Applying a deck finish with Ipe Oil™ is fast, easy, and very rewarding.

Every day I field calls from new proud owners of Ipe decks; or other decks built with exotic hardwood decking materials. They are always filled with excitement and ready to unveil it at there next barbecue. However the last step to finishing off your newly built masterpiece is applying a hardwood deck finish. An oil based hardwood deck finish not only protects your investment; but also gives it that beautiful finished look.

We recommend Ipe Oil™ which was specially formulated for Exotic Hardwoods. Some people think that your average decking oil will penetrate these extremely dense materials; but think again. It takes a very special formula to penetrate these hardwood materials; that not every brand is designed to do.

We recommend 6 steps in applying the Ipe Oil™ hardwood decking finish to ensure a perfect look:

1. Clean the deck surface thoroughly to make sure it is completely free of debris or foreign residues of any kind. Also make sure that if you have stained or painted your deck in the past that it is completely removed.
2. Stir well initially and during use. Intermix all containers of the same color to ensure uniform appearance.
3. Apply a small amount to test area to ensure complete penetration and color satisfaction before proceeding with the entire project.
4. Recommended Method: Roll on decking with a 3/8” nap paint roller. Alternative Method: Apply with quality bristle brush, or airless sprayer. Back brush or back roll if applied by spray.
5. Apply a uniform even coat. Stain the full length of the boards, keeping a wet edge. One coat is sufficient for most applications. On decks wipe up any excess product that is not absorbed within 5 minutes to prevent tackiness and surface sheen.
6. Finally clean application equipment with mineral spirits (paint thinner).

Once you have completed the following steps we recommend that you allow the deck to dry for 24 to 48 hours depending on your climate. This method should be followed for the first 2 years, and then from there you can skip every other year depending on UV exposure and weather.

Now you are ready to send out the BBQ invites and dazzle everyone with your beautiful new deck!

Learn more about Ipe Oil™.

Face screwing a hardwood deck is not all it's cracked up to be.

One of the misconceptions about using deck fasteners that they are not as strong as conventional face nailing or screwing of deck boards. When one stops to think about this statement, it can easily be seen as false.

One of the thoughts behind this misconception is that when face securing deck boards, you have more strength because the screw or nail is going straight into the board and into the joist. What most people do not realize is that studies have proven that a screw ran at an angle has more holding strength when compared to one ran straight down. So when using a hidden fastener like the Ipe Clip^® Extreme™ where the screws are run at a 45˚ angle through the deck board and into the joist, you will have more holding strength from that screw.

Also think about this, when running screws and you want more holding strength or area, you can simply add a washer to achieve this. When installing an edge mount hidden fastening system like Ipe Clip^® the same principles can be applied, the more area you are holding down, the stronger it will be. An edge mount hidden fastener like Ipe Clip^® has much more hold down area than the head of a screw or nail so again the hidden fastener should win in a head-to-head competition.

Now that we know that the initial installation using hidden deck fasteners is more than strong enough to hold your deck boards, let’s think about what happens a few years down the line…you guessed it, when face securing your boards you get those cracks, or checks, everywhere a screw or nail penetrated the surface. This happened because water seeps into the holes made by the screw or nail when face securing. Now that there are cracks, even more water can soak into the boards causing mold, mildew, and even rot. Obviously everyone realizes that having rotten boards will weaken your deck dramatically.

An easy solution to prevent this problem? Use an edge mount hidden deck fastening system. Since there are no screws in the surface of the decking, the water cannot penetrate them and won’t cause you those problems in the future.

There you have it, with just a little thought and reasoning, you can come to the conclusion that the ideal way to fasten your next decking project is by using an edge mount hidden deck fastener such as Ipe Clip^® brand fasteners. They will give you the strength and durability you want so you can enjoy your beautiful deck year after year.

Introducing the latest deck fastener from the Ipe Clip® Fastener Co., The Extreme4™.

Finally, a hidden deck fastener for everyone!

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have attempted to take an order from a customer that had no idea what type of decking they were using. Sure, it’s easy enough to know if it’s hardwood, composite, or pvc; but when it comes to hardwoods, many customers don’t know if they have air-dried or kiln-dried decking.

I am more than capable of helping our customers choose which hidden deck fastener is best to use when they know exactly what they have. How then, can we help them choose when they don’t know? There lies the challenge. Should we recommend the Ipe Clip® Extreme™ for air-dried decking that will contract after installation? Or should we recommend the Ipe Clip® ExtremeKD™ for kiln-dried decking that will expand after installation. See the dilemma? What most customers do not realize is that depending on the moisture content of the wood, it can either expand or contract after installation.

The Ipe Clip® Fastener Company has just released the answer with the new Ipe Clip Extreme4™! This new deck fastener works with all types of decking and automatically spaces deck boards at a 4mm (5/32”) gap spacing. The Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ is made of the same quality and workmanship as the Ipe Clip® Extreme™ and the Ipe Clip® ExtremeKD™ including the stainless steel insert for reinforcement. By combining elements used to create our previous Extreme™ line of fasteners with this unique gap spacing, we can now offer a single fastener that can allow for the proper expansion and contraction associated with all hardwoods. The Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ can be used with the following types of decking:

• Air-Dried – allows contraction on the width of air-dried hardwoods
• Kiln-Dried – allows expansion on the width of kiln-dried hardwoods
• Composite – allows expansion/contraction along the length of composite decking
• PVC – allows expansion/contraction along the length of PVC decking

The Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ will help to solve some of these major issues by working with all 4 types of decking. So if you or your customer choose to build your deck with kiln-dried hardwood and you wish to have tighter gap spacing than typical or you choose to build a deck with air-dried hardwood and wish to have a larger gap space, then the new Extreme4™ is the perfect option for you.

It truly is the best of both worlds!