Have you ever wondered who do the pros turn to answer their questions in order to solve your problems?
Of course they turn to the wisest, experienced, most articulate individual they know… me!
Paint and Wall covering Contractor Magazine (http://www.pwc-magazine.com/) was looking to solve the problems contractors have in working with IPE (exotic hardwood) decks. (Pronounced like EBay but with a ‘P’). So for their July/August issue they went on a nationwide search for elite contractors to share their knowledge and experience with other dedicated professionals. For the Mid-Atlantic region they selected me, your resident Deck Restoration Guru, to share my thoughts, opinions and practices on treating and caring for this gorgeous species of wood.
For those of you who have never heard of IPE you’re not alone. IPE is a type of Brazilian hardwood that is considered the crème de la crème of deck wood. Its natural beauty is breath taking, its luster is magnificent. Our website’s home page (www.washmydeck.com) features an IPE deck. Not only is it beautiful but also the Forest Stewardship Council and the United States Green Building Council are promoting the use IPE because it is a sustainable and certified wood for use in green building projects.
People love IPE not only for its beauty but also for its durability, resistance to termites, mold and mildew. Ipe is also less likely to splinter because its tight grain.
As far as the interview, I was unsure which angle PWC was going for but was happy to oblige their query for an interview because of my passion for maintaining decks, especially IPE.
My interview with them was about 15 minutes. I told PWC contributing writer Brett Martin IPE decks are generally on higher end homes. My company, Elite Pressure Cleaning, has the privilege to perform regular maintenance on IPE decks that are situated on roof tops over looking DC skyline as well as ones that you can see the Potomac River, decks with stunning landscapes, great open meadows and infinity pools. Working on IPE evokes a similar privileged feeling (minus historical importance and patriotism) to when I would pressure wash the grave of President Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery early in the morning as the sun would rise over the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. In the pressure washer world, it just doesn’t get much better than working with IPE decks.
IPE requires yearly maintenance to maintain its stunning appearance. This is because no standard stain or finish will penetrate the dense wood. Most contractors neither have the know-how nor the proper equipment to maintain and treat such exotic, fine materials. Power washing alone will not get the luster most IPE deck owners are looking for when their deck project is complete. The use of a high quality sanding machine such as our carbide brush sanding machine helps to remove the weathered IPE wood so that the wood can absorb the proper amount of finish.
After any deck is stained it looks great, adds to the value of the home, and is something that is admired by friends. IPE looks like mahogany hardwood floors for the outdoors. As I said before, IPE decks need to be retreated every year for them to look their best. They must be pressure washed, sanded, and treated with an emphasis on not allowing the stain to pool.
Posts Tagged ‘Deck Maintenance’
Who is “THE PRO” to the deck maintenance pros?
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010How to- Care For Your Deck With The Snow.
Friday, February 19th, 2010Keeping the deck clear of snow will help to prevent costly repairs in the future.
Does your deck currently have snow mounds of snow covering it? Over the last few weeks I have received a number of emails from customers asking me how to care for their deck with the snow.
The greatest advantage of applying a seal or stain is that it is a barrier between your deck and the rain/ snow. To unprotected decks, as the snow melts it gets inside the cracks of the deck, then at night when the water freezes the water will expand. This pressure will cause wood to crack.
If you have not sealed or stained your deck in the past year for a seal or 3 years for a stain you may be in for a big surprise when the snow is gone and the wood is exposed again.
Regardless of whether your deck has been treated or not I would recommend shoveling off the snow from all horizontal surfaces where snow or water can sit. A warmer day such as today turns the snow from ice into slush and makes it easy to shovel again.
Protection differences between a seal and stain:
A stain is a penetrating finish that will protect the deck from the inside out which is why it offers the greatest protection.
A seal is a film that sits on top of the wood. As it rains, snows, or is used, the film will wear away. My greatest concern with decks that have been sealed is that with this type of weather the film will wear away quicker than normal leaving the deck less protected.
I hope this information helps and you enjoy the remaining weeks of winter. See you in the spring.