Quck question–hidden deck fasteners
levelone
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I’m building a 10×16 deck with treated lumber and 1×6 hardwood decking (purple heart at $1.65 lineal foot). The deck is approximately 2′ off the ground. I want to blind fasten the deck boards, but for various reasons don’t want to use the plastic bisquet-type fasteners.
Has anyone used treated 1×4 on top of the joists (making a tee) and screwing the deck boards to that from the bottom side? I’m concerned about the amount of water that could accumulate on the top of the 1×4, thus causing pre-mature rot. What would be a good flashing to use that would stand up to UV rays? Is there an easier, more cost effective way to blind screw decking?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Replies
http://www.grabberman.com/Deckmaster/
carpenter in transition
Another vote for Deckmaster. The stainless ones will last a lifetime. With purpleheart decking, you will want to predrill for the screws. You do know that purpleheart weathers to a splintery texture, don't you?
Bill
First to Levelone----- If you can't get under the deck a SS fender washer applied the same way an Eb-ty works. I did my sisters 360 square foot IPE deck that way. Time consuming & a PITA.
Hey Bill how familiar are you with Purpleheart, I've never used it for outdoor applications. I have used it for a tabletop & some other indoor cabinetry, massive coats of tung oil ( my favorite idiot proof finish coat).
How does the color hold up in sunlight?I fear no man & only one GOD. Me
Bill,Purple heart rapidly becomes brown in the sunlight. If left unfinished, it goes gray in a few years, like all woods do. Yes, tung oil is marvelous. Chinese used it to waterproof their 14th century treasure fleet.Bill
I am aware that purple heart fades in the sunlight, but I did not know about the splinter issue. I assume this is caused by moisture and sun raising the grain. If that is the case, if I sand it after a year or so, will it stay smooth? Is there a stain or oil that will prevent this?
Levelone,I did tests for some customers considering PH for their decking. Sanding raw wood is only a temporary fix; the splinters will soon be back again. If kept fully finished (would require 5+ coats of oil, plus annual maintenance) it will behave. I like ipe because it behaves nicely even when unfinished.Bill
Count me as another vote for the deckmaster system. Works like a charm!!!!!!!
<Count me as another vote for the deckmaster system. Works like a charm!!!!!!!>That's all relative...walked out on a Trex deck after the framers had finished laying it with the Deckmaster system...every board had two pimples every 16"! Must have had the drills in overdrive<G> I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
Well, she talks to all the servants
About man and God and law.
Everybody says
She's the brains behind pa.
She's sixty-eight, but she says she's twenty-four.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
Boy, I'm guessing those framers in question were using longer screws that didn't come with the deckmaster system. I even tried to "ram the screws home" on a couple just to see if this would be a problem, and there was no way I could get the screw deep enough to dimple the top of the deck board. FWIW, I was using 5/4" Trex at the time." If I were a carpenter"
You made me check some screws I have from another Deckmaster job. They're almost an inch and a quarter...the decking in question was 5/4 (it was replaced), so it seems they must have not have followed the accept no substitute guidelines<G> I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
No, I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
Well, she talks to all the servants
About man and God and law.
Everybody says
She's the brains behind pa.
She's sixty-eight, but she says she's twenty-four.
I ain't gonna work for Maggie's ma no more.
I used SS finish screws and countersunk them a touch. They virtually disappeared and was much, much easier than any hidden fastener system.
The deck pictures are pretty amazing. Nice job. What is the best fastener for composite decking?
Never used composite decking so I can't answer with experience.
Not to be too much of a cheerleader here, but I've used composit decking extensively, and again I say... "Deckmaster". (waving pom-poms and shouting RAH RAH !!!)" If I were a carpenter"
I don't use composite much, but I know that they make special screws, pre-colored to match the deck color, and have fine or reverse threads at the top to prevent the mushrooming. You can drive them flush. For those who don't like to see screws, I've seen decking laid with trim screws countersunk a bit, then they would go through and hit the mushroom with a hammer to flatten it out and hide the screw.
Purpleheart is just a splintery wood, I don't see any way around that. Maybe if you kept it sanded, it would be ok.
I believe that there are finishes available that will keep purpleheart purple, but I don't think they would hold up to use on a deck. It'll go brownish with uv exposure, then probably silver as it weathers. Never have used it outside myself though. Wear a dust mask when cutting it.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Try this link. They are pretty popular in my area.
Dave
http://www.deckster.com/
Thanks for all the feedback. The consensus seems to be Deck Master (or Deckster). So far I have not been able to find any in my area to look at. Neither my lumber yard, hardwood supplier or Home Despot have them. I'll keep looking.
Thanks also for the info on Purple Heart. I found some mahogany for a reasonable price, so I may use it instead. I'm not sure what type it is, but it is very dense and hard. Any thoughts on the exterior use of this?
The first thing you need to know is, is this true mahogany or fake mahogany? True mahogany (Swietenia Macrophylla) is a good choice for decking, better than purpleheart, but not as nice as ipe. What we see for sale here is generally harvested in Honduras. The lauans from the Phillipines are inferior to mahogany, and generally much cheaper. Many of them have no appreciable rot resistance. They are often called "Phillippine mahogany." Meranti is the best of the lot, and it is quite reddish.Bill
You are a wealth of information. Thanks!
BTW, what line of work are you in? Your profile says "other". I've never seen that job title before...
My main gig is residential remodel work, with woodworking on the side. I also teach in the woodworking program at a local college, a class on woodworking machinery technology and maintenance. Hence, "other."Bill