LESLIE: Alright, now we’re going to talk to Logan in California who listens to The Money Pit on KVML. Logan wants to talk tiger wood.
How can we help?
LOGAN: Well, hello Tom and Leslie.
LESLIE: Hello there.
TOM: Hello!
LOGAN: Well, I wanted the wow factor and I’ve been looking at this stuff for seven weeks now and it’s a real pretty wood. Now I need to know about the durability, the longevity, and the maintenance of this and that 1/4-inch gap that they’re requesting for space between the boards, 1×6.
TOM: Where are you seeing this – it’s called tiger wood that you’re looking at?
LOGAN: Yeah, Ipe.
TOM: Oh, Ipe. Oh, OK. Oh, alright. You know, you said tiger wood and I’m saying to Leslie, “I’ve never heard of tiger wood.” But Ipe, alright; that’s all different.
LOGAN: OK.
TOM: Ipe is a wonderful, wonderful, South American hardwood; very, very hard stuff. Yeah, and gorgeous.
LESLIE: And what does the grain look like?
TOM: Oh, it’s …
LOGAN: Grain is gorgeous.
TOM: Yeah, it looks like a tiger. (chuckles)
LOGAN: Yeah.
LESLIE: Oh, that sounds beautiful.
TOM: It’s great stuff; highly recommended and very beautiful. About that 1/4-inch gap, that’s important because it handles the expansion and contraction of the wood. So proper installation is key. If you put the boards too close together and you happen to get high humidity and they swell, then they’re going to buckle up and that would be a real shame with such a beautiful deck. So Ipe is a beautiful material; highly recommended. If you can afford it, put it down. You’ll be very, very happy for many years to come.
LOGAN: Now I have to use stainless steel screws and I’m purchasing a case of them that’s got the #1 drive square head.
TOM: Yes.
LESLIE: Mm-hmm.
LOGAN: I want – I’m trying to get them flush but they’re going to countersink a little bit.
TOM: No, you have to countersink them. Yeah. You have to – you’re wise to predrill that stuff, too. I would – it’s like working – it’s like building furniture, you know?
LESLIE: This way there’s no cracking.
TOM: So you’re going to do this all yourself?
LOGAN: I just got my permit yesterday.
TOM: Alright.
LOGAN: And I have a helper that has a lot of deck experience and I’ve got a lot of time.
TOM: Well, after you get it all done, send us some pictures, will you?
LESLIE: Yeah, I would love to see it.
LOGAN: I’ll get some copies for you.
LESLIE: Thanks, Logan.
TOM: Good luck, Logan. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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