Deck & Fence Staining / Sealing
Ipe Deck Cleaning, Sanding & Refinishing
Leawood, Kansas
Restoring the natural richness of an existing premium ipe deck through custom sap removal, targeted sanding, and a hardwood-specific oil stain—without changing its layout or custom features.
Project Overview
This Leawood project focused on maintaining and refinishing an existing high-end ipe deck, not rebuilding it. Mature trees growing through and around the deck had left stubborn, sticky sap on the hardwood. Decker deep-cleaned the surface using a custom cleaning process developed for this condition, completed targeted sanding, and applied an oil stain made specifically for hardwood decks. The existing layout, built-in bench seating, black metal railing, stairs, and tree openings were preserved.
Key Selections
- Existing ipe hardwood decking
- Oil stain made specifically for hardwood decks
Before → After
Before
After
What We Had to Solve
The main challenge was sticky tree sap contamination from the mature trees passing through and around the deck. Restoring the wood's appearance required addressing that contamination before applying a new finish.
Decker developed a custom cleaning process for the stubborn sap and used it as part of a deep cleaning of the existing ipe. Targeted sanding followed, preparing the hardwood for an oil stain made specifically for hardwood decks.
The work centered on careful maintenance of the existing premium hardwood and its custom details. The built-in bench seating, black metal railing, stairs, and openings around the trees remained in place; this was not a deck rebuild or structural project.
The finished deck has regained the rich, natural character of mature ipe while retaining the outdoor space's original layout and custom features. Solving the sap contamination was central to restoring the hardwood rather than replacing it.