Do-it-yourself homeowners who are comparing deck fasteners have a lot of different brands to choose from. However, despite all the marketing claims made by other companies. The one aspect that they like to gloss over is how their brand of deck fasteners have an installation process that, in fact, does not lead to a stronger and more durable decking surface.

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: