Ipe Deck Tiles Buying Guide: Sizes, Prices, Clips and What to Check Before You Order
Ipe deck tiles are the warmest surface you can put on a rooftop. They also draw the most questions. What size, how thick, what they cost, how they attach, and whether one supplier's tile matches another's.
What an ipe deck tile is
A 24 by 24 inch panel of ipe hardwood slats fastened to ipe battens underneath. Each corner sits on a pedestal head, the same as a concrete or porcelain paver, and clips hold it in place. Nothing is screwed to the roof.
Ipe (pronounced ee-pay) is a Brazilian hardwood with a Janka hardness of 3,680, about three times red oak. It carries a Class A fire rating under ASTM E108, the roof covering test, without treatment. It can go 50 years outdoors without rotting. SkyDeck's tiles carry a 2,900 pound load rating each.
You will see them sold as ipe pavers, deck squares or wood tiles. Same product.
Sizes and thickness
SkyDeck tiles are 24 by 24 inches, 1 11/16 inches thick. Each tile has 8 ipe slats, 2 7/8 inches wide and 13/16 inch thick, and weighs about 23.5 pounds, roughly 6 pounds per square foot.
24 by 24 is the standard for pedestal decks. It matches concrete and porcelain pavers, so one grid carries all three and you can mix surfaces. SkyDeck does not make a 24 by 48 tile. It would need its own pedestal layout and clips.
Smaller interlocking tiles (12 by 12 with a plastic base, the kind sold for balconies) are a different product. They snap together on a flat floor and do not go on pedestals.
What they cost
- Tiles: $45.70 per 24 by 24 tile, which is about $11.40 per square foot of tile.
- Clips: one Ipe Lock clip per interior pedestal. Perimeter tiles are adhered to the pedestal heads or held by metal edging fastened into the side of the tile.
- Pedestals: each size has its price on its product page; start from the pedestals page. A tile takes about one pedestal plus perimeter extras, same as a paver.
- Installed: most rooftop ipe decks land between $30 and $50 per square foot with pedestals, clips, delivery and labor.
On material cost, ipe sits above concrete and close to porcelain. It is the lightest of the three. The porcelain vs concrete article covers those two; the flooring options guide covers choosing by use.
How many to order
Divide the deck area in square feet by 4 for tiles, then add 5 percent for cuts. Tiles cut on a miter or table saw. Keep the offcuts for edges and drain surrounds. A cut tile has no clip on its cut edge. Treat it like a perimeter tile: adhere it to the pedestal head or hold it with metal edging.
Pedestals and clips follow the paver math: the pedestal calculator does it from width, area and perimeter.
Order from one batch. Ipe runs from olive brown to near black between boards. A tile is made of several boards. One batch keeps the mix consistent across the deck.
How they attach
Each tile corner sits on a pedestal head. One Ipe Lock clip at each interior pedestal holds the tiles to the head, so the deck cannot shift. Perimeter tiles are adhered to the pedestals or held by metal edging fastened into the side of the tile. Where wind uplift mitigation is required, a metal ledger fastened to the parapet wall sits on top of the perimeter tiles and pins them down. The clips are marine-grade stainless steel. Ask the engineer whether the roof needs wind restraint. The wind uplift guide covers when that comes up.
Tiles go on the same SkyJack adjustable pedestals as pavers, 3/8 inch to 37 3/4 inches with sleeves, bracing above 21 3/4 inches. If the deck mixes ipe with porcelain or concrete, the thicknesses differ. Those areas get their own pedestal height. Say so on the takeoff.
Oiled or silver
New ipe is a deep brown. Left alone outdoors it weathers to silver-grey within the first year. Oiled on a schedule it stays brown. Both are correct; it is a look, not a maintenance failure.
Decide before you order. The first coat goes on about 6 to 8 weeks after install, once the wood has aged. Recoat once or twice a year. The maintenance guide has the schedule and the cleaning rules (no pressure washing above 1,200 psi).
What to check when they arrive
- Count and inspect before the pallet leaves the truck. Note any cracked slat or missing batten on the delivery slip.
- Check thickness on a few tiles with a tape. They should match each other and the spec sheet; the pedestal heights were set on that number.
- Give the tiles time on the roof before installing. Wood moves with humidity and it is better to let it move before the clips go on.
- Keep the spec sheet with the roof's maintenance file. Future repairs need the same size and the same clip.
Samples
Order a sample tile before a full deck. Color and grain vary more than the photos show. Holding a tile is the only way to judge the weight and slat spacing. Samples are in stock and ship from the product page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Ipe Deck Tiles
How much do ipe deck tiles cost?
About $45.70 per 24 by 24 tile from SkyDeck, roughly $11.40 per square foot for the tile alone. With pedestals, clips and labor, most rooftop decks run $30 to $50 per square foot.
What size are ipe deck tiles?
24 by 24 inches, 1 11/16 inches thick. The size matches concrete and porcelain pavers so one pedestal grid carries all three.
Do ipe deck tiles need pedestals?
On a roof, yes. Pedestals level the slope, let water drain underneath and keep the wood off the membrane. On a flat ground-level slab they can sit on low-height pads.
How long do ipe deck tiles last?
50 years or more outdoors. The stainless clips will not rust out first.
Are ipe deck tiles fire rated?
Ipe has a Class A fire rating under ASTM E108, the roof covering test, without treatment. Check with your code official on what your roof requires.
Which is better for a rooftop, ipe tiles or porcelain pavers?
Ipe is warmer, lighter and needs oiling to keep its color. Porcelain is harder, cooler to look at and needs no finish. Many roofs use ipe where people sit and porcelain where they walk.
For why ipe at all, see the benefits of ipe wood deck tiles. For repairs, see how to fix stains, scratches or checking in ipe.
