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Markup adjustments for Ipe hardware costs — Business

Markup adjustments for Ipe hardware costs

Grant Ellison Aug 20, 2026 at 10:34 PM

I am curious how you guys are handling the price volatility on hidden fastener systems lately. I have been using DeckWise Ipe Clips for years, but the cost per square foot has jumped significantly since Q1. For a standard 500sqft deck, I used to factor in about $2.50 per square foot for the hardware, but my latest supplier quote puts that closer to $3.75 once you account for the extra stainless screws and spacers. Are you building this directly into your square footage labor rate, or are you breaking it out as a separate materials line item in your proposals? I had a client balk at the invoice last week, and I am debating whether to switch to a different clip system or just be more aggressive with my overhead markup. Any feedback on how you are framing this to clients would be appreciated.

1 Reply

Robert ChenAug 31, 2026 at 10:34 PM

I stopped baking hardware into my square foot price a couple of years ago because volatility makes that a losing game. Now, I list 'Hardwood Fastening System' as its own line item in my proposals. If the client asks, I explain it covers premium grade 305/316 stainless steel screws—which have spiked in price—plus the clips and proper joist tape. It builds transparency. If they balk, I offer a 'value-engineered' option using a cheaper face-screw method, but usually, seeing that detailed breakdown shifts their focus from the price to the performance of the high-end clips. Stick to your guns on the hardware quality; Ipe is too expensive to risk with inferior fasteners.