Is ipe wood real wood?
Ipe (spelled ipe and pronounced “ee-pay”), also called Brazilian walnut, is a beautiful exotic wood from South America. Ipe wood structures are hard, strong, and naturally resistant to rot, abrasion, weather, and insects. It is almost twice as dense as most woods and up to five times harder.
Can ipe wood be varnished?
Ipe is one of the oily hardwoods that may cause oil based varnishes to not cure properly. But, you can get around that with a coat of shellac to seal the oil in, before you varnish. Another approach would be to wipe down the ipe with acetone or lacquer thinner and varnish just after the solvent has fully dried.
Does Ipe need to be sanded?
Ipe Deck Maintenance Typically Requires Cleaning and/or Sanding.
What does S4S E4E mean?
Standard E4E S4S: Eased 4 Edges, Surfaced 4 Sides. This is the most versatile profile, used for more than just decking. Other uses include: Siding.
Is Ipe the same as teak?
Capable of reaching a height of 140 feet and spanning up to 6 feet in diameter, Ipe is one of the tallest trees in the Amazon region. When compared to teak, Ipe has nearly four times the hardness and is so dense that it actually sinks in water. Concrete and steel have a class 1 fire rating—and so does Ipe.
Is Ipe fast growing?
These are slow-growing trees which can survive only in low densities. The wood is one of the most valuable for exports, so loggers will cut down as many other trees as needed reach a single Ipe tree.
Can I use tung oil on Ipe?
For very dried out woods (e.g. reclaimed barn wood), full-strength Tung oil may provide good penetration. For dense and oily woods (e.g. exotics like Ipe or mahogany) a thinning ratio of 3:1 (solvent to Tung oil) will help with penetration.
Can I use teak oil on Ipe wood?
To help prolong the rich-reddish brown natural tones inherent in the wood, the Ipe should be oiled with a hardwood oil that contains UV inhibitors – brands that are readily available are Penofin for Exotic Hardwoods (clear version) and Watco Teak Oil.
Is it OK to pressure wash Ipe?
For No Maintenance If you decide to bring back the natural finish colour, you simply need to pressure wash your deck. We recommend the Saicos Wood Brightener (follow product instructions), followed by a light sanding to smooth the surface – and it’s done!
How often should I oil my Ipe?
IPE oil can highlight the natural beauty of IPE deck tiles and protect them at the same time. To help your wood decking retain its original color, you will have to apply a new layer of IPE oil every year. Additionally, you might want to clean and refinish it every three to four years.
Is S4S lumber straight?
S4S, or lumber surfaced four sides, is another common surfacing option. This refers to boards being planed and in addition also being straight line ripped on two sides resulting in the board being flat, uniformed in thickness and squared up with parallel edges ready for the manufacturing process.
Is S4S a square?
S4S boards have two surfaced faces, and two ripped sides, resulting in perfectly square, flat, and parallel edges on all four sides. This is the type of lumber you will find in most consumer hardware and DIY stores.