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.

Wood rot is a common problem with hardwood decks that have been installed with screws that have been vertically installed right into the decking. If you’ve been reading this blog, you will have noticed a trend; The face-screwing method leads to many common and persistent deck problems.

One major problem that occurs frequently is wood rot. People falsely assume that just because a nail or screw fit into a hole, that nothing could also enter that hole. Unfortunately, water is an element that damages wood and is a major reason why mold and mildew are also common problems for wood and composite decks.

When it rains on your deck, water tends to accumulate around and seep into screw and nail holes. As the water literally sits in the hole, microorganisms work their magic and rot starts to occur. As you can see from the above picture, wood rot can be quite unattractive. Rotting deck boards also become a hazard because they weaken the overall strength of the decking.

How can you prevent wood rot?

Be sure to add Deck Fasteners to the list of “Must-have Decking Supplies.” The Ipe Clip Company has a variety of hidden deck fasteners specially designed to ensure your deck remains sturdy, durable and healthy enough to last for decades.

If you already have a deck, the simplest thing you can do is perform the recommended amount of maintenance prescribed by your decking supplier. Also, using a hardwood finish and deck oil like Ipe Oil™ will help protect each deck board from wood rot.