We chose composite because we had a mahogany deck for 25 years which was supposed to be nearly maintenance free but really wasn't

We built an Ipe deck because it is maintenance free if you let it age to silver. I love oiled Ipe but that was work we didn’t want. This photo was taken after we completed and the deck is not greyed yet (Plus landscaping was not started yet) One thing I love is that you can walk barefoot on it.

IMO it deopends on the facing of the deck I find composite so hot you can’t walk on it if facing south , even wood gets hot but not that hot.I also like the look of wood much better . Is there a reason you can’t just let the IPE weather.

Patricia- I think weathered IPE looks too rustic for my preference

What style are you going for? I never get a rustic vide from Ipe.

We chose composite decking and are very pleased with it. It requires no maintenance and is splinter free. Heat has never been an issue, although the deck is covered and generally not in direct sun. Although I love the look of ipe, apparently it is very hard wood and difficult to cut, increasing cost of installation. This is our vacation house in the woods. Perhaps if building a primary residence I might consider real wood and accept the extra cost and possible maintenance. BTW, I generally don’t like fake anything.

flopsycat1 is correct IPE is very very hard wood. It was my job to make the plugs for the wrap around porch to cover the screw holes (over 2000 of them). I would get about 50 of them before the bit was so dull it was smoking, and I’d have to change it out. IPE won’t burn, won’t even float. We installed it in 2003 and finally sanded and oiled in 2017. We figure we can go another year before we sand and oil again. It is a covered porch but in the winter the storms blow the rain all over the IPE, day after day. We live in western Washington state and have very wet winters. My husband had a love affair with IPE.

Thanks everyone for the reply. Is the oiling an easy thing to do on your own, or you need to hire someone?

Oiling ipe is easy. You can apply it with a paint roller, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe up the excess. The sanding that @jalarse mentioned isn't necessary.

https://www.advantagelumber.com/how-to/deck-finishing.html

If you want the gray weathered look off of it if you want bird crap off of it if you want blackberry stains off of it then YES you do have to sand it. If a 78-year-old man can get out there with a cane and a sander and do it anybody should be able to do it after 18 years it was gray and discolored and we want to get back to its original state so yes it did need sanding it is not put down and forget it