I have an ipe deck that gets alot of exposure to the sun. I have had it for 2 years and have applied 2 coats of Penofin to it, but that has not been enough to keep the ipe from starting to fade (it has lost that beautiful lustre that first attracted me to using ipe). Should I be applying several more coats of Penofin or is there some alternative product that is easier to apply (i.e., doesn’t require application and then removal of excess amounts) and may not need to be applied as often? It seems like I would need to apply a coat every five to six months to keep it with that rich deep look that looks so great. Does ipe require a number of base coats (for lack of a better word) to avoid drying out? Any advice would be most welcome. My wife is starting to question the extra dollars we spent on what was once a deck that looked like a ship’s deck! Thanks
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Ipe is a great deck material. I have it at 11,000 ft in CO. and all I do is oil it couple times a year.
Keeping that deep " furniture look" finish on ipe, in an application exposed to the sun- just ain't gonna happen-- at least in my area. (where's your location)
The grey patina that the wood fades to, is beautiful, but it always felt like settling for seconds IMO. I tried all types of finishes, but without reapplication at least twice a year, the tail is wagging the dog.
The ipe is so dense that whatever finish you are using is primarily a surface treatment and does not penetrate the wood.
All that said...... ipe is a fine deck material...................and ships decks are cool.
Wood fades in the sun. Simple, exotic tropicals included. Either block out the direct sun, keep refinishing, or learn to like gray. The advantage of Ipe and such is durability. It won't splinter out on you as it ages and shouldn't warp or cup very much at all. Whoever told you Ipe would always look like new was getting a commisiion on the sale. There's a reason my grandfather spent most of his time in the Navy, when not fighting the Japanese, "bricking" the decks of whatever warship he was on, or painting. It is my understanding that these warships had mahogany decks and so to keep them looking good the sailors would use a brick with a hole drilled for a mop handle and scrub the decks down.