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.

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!

It’s because installing deck fasteners at an angle provides maximum hold to the joist. It also raises your deck’s chances of not warping, or cracking in the future. While other decking fasteners require a vertical installation, this fastening method does not provide as much holding power. There is real science that supports why installing deck screws at an angle is a much better option.

Recently, I came across a real scientific study conducted by Karlsruhe University in Germany. Their report, entitled, “Screws with Continuous Threads in Timber Connections” found that “In comparison to the timber-to-timber connections with screws loaded perpendicular to their axis, the connection with screws under an angle of about 45° reached a 12 times higher connection stiffness.”

What does this mean? Well, basically, it means that installing hidden deck fasteners by screwing in at an angle will greatly increase the strength and rigidity of your deck.

While the report is written in very detailed scientific language, I think seeing the difference makes the greatest impact. Compare the pic above to this one…which do you think is going to be stronger in the long run?

Clearly, if you’re going to build a deck and spend your hard earned money it makes perfect sense to do it right the first time and to use the best decking tools in the industry. After all, once your deck is made, the cost to replace deck boards and, in some cases, your whole deck is not something you want to bear. So, if you’re making plans to build a deck soon, or into the future, contact a local distributor who sells the best deck fasteners on the market today.

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: