Retro deck screwing technique suggestions
kyrral
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
My deck was established over 5 years ago using nail guns. Its gotten creaky and squeky since. Someone suggested screwing it down with deck screws which I will do. My question is whether one screw in the center will do or if I should use two screws to prevent possible cupping. Are there any easy solutions to hide the screws? Thanks ahead.
Replies
two!
Two screws for sure. Best option is remove the nails and put the screw in the hole. That assumes the nailing was done with a neat pattern. If the nail heads protrude any, removal is an easy job. If the nail pattern isn't neat then use a neat screw layout, new holes. For my eye a neat fastener pattern is atteractive in itself.
If the wood were new you'd only want one screw per joint, alternating left and right (as if you left out every other screw). This reduces the splitting that would occur if you put in two screws per, but you can alway go back and add the missing screws if the wood wants to warp. And to minimize cupping (and actually use it to your advantage) install the wood bark side down.
However, with wood that's weathered 5 years it doesn't matter so much.
Dan
never heard of nor ever installed decking with one screw per joist. New decking or old previously nailed. Is this something you've seen before?
certainly not something I'd recommend.
It's what I did on my deck when I built it something like 27 years ago. This was on the advice of my architect, who also happened to be a pretty skilled semi-pro carpenter and who studied such practices.
It worked out great. Approx 500 sq ft of decking. Maybe drove another 5 screws over the years to keep things flat.
2 screws for sure. If you really want to do it right use stainless steel.