Ipe' stain longevity

[RPetry 564]

The more ipe' we do, the more I am convinced that letting the wood naturally age and weather is the best course, prior to applying a finish that will last for any appreciable time.

Case in point. On the way home yesterday, stopped by to look at a small ipe' job we stained 9 months ago. As can be seen in the last two pictures, this ipe' was moldy, dirty, and very weathered to the point of surface degradation. The owner stated that the wood had not been cleaned or stained in at least 5 years.

At the 9 month mark, this ipe' looks terrific. The stain pigment has held up remarkably well. The wood is near perfect. The stain used was Ready Seal medium red, two light applications on the floor and a single application on all vertical wood.

Edited June 5, 2010 by RPetry

[billbk 14]

I'm not surprised at all by the results you are getting. It is your prep. You took off the open wood, went back to new wood. If it had been pine or cedar, your sealer would have performed better. With ipe, it's like applying to new wood. Wood prep on ipe is a very fine line to walk.....

Beth

Beth.....so would letting it 'age' over the winter open the wood back up so that it will accept the stain better next spring, or should I apply a coat before winter & snow hits it?

[RPetry 564]

Bill,

I'm not Beth. Being said, let your ipe' "age" or weather for as long as possible if you want to keep it stained. Percarb clean, acid neutralize, let it dry, and stain again.

Better yet, just clean every year. Ipe' laughs at North Central U.S. climate. The wood will outlast you, yours, and your grandchildren without intervention.

[Beth n Rod 1,278]

Rick is spot on.

Beth

[weathershield 14]

The test board is an IPE deck board that had never been exposed to the elements. The board was cleaned in January 2010 with a very mild stripper solution and neutralized with a very mild acid solution.

The top portion of the board is two coats of A/C mahogany stain that has been exposed to the weather for 21 months at an elevation of 5500 feet.

The middle section of the board is the balance of the top portion which has been cleaned with a mild sodium percarbonate solution and recoated with a medium maintenance coat of A/C mahogany stain (brushed). Now in the forth month of exposure.

The bottom portion of the board is the original IPE.

The board is being tested in a horizontal position.

The second photograph was taken last week during a hail storm (This was the second hail storm in two weeks)

[weathershield 14]

The test board is an IPE deck board that had never been exposed to the elements. The board was cleaned in January 2010 with a very mild stripper solution and neutralized with a very mild acid solution.

The top portion of the board is two coats of A/C mahogany stain that has been exposed to the weather for 22 plus months at an elevation of 5500 feet.

The middle section of the board is the balance of the top portion which has been cleaned with a mild sodium percarbonate solution and recoated with a medium maintenance coat of A/C mahogany stain (brushed). Now in 5 plus months of exposure.

The bottom portion of the board is the original IPE.

The board is being tested in a horizontal position.

[weathershield 14]

The test board is an IPE deck board that had never been exposed to the elements. The board was cleaned in January 2010 with a very mild stripper solution and neutralized with a very mild acid solution.

The top portion of the board is two coats of A/C mahogany stain that has been exposed to the weather for 23 plus months at an elevation of 5500 feet.

The middle section of the board is the balance of the top portion which has been cleaned with a mild sodium percarbonate solution and recoated with a medium maintenance coat of A/C mahogany stain (brushed). Now in 6 plus months of exposure.

The bottom portion of the board is the original IPE.

The board is being tested in a horizontal position.

[RPetry 564]

An update prior to the start of wood season. Applied A-C mahogany stain to my own ipe' late April of last year, so it is coming up on 11 months of time. Attached are 2 pics taken today, don't let the angle of the stairs make you dizzy.

This stain has held up very well on ipe'. Sure there are some high use areas that are getting thin, but no greying out. We also tend to slide our chairs, chaise, planter (gate guard for the dogs) etc. so scratches are prevalent. There is no stain that prevents scratching of ipe'. This deck gets a lot of sun, and is a daily playpen for our 2 dogs. The steps get used at least twice a day to walk them and we use the grill all year. Disregard the spindles, they are old PT pine.

I'm impressed.

Think I'll do a light clean with bleach/soap this spring and re coat with the same A-C mahogany.