When the cedar decking at Norwalk Yacht Club in coastal Connecticut was at the end of its usable lifetime, Ipe decking was selected for its beauty and durability. The Norwalk Yacht Club was founded in 1894 and is located in Norwalk, CT right on the Long Island Sound. The club needed to replace their existing decking boards as well as the dock leading down to the boat slips. The old cedar decking boards were rotting and deteriorating and it was time for them to go.
Ipe wood is a very reliable marine grade decking material option
The yacht club decided to use 1x4 Ipe decking for the main deck areas and 1x6 Ipe decking for the ramp to the dock area due to its durability, strength and low maintenance. At first they were unsure of what species of wood decking to use to replace their existing cedar deck but they did know that they wanted a long lasting material that can hold up to the harsh environment of full southern exposure and salt water while maintaining its beauty as the centerpiece of the many outdoor events they hold at the club. Ipe decking met all their criteria.
The club plans to allow the Ipe decking material to weather naturally to a silver/gray patina so they won't have to constantly maintain it. Chris Healey, president of Shoreline Deck Company, and his team installed the decking using an invisible fastening system. Chris was also able to rebuild the club's signature custom handrail out of Ipe 2x4 and 2x6 Ipe lumber. The Shoreline Deck Company rebuilt the deck and 30’ long dock from the water up and as you can see by the pictures did an absolutely fantastic job.
For additional information about Ipe decking and Ipe lumber, please follow any of the related links below:
Installation Information for Ipe Decking