Can Ipe Clip® deck fasteners be used on decking other than Ipe?
See why contractors choose Ipe Clip® brand deck fasteners for composite, PVC, and every wood decking species.
Introducing the Extreme4™ Deck Fastener
The Extreme4™ deck fastener from the Ipe Clip® Fastener Co works with composite, PVC, air-dried AND kiln-dried hardwood decking.
This summer has been hot….very, very hot. The heat has proven why installing deck fasteners is a smart and economical choice.
As you might imagine, the heat has taken its toll on a number of decks across the country. I’ve been reading on many home improvement forums about homeowners worried about their decking structural integrity. During a summer like this, decking can really take a pounding from intense heat and humidity. The worst complaints are coming from people who drove screws straight through their decking. They thought they were saving money, but in intense weather like this, cracks, splits, and warping can really be a problem.
The answer? For these deck owners, the best thing is to wait until the weather gets a little more normal, then get the deck inspected. If some boards need to be replaced, they can be done so without having to worry.
Not surprising, I haven’t been reading about these complaints with anyone who installed their decking with deck fasteners made by Ipe Clip®. Not to toot our own horn, but it makes sense. If you own or are building a deck with Ipe Clip® brand hidden deck fasteners, your hardwood or composite decking gets the best chance of acclimating to any weather condition better than if you had driven screws through the boards. This is because using a hidden fastener such as Ipe Clip® allows for the natural movement of the boards through the changes in the seasons and weather.
Pay close attention to how the decking reacts in the heat when you have deck fasteners installed.
Find your local Ipe Clip® deck fastener dealer and give your deck a long, healthy life.
Posted in Deck Problems Hidden Deck Fasteners by .
In a previous post, we discussed how to replace deck nails. But, what if you’re having a problem with new or old screws? How do you fix those?
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:
Posted in Deck Problems How-to Install by .
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.
Posted in Extreme Deck Fastener How-to Install by .
Sign up for the Ipe Clip® newsletter. You'll get exclusive savings, how-to tips, and the latest news. Subscribe here: