Hi everyone I’m new here I remodel and restore older homes and get called upon to maintain the restorations and so here I am needing some help
The current project is in Woodside CA. A couple years ago I replaced the redwood deck ( approximately 1200sf ) that I had installed almost 30 years earlier, the deck was fine but the gophers and moles in hiding their dirt from the birds had filled up the space beneath the deck and the framing rotted. After reframing I decided to replace the redwood with Ipe and I oiled it with Deks Olje #1, as I had done with the redwood, to keep the wood from turning grey( this is what I’m after) but Flood company no longer makes the Deks Olje and I suspect the new producers of it aren’t using the same formula. In less than 2 years my Ipe deck is completely grey now I’m sanding the grey off
The deck is beneath Oak and Hawthorn trees. The climate is mild maybe a couple weeks during the summer get upwards of 100*f and 2-3 inches of rain annually, during the summer and fall the layer of marine fog rolls in almost every night and burns off by 10AM
does anyone know what brand or kind of oil I can use? Pics are of the new deck and how I’d like if stay. Thank you all for your input, now for me it’s back to sanding
Replies
You can get DeckWise Ipe Oil on Amazon. One application made my entire deck look brand new. Keep up the woodworking.
https://amzn.to/3Dk6ljL
Thank you
This says it’s a semi transparent brown oil stain- how long ago did you apply it? have you noticed it wearing off?
I just looked up what type of oil is in DeckWise Ipe oil, it’s made from linseed oil this won’t work in my environment it grows mold and turns the wood black within a year
No linseed oil in the sun! Yep, turns black and a bear to get clean again. I'm pac coast but a little north. I've found that TWP to be the best exterior finish followed by Penofin. It comes in clear and pigmented versions. I like the clear but it should be noted that the more pigment there is the more uv resistance. I have some low decks like that and lots of gophers. I've found that laying a layer of filter fabric and covering it with a inch or two of dirt under the deck really annoys the gophers and they tend to leave it alone.
2 to 3 inches annual rain fall is Death Valley- though possibly last year Woodside , oh and the year before... like I had here ...had about that much rainfall. But then there was that " Atmospheric river "event! So the higher average all happened in a couple of days!
Rainfall is probably 30" + on average, at least you hope so because if this keeps up like it's been the last few years we're all going to have to leave!
Wow I just looked up this atmospheric river you mentioned and wow!! and I missed it by a day or two I drove to Louisiana and came back in November
What is TWP? The Penofin by itself hasn’t worked for me on another deck where the owner resigned to having a grey deck
I like your idea on annoying gophers, next time
Yes I’d like to see 30-40” again
Linseed oil isn't an outdoor oil, while tung oil is fairly waterproof.
I have to ask what's wrong with a gray deck? Here in Virginia, almost all decks are painted or stained gray or, as in my case, made of gray Trex-like composite. The rails on such decks are painted white, and that should match the color of the trim on the house. It's a great color combination that people pay good money to achieve. It goes with most colors of house siding, especially brick made of honest Virginia red clay.
If your ipe turns gray on its own, accept it for what it is.
While I appreciate your let it be outlook on life I have to push onward
Thank you for your input and I will take a scrap of the Ipe and coat it with tung oil I’ve added a couple pics of my deck to my post
All, and I think all, exterior wood finishes are only good for a short time if you want to maintain a fresh looking finish. A couple of years only if in direct sun. A deck like that needs to be cleaned and more finish applied often. Your not going to keep that teaky,mahogany look on your ipe if you don't. Back in the day when people understood wood and wanting things to last they built their deck and put a roof over it! Even the bridge! TWP ,means Total Wood Preservative is available all over the place around the bay-- paint stores,some lumberyards. Kelly Moore had it ... I believe TWP uses tungoil + science in their formula, penofin uses rosewood oil. Pure tung oil is going to be
expensive covering a deck, you can cut it but with what? These companies do the math, some get it right!
I'm planning a trip to be the first to canoe the Atmospheric River!
Thank you and with the next atmosphere river run I’ll be looking for you and your canoe in the news
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