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Ipe deck and Penofin Marine Oil ??

vancouverok | Posted in General Discussion on October 3, 2011 06:17am

Hi All,

We just bought a house with Ipe decking that was installed 2 years ago.  We have no idea what the previous owners used to  treat the deck with.  It is now grey color in areas where there is sun, and still a nice brown color in the area of the deck that is covered.  It would be great if I can get the whole deck stained and treated into the nice brown color.

 A lumber company suggested we use Penofin Marine Oil for the deck.  We really have no clue what to use.   Any feedbck greatly appreciated!

K.O.

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  1. Piffin | Oct 03, 2011 07:00pm | #1

    Penofin is the best thing I have found for IPE!

    Not familiar with the marine forula, but I use theor exotic/tropical woods formula on it.

  2. jimblodgett | Oct 03, 2011 08:25pm | #2

    Penofin is highly toxic stuff.  Not sure what the v.o.c. are on the marine grade, but I bet it's above 250.

    We only have so much water on the planet.  Sure there'll be plenty for our lifetimes, but is having a great looking deck worth contaminating the fresh water our great great great grandchildren will have?  Or THEIR great great great grandchildren?

    You leave that deck naked and 30 years from now when boards have to be replaced, you can throw the old ones out in the bushes and they will go back into the soil to help feed another generation of vegetation - as long as you don't contaminate them with toxins, that is.

    Be part of the solution, if only a tiny part.

    1. calvin | Oct 03, 2011 09:11pm | #3

      Jim

      We may not have a horse in the series, nor a football team that keeps you from raking leaves (or mulching) but it sure is a pleasure to read a well grounded post every once in a while.

      How's the hip?

      1. jimblodgett | Oct 03, 2011 10:15pm | #5

        Hip

        Hard to say, brotherman.  Way more good days than bad, but I think I reached a plateau after about 3 weeks.  Yesterday I sat in my favorite rocker for about 10 minutes and when I got up for dinner I had to grab the counter to stay errect.  Something in my groin isn't right, flares up usually after sitting (like driving).

        Still got a lot of building I want to do, but my confidence is wavering.  Might just have to try and build some type of business around the mill.  Oh well, it will unfold the way it's supposed to.

        How's everyone back there in the Heartland?

        1. calvin | Oct 03, 2011 11:12pm | #6

          Jacci and the grandkids are here for a couple days.

          And it's been great.  Joyce is in hog heaven.  Today, 3 of jac's friends stopped over with their little ones.  Man, it was a nursery here in the house with all of them just a couple months apart.

          Seems like high school graduation was just a couple days ago.

          Me, I decided to play just one more hole after a 10 minute downpour.  Not a good idea after leaving the green on down the hill.  Slipped on one leg, proceeded to put me and the bag I was carrying down on the other.  Don't think that leg has ever bent that much in 50 years.  What do they call that in the NFL, quad injury?  We don't get paid on the disabled list tho do we?  So after sorely working a couple hours on it today, I'll give another try tomorrow. 

          Can't get behind, we're burning daylight here.

    2. Piffin | Oct 03, 2011 11:28pm | #7

      What is toxic in the Penofin?

      Way I read the labekl, it is oils from trees.

  3. jonscholl | Oct 03, 2011 09:38pm | #4

    Ipe and Penofin

    I built my front porch using Ipe decking and also protected it using Penofin for the first 2 to 3 years. It looks great when done and holds up for about 6 months before it starts to fade again. The bottom line, in my opinion, is to know that if you want that great "brown/orange" fresh look, there is regular maintanence involved. Each year prior to re-coating, the flooring needs to be power washed to remove the dirt and grim from a year's worth foot traffic and sun bleaching. Then it needs to dry for at least a day and then it can be re-coated with the Penofin. Over time, the fresh browns and oranges fade to a draker brown/grey and it loses all possibility of "looking like new" even with a fresh coat of oil.

    Because it is Ipe, the Penofin Oil is not needed for durability or "protection". The Ipe will weather out to a silver grey....even the areas that are shaded...and it will last for 50 years without any maintanence at all. So save your money and the regular effort and just enjoy the fact that the deck will still be there after you are not;)

    1. vancouverok | Oct 06, 2011 09:37pm | #12

      Thanks for all your replies, sounds like it is futile trying to keep the beautiful brown color.   If so, do I need to still protect it yearly with some kind of UV coating?

  4. Piffin | Oct 04, 2011 07:29am | #8

    rosewood oil. Some cedars are toxic for that matter

    I looked up the MSDS last night.

    The ugly item is xylene, but it is below the 10oPPM govt standard

    it does cause health problems in amts way far above what you find in penofin and then when the test subjects ( rats and rabbits) are practically bathed in it rouind the clock.

    It is also used in "Manufacture of quartz crystal oscillators, hydrogen peroxide, perfumes, insect repellents, dyes, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and leather, and use as a sterilizing agent for cat-gut"

    1. DanH | Oct 04, 2011 07:58am | #9

      OK, if I ever need to sterilize the gut of a cat I'll know what to use.

      1. Piffin | Oct 04, 2011 09:34am | #10

        if you've ever had internal surgery, it seems you might have had some residue implanted.

  5. grandpabuilder | Oct 04, 2011 04:44pm | #11

    Leave it be

    Like everything, it looks best when new. My thoughts, let it weather naturally. My wife owns a wedding chapel with a lot of wood decks and a wooden bridge. Treated wood in all shades of gray and brown. We stained the bridge a couple years ago, no one said "Look at that nice brown". There are always comments about the natural patina of the decks. 

    If you want brown and no work....buy plastic. (he said with a sarcastic tone)

    My 2 and a half cents worth.

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