Upgrading your old outdoor deck to a new IPE deck tile system is something for the whole family to enjoy and the neighbors to admire. This is the ultimate DIY project to have completed before the Spring season. The IPE wood is durable, reliable, easy to clean and one of the hottest trends in outdoor flooring. Most consumers will choose to stain the deck to match their decor and design motif. The process is simple and to be completed in a short weekend. Here are a few tips, steps, and clues to get you going on your stained and completed outdoor deck project.

Clean the tiles using a regular mop and broom routine and afterwards allow enough time for the floors to properly dry before continuing on to the next step. 24-72 hours depending where you live and amount of moisture and sunshine contributing to the drying speed.

Lightly sand away any scuff marks or major stains. For a small area, sanding the IPE with just a typical pole sander from a local hardware store will be abrasive enough to buff the IPE deck tiles. For decks that have been weather aged for many years and have deep abrasions and scratches, you should rent or buy a high powered floor sander to revamp the old flooring and prepare for the stain.

Very thoroughly brush the deck clean of all dusts. Using a large handle broom, thoroughly brush all the dust and debris away from all the IPE deck tiles.

Check between the cracks to make sure there's no debri in between the planks. Leaves, fuzz and dust can easily become adhered to the IPE deck tiles during the staining process if you aren't vigilant during removal.

Roll, spray or cloth rub your stain onto the IPE deck tiles. All methods are preferred and successful, it’s just a matter of figuring out which technique works for you and your square footage of deck tiles. When plausible, spraying the stain is “easiest” but is not possible in certain situations where stucco or other matter could be stained and ruined during the process.

There is a small surface area of IPE wood noticeable through the cracks so being proactive and inspecting your stain job from all angles and taking a brush to the in between cracks, will ensure an even high quality staining application.

Do not over saturate the IPE deck tiles during your stain application and after 24 hours, check to see if there are any little “puddles” of excess stain and remove them with an old rag or towel. Allow 24-48 hours and double check that the deck is completely 100% dry before placing furniture and other items back onto the deck. 

*You can also spray the backside of the pavers prior to installation, or even do the entire staining process before installation tile by tile and simply install your finished tiles.