How to Install IPE Wood

Ipe is a dark, tight grained hardwood from South America that is becoming a standard wood for outdoor use such as decking. It is water, termite and rot resistant. Ipe weathers to a natural light gray but can keep its original color if coated with preservative. Because of its hardness, ipe is difficult to work with. It quickly dulls saw blades and hammering a nail into it can be a problem. These ipe characteristics require a few special tricks when installing it.

Carbide saw blade
Brad point drill bits

Instructions

- 1
  Wait up to week after receiving a shipment of ipe to allow it to become used to the climate and stabilize. If the weather is moist, let the wood dry before beginning construction.
- 2
  Change from a standard wood saw blade to a carbide tipped one. Use brad point drill bits for drilling starter holes for any nails or screws.
- 3
  Avoid allowing ipe sawdust to touch bare skin, or to breath it in. The wood itself is harmless, but the sawdust is toxic.
- 4
  Immediately seal any cut in ipe with a quick-drying exterior polyurethane.This avoids any splitting.
- 5
  Fasten ipe wood to joists with two #8 trim head screws per board.
- 6
  Space the boards with 1/16-inch gaps to allow for drainage and wood movement.

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