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.

Introducing the latest deck fastener from the Ipe Clip® Fastener Co., The Extreme4™.

Finally, a hidden deck fastener for everyone!

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have attempted to take an order from a customer that had no idea what type of decking they were using. Sure, it’s easy enough to know if it’s hardwood, composite, or pvc; but when it comes to hardwoods, many customers don’t know if they have air-dried or kiln-dried decking.

I am more than capable of helping our customers choose which hidden deck fastener is best to use when they know exactly what they have. How then, can we help them choose when they don’t know? There lies the challenge. Should we recommend the Ipe Clip® Extreme™ for air-dried decking that will contract after installation? Or should we recommend the Ipe Clip® ExtremeKD™ for kiln-dried decking that will expand after installation. See the dilemma? What most customers do not realize is that depending on the moisture content of the wood, it can either expand or contract after installation.

The Ipe Clip® Fastener Company has just released the answer with the new Ipe Clip Extreme4™! This new deck fastener works with all types of decking and automatically spaces deck boards at a 4mm (5/32”) gap spacing. The Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ is made of the same quality and workmanship as the Ipe Clip® Extreme™ and the Ipe Clip® ExtremeKD™ including the stainless steel insert for reinforcement. By combining elements used to create our previous Extreme™ line of fasteners with this unique gap spacing, we can now offer a single fastener that can allow for the proper expansion and contraction associated with all hardwoods. The Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ can be used with the following types of decking:

• Air-Dried – allows contraction on the width of air-dried hardwoods
• Kiln-Dried – allows expansion on the width of kiln-dried hardwoods
• Composite – allows expansion/contraction along the length of composite decking
• PVC – allows expansion/contraction along the length of PVC decking

The Ipe Clip® Extreme4™ will help to solve some of these major issues by working with all 4 types of decking. So if you or your customer choose to build your deck with kiln-dried hardwood and you wish to have tighter gap spacing than typical or you choose to build a deck with air-dried hardwood and wish to have a larger gap space, then the new Extreme4™ is the perfect option for you.

It truly is the best of both worlds!

We believe that by investing our money into American workers who take pride in their craftsmanship, we will continue to create better products and therefore become a greater company.

The excuse that profits are greater than people leads to inferior products. There’s a reason why cheap tools and parts that are made in China break down, the lack of quality.

At the the Ipe Clip® Fastener Co. designing and creating high-quality and long-lasting products that are, above all else, useful, is what sets us apart.

This fact is also what has made us the fastest growing and increasingly recognized deck fastener company in the United States, and now the world.

If you’d like to learn more, or would like to offer our United States-made products to your customers, sign our dealer info form or contact the Ipe Clip Fastener Co. directly today.

We’re also pleased to announce that we are adding new distributors each and every day! We’re ecstatic over adding distributors in Canada & Chile.

That’s right! you can now buy our top-of-the-line deck fasteners and other deck accessory products as far south as Chile!

If you’d like to get on board and start selling the best deck tools on the market today, you can inquire on becoming a dealer/distributor today.

From fastening to finishing, we’ve got deck building covered like no other company in the market.

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.

At the Ipe Clip® Fastener Co., we have a great solution for homeowners, deck builders, and anyone else who is looking for a cost-effective solution to building their deck.

We sell complete kits for each of our unique and virtually indestructible deck fasteners.

Our Deck Fastening Systems comes complete with:

• 175 – IPE CLIP® Hidden Deck Fasteners
• 190 – Stainless Steel Screws
• 12 – 3/8″ Tapered Ipe plugs
• 1 - 1/8″ High Speed Drill Bit
• 1 – Screw Gun Driver Bit
• 1 – Instruction Sheet

Each kit will cover approximately 100 square feet of deck surface (coverage based on 5-1/2” wide board with 16” joist spacing). The best part? We offer you the chance to customize your kit. We can accommodate you if you need different size screws, a different grade screw, or even a screw with a colored head to match the fastener!

Call us today to learn more and to get started on building a stress free and immaculate deck!

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!