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Ipe Deck Problems

10/15/15       
Tim G

We installed this decking over a lake in North Florida this past summer without issue. Now much of it is developing splitting issues as shown in the pictures. We need some answers as to why this is occurring.This is our first time using Ipe . We used it assuming it would outperform the typical treated pine we normally would use.I suspect that it may be due to stress cracks from falling the trees, which is just now manifesting itself, others have suggested improper drying. The supplier says it's what we should expect. What say you?


View higher quality, full size image (2676 X 1506)


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10/15/15       #3: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Mark B Member

Its absolutely not what I would expect. That said, I think most Ipe decks you would see may be treated. It looks like this material may have been left raw?

10/17/15       #4: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Tim G

Yes, it was left unfinished.

10/17/15       #5: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Tim G

To clarify,the end grain was sealed with a wax sealer furnished by the supplier. The deck was not sealed.

10/19/15       #6: Ipe Deck Problems ...
JeffD

That shouldn't happen to Ipe treated or not….one of the appeals of Ipe is that you don't have to put anything on it for it to last.

As for cause I'd guess drying, but really don't know. Will be interested in what others have to say.

good luck,
JeffD

10/19/15       #7: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Tim G

I received a couple PM that stated that this is normal, so I'm not sure what to think.Maybe Dr.Gene Wengert will chime in.

10/20/15       #8: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Gene Wengert - Wood Doc

There are actually two different failures here.

1. The first type of failure (pictures 1 and 3) is sometimes called shelling, separated grain, or shake. It occurs on flatsawn pieces with the failure running parallel to the growth rings. It is often caused by a weakness in the wood caused by bacterial activity within the tree. (The bacterial activity includes an enzyme that destroys part of the woods structure.) With softer woods, it can be caused by the pounding of the knives (dull, too much land, etc.) on the surface. (Excessive pounding can cause the wood to shell. In fact, pounding is how wood is separated into strips that are used in some basket weaving.)

In either case, the grain is separated (there is a failure) and with exposure to water, the swelling and shrinkage stresses cause the defect to become very obvious.

It is not clear from looking at the pictures which of the two causes is correct here, but I favor slightly the pounding idea.

2. Picture 2 with the long cracks shows another type of defect, called surface checking. If there are just a few of these pieces, I suspect that they were on the top of the stack during air drying, so they were exposed to frequent wetting and drying. (They also may have bacteria weakness which makes the defect more likely). It is for this reason that we prefer to have a water repellent coating used on the finished deck to prevent rapid wetting and then drying, which means a lot of wood movement (shrinking and swelling). It is likely that without a coating on the deck, the exposure to weather after installation made this defect worsen, but I am hesitant to say that such exposure initially caused the defect. Note that these types of cracks occur in air drying with uncovered piles, so it would be common to hear, from others who also had the same air drying process, that such cracks are normal.

10/20/15       #9: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Tim G

Thanks for the detailed explanation Doc. I guess the next step is having the wood tested? Not sure who to contact but I guess a good place to start would be the University of Florida's forestry department, since it's here in town. Anyone else you'd recommend?

10/20/15       #10: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Gene Wengert - Wood Doc

I am not sure why you need it tested. If you expect to end up in a lawsuit, then you do need a wood expert. Usually the cost of going to court is so high that a settlement is the best course of action.

If you are interested in a more detailed examination father wood, then you could hire a wood expert. I do not know any people at UF, so they may knothole the required expertise. NC State, Virginia Tech and even me would be a more likely choice, but it would cost you.

10/24/15       #11: Ipe Deck Problems ...
Shaun

I have seen "shelling" occur fairly often. Not in so numerous of boards we couldn't replace them. The surface checking I cannot remember seeing on any finished decks. We always used Messmers and refinished once a year.


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