After…

The boardwalk overlooks the Sampit River Harbor and is lined with restaurants, antique shops, galleries, and specialty stores. The Harborwalk, in its existing condition, was showing signs of wear. More importantly, it was slowly becoming a hazard to visitors. The boardwalk was originally constructed with pressure treated pine. Although this was acceptable in the distant past, we now know that pine doesn’t hold up over time. The existing pine boards had been found to have rotted in places. In other places the boards were splintering and many had nail pops. As the concern for the safety of the guests increased, the idea to renovate this historic boardwalk took shape.

An engineering firm was hired by the city of Georgetown to make recommendations on the most appropriate way to repair the boardwalk. This firm suggested that Ipe, a Brazilian hardwood, be used to replace the existing pine boards. Ipe is naturally rot and decay resistant, is extremely dense, and has a class A fire rating.One of the major improvements to the Harborwalk was the addition of Ipe Clip® brand hidden deck fasteners. One of the main areas of concern with the original boardwalk was nail popping. Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners eliminates this danger altogether. “It’s gratifying to know that our product was used in such a historic project and that it was chosen with safety concerns in mind,” said Dan Schiefer, General Manager of the Ipe Clip© Company. “Ipe Clip® has worked for years to design and manufacture hidden deck fasteners that not only blend in with every environment, but will also keep guests safe.”

·     The first is the obvious; the look. Ipe Clip®  hidden deck fasteners create a truly pristine looking surface. There are no nail pops, mushrooming, or unsightly screws.

·     Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners have superior hold down power than the traditional face screwing. Our deck fasteners are installed at a 45 degree angle. This angle creates a firmer, stronger, and more enduring hold to the joist.

·     Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners are designed for air-dried decking, kiln-dried decking, pvc decking, and composite decking. Each decking material requires different gap spacing to allow for the natural contraction and expansion of deck boards. Our fasteners are designed specifically with this in mind, offering 3 different gap spaces.

·     Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners are installed differently depending on the type of decking material. Hardwood decking is installed by screwing down through half of the deck board then down into the joist; all at a 45 degree angle. This keeps the deck board attached to the joist while allowing it to naturally move on it’s width. Composite and pvc decking is installed by screwing through the fasteners and straight down into the joist, allowing it to naturally move on it’s length.

The benefits of using Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners far out-weigh any other option.

Maxwell Blake

• Cordless Screw Gun – Preferably one with an adjustable clutch. It will save you tips and screws while ensuring you don’t over drive the screws during installation.
• Pre-Drilling – Use a high speed drill bit when pre-drilling. It will keep your screws from breaking and it will help to keep your hardwood from splintering.
• Ipe Clip® brand hidden deck fasteners – You definitely want a fastener that will hold up. Ipe Clip® Extreme™ deck fasteners are an edge mount system and offer a stainless steel core that gives exceptional hold down strength.
• Gap Spacing – The correct gap spacing for your deck is of utmost importance. Know what type of decking you have whether it be composite, pvc, air-dried hardwood or kiln-dried hardwood. Each requires a different gap space. Ipe Clip® brand fasteners are designed specifically for this in mind. We offer 3 different gap spaces to ensure the proper spacing needed for your deck.
• Hardwood Wrench™ – The Hardwood Wrench™ is a must when it comes to straightening bowed and warped boards. Its cam locks into place, holding the board for you and giving you the ability to work hands free on your deck without assistance. It truly makes a one man installation possible.

Whether you are a first time deck builder or the seasoned professional, Ipe Clip® offers just the right tools to make your deck building project easier.

Lumber Ends without Ipe Seal

I received a call just last week from a homeowner asking if end sealing his deck boards was necessary.

He stated that the company in which he purchased his decking materials said that it was an “un-necessary step” but his builder told him that it indeed was necessary. He was looking to Ipe Clip® for guidance.

Although there seems to be a debate whether end sealing is necessary, it’s a no-brainer for us. End sealing is vital to the stability and longevity of your deck. Why, you ask? Dry wood will most definitely absorb moisture. It’s designed naturally to do this. When you cut your deck boards and leave the end cuts untreated, it leaves them vulnerable. Remember, it’s the moisture content in your deck boards that affect the amount of expansion and contraction that you are likely to see. The untreated exposed end grain is where water enters a piece of wood most readily. The unrestricted water will give an uneven moisture distribution, which ultimately causes cupping and severe end checking. Let’s face it; we all know what a nightmare that can be, so why not prevent it?

Lumber Ends treated with Ipe Seal

•    Use Ipe Seal™, a wax based end seal product immediately after cutting your deck boards to length

•    Apply Ipe Seal™ with a brush, or better yet, a small rag dipped in Ipe Seal

•    Use caution not to get Ipe Seal™ on the surface of your deck boards as it will stain

•    Note that Ipe Seal™ is not needed on straight grain cuts; only on the end cuts

Save on costly maintenance and repairs and prevent checking, splitting, and cupping issues from the get-go by treating each end cut with Ipe Clip®’s Ipe Seal™. Build it right the first time.

This premium deck finish was designed specifically for hardwoods that normally don’t hold finishes well.

It’s ideal for hardwoods like ipe decking, as well as cumaru, tigerwood, and garapa.

What makes it the best decking finish?

Ipe Oil™ will protect your deck like no other oil-based product.

Here’s why if you own a hardwood deck, you should buy our ipe deck oil:

• It’s eco-friendly!
• Lower then average VOC ratings (under 250 grams per quart)
• A one gallon container easily finished up to 300 sq. ft. of hardwood decking
• Protects hardwoods from harmful U.V. rays thanks to trans-Oxide pigments
• Blend of natural and synthetic oils that condition and enhance the beauty of wood
• Repels water longer than other deck finishes
• Contains over 40% solids
• Easy to apply and work with thanks to its low odor
• Reduces chances of deck boards warping & cracking

As you can see, there are a number of reasons why our ipe deck oil is superior to other hardwood finishes.

If you’d like to learn how to buy some for your personal deck, or want to distribute it in your shop, contact the Ipe Clip® Co. today.

Every deck fastener that we offer has been designed to be used with the most beautiful, yet difficult to install decking , ipe. There’s a reason why we’re called the Ipe Clip® Company and not Wood Fasteners Incorporated!

We made a conscious effort to design and create deck fasteners that could stand up to the hardest decking material available. After all, if you are going to use reslient decking material, the deck hardware you use should also be just as resilient.

Contact us today for more info on the deck fasteners we sell for ipe decking.

Our ipe deck fasteners work with wood that has been either air-dried or kiln-dried and are also available in a variety of colors.

This is important because if you’re going to let your ipe age gracefully to a silvery patina, then our patina gray fasteners will suit you best. Likewise, if you plan to keep your ipe deck a beautiful reddish brown, then using our brown fasteners is a perfect fit.