Yes, we work with all types of wood. Redwood and cedar are unique soft woods that require special expertise to avoid damaging these very expensive and beautiful woods. They require especially gentle and sophisticated treatment.
The “exotic” specie we most frequently encounter in this area is ipe or sometimes called ironwood. One of the realities of exotic woods such as ipe, is that many homeowners are reluctant to confront the natural characteristics of the wood. Ipe, for example, is not just normal wood. It is saturated with natural oils which contribute to some of it’s unique characteristics:
If you have an ipe deck, we suggest you come to like the natural grey color of ipe wood exposed to the atmosphere. It is not meant to accept man-made stains and preservatives. It’s this way naturally. It’s so heavy, it will sink in water. The combination of natural oils and density makes it impervious to insects and practically fireproof. Because of the natural oil content and density, it is not easily penetrated by most stains or sealants. ReadySeal will penetrate ipe better than any other stain we have seen, but since the stain continues to penetrate the wood through osmosis, it will not remain on the surface, so the wood will need to be re-stained every year or two. Obviously, it absorbs less stain each time, leaving more residual pigment near the surface of the wood. After multiple applications, more residual color can be achieved. We’ve actually cut cross sections of the wood after letting it soak in a bucket of stain. Penetration was less than 1/16 of an inch. That said, using Dark Red stain multiple times achieves a beautiful red cedar color in ipe.