Ipe decking boards review: is Ipe good for decks?

Our verdict, point by point

What we looked at	Our verdict
Durability	Excellent. Ipe is in durability class 1. We expect 25+ years, even with no maintenance.
Looks	Yellowish brown to dark olive brown, planed smooth and splinter free. Some colour difference between boards is part of the timber.
Fitting	Quick, thanks to the clips and click ends. It is a heavy timber though, and cutting needs a carbide tipped blade.
Maintenance	Essentially maintenance free. We do recommend oiling.
Price per board	£22.43 for 150 cm or £27.61 for 180 cm. Normally £27.61 and £34.51.
Delivery	From stock, 7 to 14 days to your door.

See the Ipe decking boards with clips

What we like

• No screws in sight. The clip slides into the groove along the long edge of the board, so the walking surface stays intact and splinter free.
• The gap sets itself. The clip doubles as a spacer, so every gap is 8 mm without measuring.
• Click ends with a double V. The short ends have a tongue and groove with a small chamfer. Where two boards click together you get a neat double V joint. It looks sharp and saves cutting, because you do not have to trim every board over a joist.
• Short boards stay straight. Lengths up to 180 cm are dead straight and need no straightening, unlike a 4 metre board.
• Very little movement. Ipe has the lowest tangential shrinkage of all the outdoor timbers we compare.

The downsides

• Heavy timber. Ipe weighs around 1,050 kg per m³. You will not carry a pack on your own.
• Cutting needs proper tools. Ipe blunts blades and drill bits quickly. Use carbide tooling and extraction, as the dust can irritate skin.
• Turns grey without oil. Left untreated, Ipe goes grey over time. Durability is not affected, but if you want to keep the warm colour you will need to oil it.
• Can bleed. Ipe contains a natural dye that dissolves in water.
• Not for chlorine or salt water. Chlorine and salt attack the stainless steel clips and screws, so we advise against this deck around a chlorinated or saltwater pool.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

A good fit for

• A patio, balcony or roof terrace that needs a clean finish with no visible screws.
• DIYers who want to save time with clips and click ends.
• Anyone after a deck that lasts 25+ years without compulsory maintenance.

Less suited to

• A deck around a chlorinated or saltwater pool.
• Buyers choosing mainly on the lowest price.
• Anyone without a carbide blade, or who would rather avoid heavy lifting.

Comparison: 150 or 180 cm

We do not sell another decking timber, so the real choice is the length. It decides the laying pattern and the number of end joints.

Length	Price per board	When to choose it
150 cm	£22.43	Small to medium decks and balconies. One length gives a calm look.
180 cm	£27.61	Larger decks. Fewer end joints per m².

Our advice: stick to one length. That way all boards come from the same bundle and are planed identically. Let the end joints land on a joist where you can. Space the joists 40 to 45 cm apart, ideally in Ipe as well so different timbers do not work against each other, and always lay a weed membrane underneath.

Want to see it in real gardens? Our Ipe wood reviews show customer projects with photos. For the pros and cons of the timber itself, read Ipe wood pros and cons.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Ipe decking last?

We say 25+ years. Ipe is in durability class 1 and gets there without maintenance. Oil is an extra: like wax on a car, it makes the timber dirt and water repellent, and it stays more stable in very hot or wet weather.

Do I need to pre-drill?

Not for the clips, the screws have a drill point. If you fix anything else into Ipe, such as a trim, you do need to pre-drill.

How wide is the gap between the boards?

Always 8 mm. The clip holds that spacing, so water can drain and air can move.

Work out your deck in the calculator

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