I’m installing a wood deck. The customer would like me to blind nail the decking. The deck can not be accessed from below. I’m am considering using EB-TY fasteners. The decking will be 5/4″ x 6″ mahogany. I have the following Questions:
1. How will the system hold up over time (shrinking and expanding)
2. Is gluing advised
3. Installation time
If anyone has used this product and has answers for me please respond.
Edited 6/11/2002 9:32:58 PM ET by PETEM2002
Replies
Pete,
I played around with a few samples they sent me a while back. Cool idea but cutting the slots is a little more time consuming and tedious than I would like to do for any large deck. You can use a biscuit cutter too I believe besides a router?
Would using the Simpson bracketclips that screws to the side of the joist and then upward into the decking plank be possible? Not as fancy as Eb-TY but still hidden and quicker. Cheaper too! If I recall those Eb-Ty things are not cheap!
Mike
1. I've had no problems crop up over long-term wood movement. Granted, the oldest E-T installation I have is maybe six years old? I'm guessing there.
2. I see no need to glue.
3. Installation time...there is a bit of a ramping up process, or learning curve, with this product. It's utterly simple to use, the learning comes in learning how to go fast. I'd definitely use a biscuit joiner instead of a router. You'll figure it out quick enough.
Price was mentioned. It runs about $1.10 a square foot for joists 16" oc.
Pete- First of all I would use 5/4 x 4 to eliminate cupping. Don't plan on this deck getting done too quickly with Eb-Tys they are a pain to use and very labor intensive. We averaged about 12 rows per day on this deck.
If you do use these things be sure you drill through the EbTy and the mahogany,the EbTy will not hold the decking by itself.
woops? I guess I can't post a picture here? What happened to the attachment window at the bottom? I can't show anyone anything on this lame site.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Edited 6/12/2002 12:44:44 AM ET by Pro-Dek
Pete---I have used the EB-TY system on 10 decks. I have not seen any problems at all, The manufacturer does recomend using construction adhesive on the joists but I see this as overkill and have not had any problems using the system "dry". I trim the outside edges of the deck with the 1x4 so that no end grain shows. After this I cut my first board to length [1/16" shy] and chamfer the ends with my orbital sander to break the sharp edges of the end cuts. I then put this board in place and mark it and the trim board that it abuts at the same time at every joist. I should mention that during framing I install extra joists 3" away from the outside rim joists. This allows me to use a fastener close enough to the edge and saves having to drill,scew and plug the ends. Remove board and cut slots at marks. put fasteners in trim board and pre-drill at 45 degree angle. put first board in place and continue the sequence. I should also mention that I find it easier to site my boards in advance to marking. This allows me to orient the board so that the middle touches first. I then can fasten one end and then pry the oter end into place and finish up the middle. I have found this to be easier than having the two ends touching and trying to pry the middle tight. Those boards can be pretty tough to bend. Hope this helps-----Cliff.