After…

The boardwalk overlooks the Sampit River Harbor and is lined with restaurants, antique shops, galleries, and specialty stores. The Harborwalk, in its existing condition, was showing signs of wear. More importantly, it was slowly becoming a hazard to visitors. The boardwalk was originally constructed with pressure treated pine. Although this was acceptable in the distant past, we now know that pine doesn’t hold up over time. The existing pine boards had been found to have rotted in places. In other places the boards were splintering and many had nail pops. As the concern for the safety of the guests increased, the idea to renovate this historic boardwalk took shape.

An engineering firm was hired by the city of Georgetown to make recommendations on the most appropriate way to repair the boardwalk. This firm suggested that Ipe, a Brazilian hardwood, be used to replace the existing pine boards. Ipe is naturally rot and decay resistant, is extremely dense, and has a class A fire rating.One of the major improvements to the Harborwalk was the addition of Ipe Clip® brand hidden deck fasteners. One of the main areas of concern with the original boardwalk was nail popping. Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners eliminates this danger altogether. “It’s gratifying to know that our product was used in such a historic project and that it was chosen with safety concerns in mind,” said Dan Schiefer, General Manager of the Ipe Clip© Company. “Ipe Clip® has worked for years to design and manufacture hidden deck fasteners that not only blend in with every environment, but will also keep guests safe.”

The Ipe Clip® Fastener Company has dedicated a lot of time in the training of all sales team members, dealers, and distributors. We do this to ensure that the right questions are asked so that the right product is chosen for each and every project.

Air-dried decking – Ipe Clip® Extreme™ fasteners which spaces boards at 3/32” should be used. Air-dried decking has a high moisture content which causes the wood to shrink as it acclimates. In other words, the gap between your boards will get larger so you want to use a deck fastener that starts with a small gap space. Ipe Clip®Extreme4™ can also be used. This leaves a 5/32” gap space. It’s a little larger but still does the job for those that want or need a slightly larger gap space.

Kiln-dried decking – Ipe Clip® ExtremeKD™ fasteners which offer a ¼” gap space should be used. Kiln-dried decking has a lower moisture content which results in the boards expanding as they acclimate. As you probably guessed, this means your gap spacing will come together so you will want to use a deck fastener that leaves a larger gap space during installation. Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ can also be used. This leaves a 5/32” gap space. It’s a little smaller but still does the job for those that want or need a smaller gap space.

Composite decking – Always check with and follow the manufacturer’s recommended gap spacing. Each is different and can vary from 3/32” gap spacing to 1/4″ gap spacing.

PVC Decking – Like composite decking, check with and follow the manufacturer’s recommended gap spacing. PVC decking is a little different in that the gap spacing for one part of the country may be different for another part of the county as PVC is more controlled by temperature.

Know what type of decking you have, know what the manufacturer’s recommended gap spacing is, and let us help you choose the Ipe Clip® brand fastener that’s right for you!

You should know that although hardwoods expand and contract on their width, composite boards expand and contract on their length. You not only want to make certain that you are following the manufacturers suggested gap spacing between deck boards, but you want to make certain that you have allowed adequate room between your deck and any structure. The last thing you want to see is buckling and cupping issues because you built your deck right up against a structure. Then when it starts to move, it has nowhere to go.

When installing hardwood deck boards, you place a screw at a 45 degree angle through the Ipe Clip® fastener, through half of the deck board, and then down into your joist on just one side of your deck board. So as your deck board expand and contract, one side is always firmly attached tight to your joist. You wouldn’t want to use this same method with composite decking. As mentioned above, it moves on its length and you need to allow it to do so. When installing Ipe Clip® fasteners in composite decking, you will want to place the screw at a 90 degree angle straight through the Ipe Clip® fastener and right down into the joist. This allows the deck board to stay in place yet allow it to expand and contract at will.

By following the guidelines above, your Ipe Clip® brand fasteners can be used on a broad range of decking products and are quite versatile.

Maxwell Blake

·     The first is the obvious; the look. Ipe Clip®  hidden deck fasteners create a truly pristine looking surface. There are no nail pops, mushrooming, or unsightly screws.

·     Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners have superior hold down power than the traditional face screwing. Our deck fasteners are installed at a 45 degree angle. This angle creates a firmer, stronger, and more enduring hold to the joist.

·     Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners are designed for air-dried decking, kiln-dried decking, pvc decking, and composite decking. Each decking material requires different gap spacing to allow for the natural contraction and expansion of deck boards. Our fasteners are designed specifically with this in mind, offering 3 different gap spaces.

·     Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners are installed differently depending on the type of decking material. Hardwood decking is installed by screwing down through half of the deck board then down into the joist; all at a 45 degree angle. This keeps the deck board attached to the joist while allowing it to naturally move on it’s width. Composite and pvc decking is installed by screwing through the fasteners and straight down into the joist, allowing it to naturally move on it’s length.

The benefits of using Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners far out-weigh any other option.

Maxwell Blake

Face screwing a hardwood deck is not all it's cracked up to be.

One of the misconceptions about using deck fasteners that they are not as strong as conventional face nailing or screwing of deck boards. When one stops to think about this statement, it can easily be seen as false.

One of the thoughts behind this misconception is that when face securing deck boards, you have more strength because the screw or nail is going straight into the board and into the joist. What most people do not realize is that studies have proven that a screw ran at an angle has more holding strength when compared to one ran straight down. So when using a hidden fastener like the Ipe Clip^® Extreme™ where the screws are run at a 45˚ angle through the deck board and into the joist, you will have more holding strength from that screw.

Also think about this, when running screws and you want more holding strength or area, you can simply add a washer to achieve this. When installing an edge mount hidden fastening system like Ipe Clip^® the same principles can be applied, the more area you are holding down, the stronger it will be. An edge mount hidden fastener like Ipe Clip^® has much more hold down area than the head of a screw or nail so again the hidden fastener should win in a head-to-head competition.

Now that we know that the initial installation using hidden deck fasteners is more than strong enough to hold your deck boards, let’s think about what happens a few years down the line…you guessed it, when face securing your boards you get those cracks, or checks, everywhere a screw or nail penetrated the surface. This happened because water seeps into the holes made by the screw or nail when face securing. Now that there are cracks, even more water can soak into the boards causing mold, mildew, and even rot. Obviously everyone realizes that having rotten boards will weaken your deck dramatically.

An easy solution to prevent this problem? Use an edge mount hidden deck fastening system. Since there are no screws in the surface of the decking, the water cannot penetrate them and won’t cause you those problems in the future.

There you have it, with just a little thought and reasoning, you can come to the conclusion that the ideal way to fasten your next decking project is by using an edge mount hidden deck fastener such as Ipe Clip^® brand fasteners. They will give you the strength and durability you want so you can enjoy your beautiful deck year after year.

When you use a hidden deck fastener that combines the strength of stainless steel with the enduring qualities of plastic, you will extend the life of your deck. This combination of materials also ensures that you save a ton of money thanks to the greatly reduced maintenance issues. What does this mean for you?

More time spent enjoying your deck instead of slaving over it.

When you do your research and compare deck fasteners, you’ll quickly realize that because the Extreme™ and ExtremeKD™ require diagonal installation, you’ll also end up building a deck that is proportionality stronger too.

Want to learn more? Contact us today to discover why the Ipe Clip® brand of deck fasteners is perfect for your deck building needs.

What do I mean?

Most hidden fasteners require vertical installation. Companies like to say that this installing a screw vertically into the joist saves time because there is no pre-drilling required. Their pitch is basically, “Our fasteners are better because your deck gets built faster.” Sure. That may be true, but what about the long term? After all, hardwood deck boards expand and contract on their width. And, if you buy the hype that saving a few minutes will make your deck look better, then over time, you will be frustrated. Why? Because when you use hidden deck fasteners that require vertical installation, then each deck board will move independently from the others.  It’s simple science. Instead of having a uniform deck surface that contracts and expands in unison, vertical installation leads to gap spacing that is not uniform. Your deck surface will have big and small gaps and look disheveled.

However…

When you compare deck fasteners to the fastening systems offered by Ipe Clip®, you will notice that installing the clips at a 45 degree angle provides a much stronger deck that also allows for uniform expansion and contraction of the deck surface.

For a visual example of how installing the Ipe Clip® Extreme™ fasteners at a 45 degree angle allows hardwood decking to expand and contract in unison, take a look at this video:

Common problems that you can avoid are:

• Nail Pops – Because wood decking grows and shrinks, overtime, the deck board can actually lift up the nail. Using hidden deck fasteners just might keep you from getting sued since the likelihood of someone tripping over an exposed nail is virtually impossible.
• Rot and decay – Every single time it rains, water enters the area where the surface screw entered. As time goes on mildew can build up and the deck board can end up rotting.
• Deck splits and cracks – Just as painful as a nail pop and even more annoying is getting a splinter in your, or a child’s foot. Nothing makes a party end more abruptly than a child with a bloody foot hysterically crying because the homeowner opted to save some money and decided not to use a deck fastening system.
• Mushrooming – If you want to build a composite deck, listen up. If you screw into the top of composite decking, you could end up having your deck look like there are a row of mushrooms due to the composite materials rising above the deck board and around the screw hole.

Building a deck is an investment into not just your home, but also the future memories you can have. Doesn’t it make sense to make sure that you give your deck the best possible chance of having a healthy life while it also gets a chance to look good for decades to come? Also, given that some of these common deck installation problems can lead to bodily harm, doesn’t it also make sense to ensure that you, your loved ones, and your guests are safe?

If you want to ensure that you build a deck that is safe, we have two kinds of deck fasteners that are perfect for your specific decking choice:

• Extreme™ Deck Fastener – Perfect for Air-dried wood decking
• ExtremeKD™ Deck Fastener – Perfect for both composite decking and kiln-dried wood decking

No matter what decking fastener you choose, be sure to use the best deck tools to give your deck a lengthy lifespan without tons of maintenance.

Well, that all depends on the type of decking you choose. At the Ipe Clip Company, we have three distinct lines of hidden deck fasteners that are specially designed to ensure that the decking you choose looks great for years to come:

• ExtremeKD™ Ipe Clip
• Extreme™ Ipe Clip
• Ipe Clip ® Standard

Here are some additional questions to ask when buying hidden deck fasteners:

• Does the deck fasteners I am buying work best with air-dried wood, kiln-dried, wood or composite decking?
• Does the hidden deck fastener company sell deck fastening systems with stainless steel inserts to make the fastener have maximum holding power and nearly unbreakable?
• Can these concealed deck fasteners come in different colors to match my specific decking choice?
• Do the hidden deck fasteners come with a warranty?

You know that building a deck is serious business. Even if you choose a different brand of deck fasteners, make sure that you’re 110% confident that they will get the job done right and that they are easy to use and install. Your deck is something that you’re going to have to live with for some time. The last thing you want is higher maintenance or replacement costs to be an issue that you have to deal with constantly. Doesn’t it make sense to do your due diligence to ensure that you’re getting the best high-quality deck tools available?

We’ve created this video to show you how easy it is to install the Extreme™ hidden deck fasteners:

Whether you’re a homeowner, deck builder, or wholesale distributor of decking, contact the Ipe Clip® Company to order our deck fasteners. Wholesalers who want to inquire about becoming a distributor of our products, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.