We have had our Ipe deck for about 5 years. Each year, we have stained it after sanding and powerwashing. The stain looked uneven, so we decided to let it go natural. We haven't stained it for over a year, and after powerwashing this year, there are still layers of the old stain left behind. Would one on your deck stain stripping products be the answer? We would love to have it natural or start over with a stain but we are tired of an uneven look. Ipe is beautiful wood but has been hard to maintain. Thanks for your help. Karen

Karen-

First off IPE is one of the most difficult woods to maintain. It is also one of the most beautiful woods when done. The problem lies in the extreme density of the wood. Typically IPE will need to be re-coated on an annual basis or sooner. Here is a few suggestions for you:

1. Strip off the remaining stain with a deck stripper.
2. Do not sand the deck. The IPE is dense enough. When you sand you will smooth the wood, closing the pores. The stain will have a hard time penetrating the wood.
3. Apply one coat only.
4. Use a stain that will allow a light cleaning and re-coating when needed. This works 2-4 times. Eventually you will need to strip again since the stain will buildup. You also will need a stain that is easily strippable if needed.

Here is a couple of IPE Stain suggestions for you:

Defy Deck Stain for Hardwoods *Light Walnut Color
Messmer's UV Plus Hardwood / IPE Wood Stain

Hope this helps!

I live in Houston, Texas (humid and moist area) and have an IPE deck (5 years old) which I power wash once a year and then apply Messmer's UV Natural stain. Will the use of Messmer's Part A or Part B Brightener "clean" the deck more efficiently as I spend a good 6-8 hours power washing it before applying the stain the next day?? Note, decek is approximately 400 feet in size. Also, what are the advantages in using the cleaner (A) and / or brightener (?

The Messmers Part A cleaner helps to make your cleaning process easier and more efficient. Cleaning wood with just water pressure is a bad idea as you can damage the wood when using excess pressure. By using a cleaner you will be able to clean with less pressure. The Messmers Part A will "lift" the dirt and grime so you can rinse away.

The Part A brightener neutralizes the Part which sets the wood to the proper pH balance.

You would only need 1 Part A and 1 Part B for 400 feet.