followed by pressure washing?
If the Peofon is still visible then you will need to strip. If not, the cleaner will work. Brighten after. Only sand if needed. Best to do this first.
My contractor stained my ipe deck with Mahogany thinned half and half with mineral spirits. The horizontal portion is a bit blotchy, mainly dark but with orange spots. Is this because it was thinned?
Sound like it but not 100% sure it is the main cause of the blotchy look. Could be prep and application procedure.
Last year I stripped an ope deck and sealed it with Messmers uv plus , this year I used the Messmers cleaner and brightener and I let it dry and applied the uv plus again but while it looks good it has a little white grain hairs showing should I have sanded after brightener
Please send a picture.