icemon,

you aren't having a problem with your Ipe deck, the problem is in your head. You're thinking that there's a deck sealer that will last under 3' of snow. Not happening. You keep using Cabot's, even though it doesn't work for you. bottom line...nothing will work well enough to look good in the spring after a NE winter. If you want to maintain the beauty, you have to work for it.

The 4x4 posts are vertical...snow doesn't sit on them, and UV rays hit them indirectly for a few hours a day. That's why they look good...no mystery there.

steve

Steve,

Thanks for the reply, but I am amazed that some stain or finish will not hold up under snow. It is not the whole deck that deteriorates only patches or areas. In those areas, as I had mentioned, predominately along the joist lines, the wood turns very light and you can not just re-apply the stain. You must sand those areas down to bare wood in order for the stain to take again. There again I believe that this is due to the EB-TY biscuit fasteners at the joists, allowing moisture in along the deck board edges and getting under the stain.

I had thought that after enough applications the wood would have been conditioned along the edges to not show this effect. I have no issue with staining the deck twice a year, but to have to essentially strip off the old stain and start from scratch each spring is too excessive.

I am not looking for a sealer, I am only looking to maintain the IPE color. That is why I originally went with the Cabot's since it is a penetrating oil. If no one in snow country has any experience with some stain working, then I will just have to let the deck go silver and sacrifice that great IPE color.