Deck Builders • Deck Contractors • Porch Builders

This project was built for a rare homeowner that preferred wood for virtually the entire project. The project included a 600 sqft. ipe deck, cedar railing, and a pavilion constructed with cedar columns and a pine ceiling. (The ipe had not been sealed when the photos were taken.)

The close-up of the decking demonstrates why we prefer to face-screw hardwood decking as opposed to grooved boards. Face-screwing helps to keep the deck surface level and flat for the long term. Clips can, over time, loosen and lead to unevenness in the deck surface.

This deck project was built with cumaru decking and aluminum railing. Cumaru is a hardwood that performs very similar to ipe, but slightly less expensive, and is a suitable alternative to ipe in most applications.

Ipe, also called ironwood, is a hardwood known for its beauty, longevity, and strength--it has a high resistance to insects and even fire. It is one of the most popular hardwoods used today. This deck was also built with powder-coated aluminum railing, commonly used with hardwood decking and includes a built-in hot tub.

This project involved taking an existing treated wood deck and replacing the decking and railing. The new decking is ipe decking, and the new railing consists of ipe rails with powder-coated aluminum balusters.

While most ipe decks utilize hidden fasteners, the decking on this project is face-screwed with conventional screws. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. While hidden fasteners offer an undisturbed deck surface, face-screws firmly secure the decking to the frame, eliminating the squeaking and unevenness that can happen over time with many hidden fastener systems. Face-screwing also protects against board shrinkage, which leads to unsightly gaps if a deck has end-to-end board joints.