When using grooved-edge boards, our hidden deck fastening system installs between the deck boards, fastening them to the joists with no visible deck … To find out more about installing with the hidden fastening systems, take a look at the composite decking installation instructions, where you’ll find diagrams showing the proper locations of the clips … Note the deck board’s hollow structure, which adds strength without excess weight. How to Calculate Trex Decking Cost for Your Project, Get the Look: Deck Details You’ll Want to Copy, How to Select the Best Trex Decking Colors for Your Outdoor Space, From Bland to Grand: A Deck Transformation, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Parts of Your Home Prone to the Most Winter Weather Damage, First-Timer’s Guide to Pouring a Concrete Patio, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Composite material expands and contracts along the length of the board with temperature changes. away from the house to allow water to drain. 9 Ways to Protect Your Deck or Patio From Summer Heat, How to Apply Behr Quick Dry Oil Base Wood Finish, Trex Decking: Here’s What You Need to Know. Azek Decking vs Trex: Which is Best for You? Install blocking between each joist every four to six feet to reduce movement up and down and twisting of the joists, using exterior screws. The first board you install, the starter board, is the most important one. Tutorial on installing composite decking versus pressure-treated decking. We placed the first board 1/2 in. This design makes Trex Hide-away hidden fasteners easy and quick to install when compared to other hidden fastener … tape. Then, slide the groove of … To keep from marring the look of the deck, we used Trex Hideaway hidden deck fasteners, which allow you to put the decking … After the following board is placed, the fastener screws can be tightened. Hold the board tightly, putting pressure against the clips. To accommodate this seasonal movement, install the decking with a 1/4-in. This is why Deck-Max created a hidden fastening system that enables you to install and enjoy better timber decking. Sign up for our newsletter! The decking has grooved edges. Composite decking will expand and contract in extreme climates. A tell-tale sign of a potential problem with the ledger board attachment is the … Unlike the field decking, the border can’t be attached with hidden fasteners and must be face-screwed through pilot holes that are then plugged. Next, tap the included color … 1 Box covers 50 square feet and … ENVISION Composite Deck Screws and EverGrain Composite Deck Screws are color matched deck screws … It requires less maintenance than wood and resists cracking and fading. Don’t Be Shocked by Static Electricity. Draw a line on to the board between your two other lines. … Place a square against the edge of the post. Pro tips and tricks to make your deck build or remodel go smooth and efficient. Check the decking specifications and local building codes for joist spacing. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. It’s also a good idea to eyeball the decking to keep it straight. Trex Hideaway ® Hidden Fastening System. An elegant upgrade to traditional stainless steel and composite deck screws. gap at each end when the weather is cold. To see how we built this entire deck, read the article: Using this installation method, the underframe is fitted with clips and the planks … Trex Hideaway Hidden Deck Fastening System: This ¼” self-spacing connector clip with 1-5/8” screws is designed to install between Trex grooved composite decking … grooved deck boards. Create a deck with hidden fasteners instead of face-nailing it, and you'll get a smooth, clean finish. Our latest shed is also a pavilion—and you can build it, too! Cut the slots progressively longer (up to 1/4 in.) If you are considering installing composite decking somewhere, aside from settling on a color, shape, and size for the decking, you will be faced with another tough decision – do you install the decking using screws or hidden fasteners? By using pre-grooved, high quality hardwoods, this hidden fastening system attaches … Don’t worry — the buildup and generation of static electricity … To notch around the railing post, slide a deck board up next to the post. Leave the screws a little loose so that the leading edge of the fasteners easily engages the groove of the next deck board. Cortex hidden face fasteners work as follows: First, use the special driving tip included with the system to automatically put the Cortex screw at a precise depth. Place a square on the end of the deck board against the post. We used Fiberon’s Horizon decking on this job, but I also like the capped products made by Trex, Azek, and EverGrain. The fastener is then attached to the support with decking screw provided in each box. To notch the depth, use a spacer or deck clip to create the gap between boards. There are important measurements to keep in mind when installing composite decking, and those are the spacings. On the inside edge of the starter board, install deck clips at every joist into the groove along the whole length of the board. Rather than installing screws through the top of every deck board, clips are attached to the framing boards first. Complete DIY projects like a pro! © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. To shed water, cap all single joists with 3-in. Don't leave a gap when two board ends butt together. Do not slot the center hole on each board. Install double joists and use four clips, two per board, where you have a butt joint. To install composite decking with a hidden fastening system, start at the house by face-screwing the first board. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. While screws are the traditional choice, there are many reasons why hidden fasteners … We have hidden deck clips available to fit all of our board systems, in 304 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel with black powder coating and TPO plastic. Veranda Hidden Fasteners can be installed in just four easy steps: 1. staple-on plastic tape (York Wrap), and the doubled rim beam with a 6-in. Installing decking with a hidden fastening system creates a clean, smooth surface. Decks Project Guide. apart along the border decking, then elongate the holes from the underside with a drywall spiral cutter. Most common is 16 inches on center. Unlike the field decking, the border can’t be attached with hidden fasteners and must be face-screwed through pilot holes that are then plugged. Drive screw into the slot so it’s flush with the bottom of the groove. Trex Router Bit: Trex decking routs to give extremely crisp edges when using the Trex Router Bit with standard router, and can be use with all Trex Hideaway Hidden Fasteners. The Complete Guide to Building a Grade Level Deck, Plus, watch the video series: Build a Grade-Level Deck. Slide the next board up against the clips. Decking or the TigerClaw TC-G Hidden Fasteners with Trex Select Decking, the TigerClaw pneumatic gun is a terrific option that allows for quicker install time. To avoid showing a groove, we had to rip one edge of the darker boards used along the perimeter. We fastened the field boards with the manufacturer’s biscuit-style hidden fastening system, and screwed and plugged the edge boards. Step 4: Drive a deck screw through the countersunk hole. We recommend our users to update the browser. Here’s how to install hidden deck fasteners in composite decking with the Cortex hidden … The Fiberon decking is installed with hidden fasteners, which give the deck … … Unfortunately, the deck width of 16 ft. was set before the decking was ordered, and it was only available in 12-ft. lengths. After all the boards are installed, snap a chalk line and trim the ends to the desired length. Install double joists and use four clips, two per board, where you have a butt joint. Hidden Fasteners. If screws aren’t your thing, there is always the second option of a hidden fastening system for composite decks. Pre-drill in the slot of the deck board with an 1/8" drill bit. This biscuit-style fastener is screwed to the joist and engages the grooves of the adjacent boards. They often cost $1 to $2 per ft. more than regular composite decking. The fastener design securely attaches decking boards by holding the edge of the decking board. Draw lines on each side of the post on to the board. Hundreds of articles and videos by top deck-building pros on how to design and build a beautiful, sturdy, and safe deck. We used composite decking from GeoLam for the deck featured here. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. (All Ipe Clip ® fastener kits, 175 count and above, have extra stainless steel deck screws included in them for starter boards.) • Designed for solid composite, PVS, and mahogany decking • Automatically gaps decking ˚⁄˝˙" for a consistent beautiful ˆnished look • 25-year warranty • Available in 50 square foot boxes screws included ˇe TigerClaw˘ Hidden Fastening Systems have been speciˆcally designed for installation into so˜wood, Composite… Home Outdoors Yard & Garden Structures Deck & Patio. This reduces the amount of water that can wick into splits in the wood where preservative may not have penetrated or be as fully concentrated. The deck boards require traditional fasteners on the outside and inside edges of the deck. Fasten all the clips between the two boards securely using a drill (not an impact driver). We installed the border first, then filled in the center. Fasten the deck board with composite decking screws along the edge closest to house; drive one screw into each joist. Slide the end of the deck board up next to the post. This left us two options: install full-length boards with a 4-ft. piece alternating left and right, or use two 8-ft. pieces cut from full length boards. Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the A single-board border encloses the field decking. pilot holes 16 in. Depending on the shape of the deck, the first board can start at the house or at the outer rim joist. Drill 1/8-in. No Lag Head Screws. Next, screw a hidden fastener clip into the groove on top of each joist. Begin by fastening … Wood plugs will next be installed into the holes to hide the deck screws … To keep the decking parallel, we measured the distance from the last board to the rim beam every few courses. I generally order decking in lengths that minimize waste for a given deck size. Trex Hideaway Hidden Fastening System: This ¼” self-spacing connector clip with 1-5/8” screws is designed to install between Trex grooved composite decking boards. The decking clips plays a significant role in any installation of composite decking, and should be understood before starting any installation … Composite decking is made from a mixture of wood fibers and plastic polymers. If available, use a board locking tool to help you hold the board tight. Next, securely drive a deck screw down into the countersunk hole into the joist below. Use starter clips to fasten your first board or surface screws and plug the holes. Don't leave a gap when two board ends butt together. In warm weather, install without gaps. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Install a hidden fastener into the edge of the deck plank, placing one … We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Gap the Decking in Cold Weather Composite … Composite decking boards are able to expand and contract with the weather, so it is important for you to take note of and act on the correct spacing allowances when installing your composite decking … To minimize waste, and for looks, we used the former option. Fasteners must be spaced so that no part of the fastener is within 3/4" from the end of the board and 1-3/8” from the edge of the board. toward the ends of the boards. Butt the … Build a Grade-Level Deck: Install Decking, Adding Fascia and Other Decorative Elements, Laying Out, Cutting, and Installing the Stringers, Installing Treads, Risers, and Stair Railings, Expert insights on techniques and principles. when using a compatible grooved edge hidden fastening system. For a more rigid feel, 12 inches on center. Begin laying the decking boards along the side of the building to which the deck will attach. Decking Board Spacing. 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