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

• Cordless Screw Gun – Preferably one with an adjustable clutch. It will save you tips and screws while ensuring you don’t over drive the screws during installation.
• Pre-Drilling – Use a high speed drill bit when pre-drilling. It will keep your screws from breaking and it will help to keep your hardwood from splintering.
• Ipe Clip® brand hidden deck fasteners – You definitely want a fastener that will hold up. Ipe Clip® Extreme™ deck fasteners are an edge mount system and offer a stainless steel core that gives exceptional hold down strength.
• Gap Spacing – The correct gap spacing for your deck is of utmost importance. Know what type of decking you have whether it be composite, pvc, air-dried hardwood or kiln-dried hardwood. Each requires a different gap space. Ipe Clip® brand fasteners are designed specifically for this in mind. We offer 3 different gap spaces to ensure the proper spacing needed for your deck.
• Hardwood Wrench™ – The Hardwood Wrench™ is a must when it comes to straightening bowed and warped boards. Its cam locks into place, holding the board for you and giving you the ability to work hands free on your deck without assistance. It truly makes a one man installation possible.

Whether you are a first time deck builder or the seasoned professional, Ipe Clip® offers just the right tools to make your deck building project easier.

Lumber Ends without Ipe Seal

I received a call just last week from a homeowner asking if end sealing his deck boards was necessary.

He stated that the company in which he purchased his decking materials said that it was an “un-necessary step” but his builder told him that it indeed was necessary. He was looking to Ipe Clip® for guidance.

Although there seems to be a debate whether end sealing is necessary, it’s a no-brainer for us. End sealing is vital to the stability and longevity of your deck. Why, you ask? Dry wood will most definitely absorb moisture. It’s designed naturally to do this. When you cut your deck boards and leave the end cuts untreated, it leaves them vulnerable. Remember, it’s the moisture content in your deck boards that affect the amount of expansion and contraction that you are likely to see. The untreated exposed end grain is where water enters a piece of wood most readily. The unrestricted water will give an uneven moisture distribution, which ultimately causes cupping and severe end checking. Let’s face it; we all know what a nightmare that can be, so why not prevent it?

Lumber Ends treated with Ipe Seal

•    Use Ipe Seal™, a wax based end seal product immediately after cutting your deck boards to length

•    Apply Ipe Seal™ with a brush, or better yet, a small rag dipped in Ipe Seal

•    Use caution not to get Ipe Seal™ on the surface of your deck boards as it will stain

•    Note that Ipe Seal™ is not needed on straight grain cuts; only on the end cuts

Save on costly maintenance and repairs and prevent checking, splitting, and cupping issues from the get-go by treating each end cut with Ipe Clip®’s Ipe Seal™. Build it right the first time.

Although hardwood decking tops the list as the most used decking material, recently there has been a burst of interest shown in PVC decking. Although we, at Ipe Clip®, still prefer a beautiful hardwood Ipe deck, the interest shown in PVC decking is certainly cause for review.
PVC decking is installed quite similar to hardwood decking. You want to start with a ground clearance of at least 12” to allow for adequate air flow. We recommend that joist spacing not exceed 16” on center when perpendicular to joists and no more than 12” when deck boards are positioned at a 45 degree angle.

There are major differences between hardwood deck boards and PVC deck boards:

1.     The movement each makes over time is different. While hardwood decking will naturally move on its width, PVC decking will naturally move on its length.

2.    Hardwood deck board’s movement is primarily dependent upon moisture content while PVC deck boards are primarily dependent upon temperature changes.

3.    Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners are installed with the screw at a 45 degree angle, through half of the deck board, and then down into the joist. PVC decking will be installed using the very same Ipe Clip® hidden deck fasteners except the screw will be driven straight down through the fastener and into the joist allowing for the natural movement on its length.

Don’t be intimidated by all the choices that are now available for your decking needs. PVC decking can be installed just as easily as hardwood decking. There are no additional tools or equipment required. Ipe Clip® makes a hidden deck fastener for each decking project no matter the type of decking. Just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you choose the right products for your decking needs.

How do you prevent those deck problems from occurring?

Adequate ventilation is essential for the long term stability of your deck. Below you will find steps that you can take before and during installation that will help to eliminate the above mentioned problems.

• Ensure your deck is not built above moist, leafy ground. If so, use high quality landscape fabric covered with gravel or stone under the deck.
• Avoid bark mulch under or around your deck as this is full of mildew spores.
• Utilize Ipe Clip® Hidden Deck Fasteners and follow recommended gap spacing.
• Coat your decking surface using Ipe Oil™ Hardwood Deck Finish
• Make sure all end grains are coated with Ipe Seal™ Hardwood End Grain Sealer.
• Construct your deck at a pitch to allow for proper drainage.
• Build your deck with a minimum of 12” ground clearance.If this is not possible, reduce your joist spacing to 12” and coat all four sides of your deck boards with Ipe Oil™.

By following these simple guidelines, your deck will stay healthy and mildew-free for years to come.

Since decking contracts and expands, it’s recommended that you take a close look at your deck’s surface at least two times a year.

If you notice any screws that appear to be loose or starting to pop up, you can:

1. Drive the screw further into the joist with a 3/8’ countersink bit
2. Remove/sand down any material that protrudes from the surface
3. Cap it with a wood plug
4. Seal it with Gorilla Glue or any other outdoor wood glue

Doing this will help prevent the screw from popping up in the future and aid in keeping the board attached to the joist.

Are you going to install a new deck and wondering what your fastener options are?

You can prevent the above deck maintenance issues from ever occurring if you install deck fasteners.

Benefits of using deck fasteners to install decking include:

• A flawless deck surface
• Keep bare feet of guests & children safe
• Decreased chance of splits, cracks & splinters
• Greater structural integrity
• No nail or screw pops
• No unsightly screw holes or stain marks
• Automatic gap spacing

Locate your local Ipe Clip® deck fastener dealer today to get started on building your outdoor deck.

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.

Learn how to install deck fasteners using regular deck boards.

As in previous posts, I will be explaining some simple ways to make installing a deck with hidden deck fasteners easier.

One of the common misconceptions that people have is that hidden deck fasteners are best used with pre-grooved decking. While pre-grooved decking was made for deck fastening systems, you can have an immaculate looking deck surface with standard Eased 4 Edges / Standard 4 Sides (E4E/S4S) deck boards.

How?

By cutting a slot in the edge of the decking using a standard router or biscuit joiner. Of course, you’ll have to use a 5/32” slot cutting bit with your router to make sure that the slot is just the right size (a standard biscuit joiner cuts a 5/32” slot already). This process may take some time depending on the size and scope of your deck. However, you can save a boat load of time if you follow these simple guidelines:

• Mark each deck board with a pencil prior to installation.
  • Just make sure your marks are aligned properly with your joist spacing. Knowing the precise location where each slot will be cut ahead of time will save both time and energy.
• Make sure your tools are charged and sharpened.
  • Also have multiple bits handy for denser woods like ipe.
• If possible, rent a couple of routers or biscuit jointers and get someone competent with tools to help you. (I’m sure you can bribe your neighbor who you lend your tools to help out for an hour or two!)
• Use deck fasteners, and screws that are best suited for hardwood or composite decking.

At the Ipe Clip® Fastener Company, we manufacture deck fasteners that will work perfectly with practically every kind of decking available (except for pressure-treated or other unstable materials).

If you follow this advice, you’ll have a smooth deck surface that will also be much safer and require less maintenance in no time. Happy deck building!

You can install any of our deck fasteners on any number of hardwood and composite decking materials.

YES! The Ipe Clip® Fastener Company manufactures a hidden fastening system practically every single kind of decking available (except for one…more on that later!).

From hardwood decking like ipe, redwood, cedar, and massaranduba to composite and PVC decking, Ipe Clip® brand hidden deck fasteners are the perfect solution for making your deck surface both safer and blemish free.

HOWEVER, if you are building a deck with pressure treated lumber, or other materials that have high expansion/contraction rates, we do not recommend the use of any type of hidden fastener. It’s not that the fastener will give way or break, it’s that these materials are too unstable and unpredictable for installation using a hidden fastening system, which means that the wood is more likely to give way before the fastener will!

At the Ipe Clip® Fastener Company, all of our products are designed to prolong the life of your deck. Our engineers have studied the behavior of all sorts of decking to ensure that every deck fastening system we sell will be able to keep your surface safe, strong, and beautiful for as long as you own it.

Contact us today to learn more about our complete line of deck fasteners.