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I’m flooring a new 9’x 42′ covered porch, and would like to use ipe flooring. However, most references to ipe are for uses on decks. I found a couple of vague references to T&G flooring, but nothing specific. Has anyone used T&G ipe?
Also, I’m concerned that the outer edge of the floor might weather to the silver/gray color before the surfaces close to the house. Will that look bad? I’m actually more concerned with longevity than looks, but I’d like to know what to expect.
Thanks…
Engineered-stone shower panels are waterproof, but proper installation relies on tight seams and silicone sealing.
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Replies
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If you are looking for a very durable and long lasting wood to use on your porch then ipe is right for you. In my area the ipe is not available in T & G but the boards do not move very much, if at all, so standard 3/4 boards will do the job beautifully. As far as the outer edges of the boards weathering before the insides do, Yes they definitely will, the boards that are closest to my house and the overhang have weathered more than the outer ones but I still would not use any other wood on my house, ever.
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b TVMDC
I agree with Dan: no need to buy or mill T&G since the Ipe is so stable. As for weathering, the best thing to do is nothing! While you could oil the boards with Penofin, etc., you would be buying an annual annuity to reoil.
And if you have a crawl space under the porch floor, space the boards about 1/8" to allow air circulation. You can easily accomplish this using Eb-Ty fasteners sahown below:
View Image
For more information, go to this site.
*Ted, Ipe is a bear to mill, thus I doubt you'd find it in t&g. You could hire a mill to do it, but it's tough ($$)on carbide.I'd run stock lumber as recommended above. Don't fret over the uneven weathering...but if it really bothers you, if a "gray" appearance is desired, a wood stabilizing agent (such as “SEASONITE” by Flood) can be applied to the porch wood's exposed surfaces prior to direct sun exposure.
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How expensive is Ipe?
Any source in Connecticut?
*Here's one source of prices: http://www.advantagelumber.com/They're in Buffalo NY. I found quite a few other sites listing the ipe lumber, but not too many listed prices.
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Thanks for the site cite, Ted. They want about $4/sf for 5/4, which I think is similar to or above prices I've heard of elsewhere, yet for some reason the only yard here (No. VA) that sells it wants $6. Of course, decking other that pt is rare here.
Anyone have any into on the environmental-friendliness of the product, besides the positive industry claims? Are all sources of ipe (which I think is more than one species) subject to the same rules? I mentally associate South America with particularly bad forestry practices and don't want to benefit that short-sightedness.
Unless the poster really likes the looks of ipe, it seems like overkill for a covered porch where you'd have lots of other options. It will take a long time for the shaded stuff to "weather" -- that is, bleach out from UV exposure -- of course you could treat it later if isn't going the way you want. Personally I'd prefer the uniformity of a semitransparent stain or (gasp) paint (no, not over ipe!). Be careful to ensure traction when wet!
BTW, ipe is incredibly strong and can span 24", so who needs moisture-trapping T&G.
*Flash, General Woodcraft (in New London) has a web site, they carry it. "Ring Lumber", which used to be Niantic Lumber down in Niantic, has several yards throughout the state, they carry it as well. Not all of their yards have it in stock, but they can get in in from another yard for you.Here's another thread that discussed pricing.
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Thanks for all of the replies. I now have a couple of follow-up questions:
First, if I use standard lumber (not I&G) aId leave gaps (as B. Pickard wisely suggested) for this covered porch, won't it look like a deck with a roof? I can't recall ever seeing a covered porch with that kind of flooring (but then I've never seen a covered porch with ipe pieoring, either).
Secondly, if I forget about tongue and groove and go ahead with the standard lumber and leave the 1/8" gaps, is it safe to assume I can run the boards parallel to the house? This would amount to a small savings in framing the floor.
*I share your concerns regarding environmental issues. I'm located in northern W.Va., where both coal mining and forestry have created many environmental concerns. My biggest gripe relating to forestry is the not so much the cutting of trees, which will eventually grow back, but the cutting of trees to make products which won't last nearly as long as it takes for the trees to grow back. If I use a piece of wood to make something that lasts 40 years, and someone else uses a similar piece to make something that lasts only 20 years, then I've used only half as much wood as the other guy. But I digress....As for the overkill... you may be right. But I was quoted $0.80/in. ft. for mixed grain fir, with 30 days lag before delivery. I'm looking at pie at $1.00/in. ft. plus about $200 for shipment. For one porch, that's about a $440 difference. But I get a porch that'll last with virtually no maintenance. I haven't made a decision yet, but I certainly do appreciate all the input from these posts and from the archives.And if I go with pie, I promise I won't paint it.
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Pie? That's novel. One thing that I'd be reluctant about with the ipe is that it is difficult to work. I have a chunk here, it's just unbelievably dense. But I bet a porch of it would look nice, maybe clear sealed?
Forestry: not just tree-killing, but nonsustainable practices that prevent reforestation, kill wildlife, displace local populations, cause erosion that leaves the land lifeless and chokes downstream rivers, etc...... Madagascar and mahogany is and example.
*Sorry 'bout the "pie". The spell checker suggested "pie" as a correction for "ipe", and I guess I must have okay'd it. I got a quote for ipe of $1.50/lin. ft. of 3" face T&G plus shipping. It was 50% higher than regular 1x4 lumber, and the face drops from 3 1/2" (for regular 1x4) to 3" for T&G, so the price comparison comes to $1.75/unit for T&G vs. $1.00/unit for normal 1x4's. So Mongo's prediction about milling cost was right.
*Oh, Mongo's always right....
*b TVMDCIpe, 1/8" gaps (Eb-Ty?), covered "Deck/Porch" is A-OK with spaced boards, and yes, the deck boards normally run parallel to the house since the deck is (usually) wider along the house than deep. And running your joists perdendicular to a ledger mounted on the house will give you a stiffer deck with shorter joist spans.Good luck.
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I'm flooring a new 9'x 42' covered porch, and would like to use ipe flooring. However, most references to ipe are for uses on decks. I found a couple of vague references to T&G flooring, but nothing specific. Has anyone used T&G ipe?
Also, I'm concerned that the outer edge of the floor might weather to the silver/gray color before the surfaces close to the house. Will that look bad? I'm actually more concerned with longevity than looks, but I'd like to know what to expect.
Thanks...