[RPetry]

Matt,

I would be totally upfront and honest with the customer. Explain that ipe' is rare in your area and you are unfamiliar with the wood. But you made an effort to consult with other wood contractors around the US that do work on ipe', and your recommendations are ....

I did this a few times when just starting out and good customers appreciate the honesty.

Try to find out the exact history of the wood. If never weathered, I would try and sell a strip, neutralize, and contract to come back next year to clean, neutralize, buff and stain.

Ipe' looks ok weathered, it degrades to a silver patina look. And honestly, in my experience, any good stain on ipe' will last a lot longer when the wood has naturally weathered for a year.

Oh, one more thing. Forget about the normal sales pitch about protecting the wood. Ipe' is so dense and durable, that deck and fence will last late into your grandchildren's lifetime without one cleaning or ever seeing a stain.