deck fasteners

Sep 09
28

Comparing Deck Fasteners – It's All About the Installation

3 Comments

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:

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Posted in Extreme Deck Fastener How-to Install by Dan Schiefer 3 Comments

3 Responses to "Comparing Deck Fasteners – It's All About the Installation"

  • Sandy says:
    April 2, 2010 at 9:01 am

    Thank you for this video! I hired a contractor to re-build a deck for my family. When asking questions about installation, to both he and my local hardware/lumber store, no one ever mentioned this concept. After watching this video I went back to them both and explained the information I found. Both acknowledged the movement of the boards would happen. WHY didn’t anyone explain this to me earlier? Thank goodness I caught it in time and will definitely be using the deck fasteners. If not, I’d be calling the same contractor in another few years to come out and re-do it all over again. Thank you Ipe Clip!

  • Francis says:
    November 2, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Very informative. I knew Ipe Clips gave you a screw free deck surface, but allowing the natural movement of the wood while still maintaining even gap spacing. Yet another advantage of using ipe clips i guess. Great Product!

  • Camile Truelove says:
    November 3, 2010 at 9:32 am

    The decking video explained everything I needed to know so I could choose the fastening system that was right for my needs. I want my deck to last and look beautiful for years to come. I’ve always believed you should do things right the first time so you won’t have problems later. I am going to hire a contractor in early Spring and I will use the Ipe Clips because I believe they are the best quality on the market!

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