IPE: the hardwood
that outlasts the building.
MintScapes designs and installs IPE decking, fencing, and built-ins across NYC, North Jersey, and the tri-state. Brazilian hardwood with a 30-year service life, detailed for the exposure it’s actually going to live in.
IPE (pronounced ee-pay) is a Brazilian hardwood — Class A fire-rated, denser than maple, more durable than teak, with a Janka hardness around 3,680 lbf. In practical terms, it’s the decking material that takes NYC’s freeze-thaw cycles, summer heat, and decade-long sun exposure without complaint. It also feels right underfoot, which is what most clients notice first.
We use IPE on most of our rooftop decks and on the higher-end backyard installs. The substructure detail — joist material, fastener system, gap, drainage path — matters as much as the wood itself. A properly built IPE deck lasts 30+ years. A poorly built one fails at the fasteners in seven. We build the first kind.
The details that decide the lifespan.
1×6 boards, hidden fastener
Standard spec for most of our installs. 1×6 gives a refined module without looking busy. Hidden stainless clip systems (Tiger Claw, Camo, or Eb-Ty) leave the face clean — no plug grid.
1/8-inch gap, exactly
IPE moves with humidity. Too tight and the boards cup. Too loose and the deck looks unfinished. We hold the gap with spacers on every fastener.
Pre-drilled face fastener at ends
Even with hidden clips, board ends need a face fastener. We pre-drill in 100% of cases — IPE splits otherwise. Stainless screws, countersunk and plugged with matching IPE.
Joist spacing 16 inches max
IPE 1×6 wants 16-inch joist spacing for a deck that never bounces. We go 12-inch on cantilevers and corners. Pressure-treated yellow pine or hardwood joists — never SPF.
End-sealed with paraffin wax
Cut ends wick water. We seal every cut with Anchorseal or equivalent, every time. Five seconds per cut. Adds years.
Drainage path under the deck
Rain falls between the boards and onto whatever’s below. On rooftops, that’s the membrane — pedestals lift everything clear. In yards, that’s a sloped sub-base graded to drain.
What clients ask first.
- How much does an IPE deck cost in NYC?
- Installed IPE decking in NYC runs $45–$65 per square foot on a rooftop, $35–$55 per square foot in a backyard. The wide range covers substructure differences. A 600 sf rooftop deck in IPE alone is roughly $27K–$40K of material and labor, before planters, pergola, lighting, or kitchen.
- How long does IPE last?
- 25 to 30+ years in NYC weather, properly detailed. The wood itself can last 40+ years; what fails is usually the substructure or the fasteners around it. We use hidden stainless clip systems and pressure-treated or hardwood joists to match the lifespan.
- Does IPE need to be oiled?
- Not for performance. IPE will weather to a silver-grey naturally and stay structurally sound. If you want to preserve the chocolate brown, plan on an annual coat of a UV-blocking oil (Penofin, Ipe Oil, or similar). Most of our clients let it go silver after the first season.
- IPE or composite — which is better?
- On a rooftop, IPE wins by a wide margin. Composite expands and contracts more, holds more heat in summer sun, and the high-end composites still don’t match IPE’s feel underfoot. In a fully shaded yard, modern composite can be the right call for a low-maintenance install. We’ll tell you which one your space actually wants.
- Is IPE sustainable?
- Buying it responsibly is. We source IPE only from FSC-certified suppliers that document chain of custody. Most reputable NYC suppliers are doing this now. Avoid IPE without paperwork.
- Can IPE be used for more than decking?
- Almost everywhere outdoor: privacy walls (horizontal slat fences), pergola beams and rafters, built-in benches, planter cladding, ceiling soffits under pergolas. We use it across most of our projects, in small quantities, for the warmth it gives.