Ipe & Massaranduba Shrinkage

Luke

We completed a deck using Massaranduba hardwood for the decking. After about three months, the deck boards have shrunk so much that the hidden buscuit-type fasteners are barely holding the boards together. In fact, these supposedly non-shrinking boards have shrunk more than the horrible treated lumber from years gone by. We are looking at some options for repairs but the problem is the deck has radius ends at two ends that are 90 degrees from each other. One option is to completely unfasten the boards and then push them back together but the radius ends will not be true so we will then have to supply and install new boards at these points. The other option is to completely replace the entire decking. Both options are painful since on top of the issues with the decking, we installed custom metal raillings with glass on top of the deck materials. These will have to come off before anything can be done and that is not an easy process. My question is had anyone experienced this problem with either Ipe or Massaranduba? I'm debating switching to IPE if we are replacing the deck materials but I don't want to go through the same thing all over again.

Mike Finley

Ipe is in my opinion far from stable.

Greg Di

A day late and a dollar short, I know, but I just tried the Fastenmaster IQ clips for an Ipe deck and they hold a heck of a lot more than an EBTY ever could.

www.fastenmaster.com

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PressurePros

Are you sure you bought the real thing? I have seen some funky woods passed off as mahogany and other hardwoods.

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Ken Fenner
Pressure Washing PA
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