Quote:
Originally Posted by zakthor
I replaced a weird indoor/outdoor deck with pipe. Was a huge amount of work. You need metalworking bits and even then the table saw sparks when you rip pipe due to the high silicon content. Every screw hole pre drilled and countersunk. 410sq feet took me about 2 years to complete. Best is to work as if your building from aluminum. The ipe I have laughs at stain, it rolls off in the rain.
It was the right and necessary choice for my application (periodic standing water) but I'd really need a good reason to do it again. I did the deck 10 years ago and 1x4x12' were 0.90/ft, the boards were cheaper than almost everything. Quotes for labor is what made it expensive which is why I did it myself. After 10 years there is simply no wear, I think it will last 40 more.
When it came time to replace the entry deck we used cedar and were done in a weekend.
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I don't know where you are getting your Ipe, but all the Ipe I have used over the years was cut with simple carbide saw blades, router blades and the typ. HHS drill bits. Sure, it will chew through the HHS bits faster then most lumber out there, but very manageable. I have been pushing and using Ipe over 20 years ago when I first learn about them at a trade show. This was when people were still using Redwood. When I mention IPe, they all say "Ip what?" They were never $.90 a lin.', even back then. Now that their popularity had grown, the demand is also higher and naturally, pricing goes up. I just price out 5/4, 1x6 at about 2.90 a lin.'. That's my wholesale price.