Today I will begin installing the joists for a deck so I am a couple weekens
away from installing deck boards. I would like to get the group's opinion
about hidden fastening systems. I will be using 5/4 treated pine decking on
a deck that will be about 2 feet off the ground so I could get underneath if
I had to.
I have been looking at Dek Clip and Deck Master.
Does anyone have any experience with these products? Gripes, praise,
recommendations tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jackson

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 11:05:02 -0500, "JD" wrote:

Today I will begin installing the joists for a deck so I am a couple weekens
away from installing deck boards. I would like to get the group's opinion
about hidden fastening systems. I will be using 5/4 treated pine decking on
a deck that will be about 2 feet off the ground so I could get underneath if
I had to.
I have been looking at Dek Clip and Deck Master.
Does anyone have any experience with these products? Gripes, praise,
recommendations tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jackson


Last summer we had our large desk replaced with a new one also about
2' off the ground. It is large (aaprox 800+ SF) and entirely
constructed of white cedar using concealed fasteners. The product we
used were theres:

http://www.strongtie.com/products/co...T14Z-DPTZ.html

While NOT commenting on the exact product you inquired, at least this
is a vote for concealed fasteners... definitely worth the price and
labor differential.

Bob

JD wrote:
Today I will begin installing the joists for a deck so I am a couple weekens
away from installing deck boards. I would like to get the group's opinion
about hidden fastening systems. I will be using 5/4 treated pine decking on
a deck that will be about 2 feet off the ground so I could get underneath if
I had to.
I have been looking at Dek Clip and Deck Master.
Does anyone have any experience with these products? Gripes, praise,
recommendations tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jackson


So far as I'm concerned, concealed fasteners are the way to go. I've not
used the ones you name but when I put up the little deck outside my
bedroom I used Eb-Ty ( http://www.ebty.com/ ) fasteners to put down the
synthetic planking over the pressure-treated framing. This deck is
literally at ground level and there was no possibility of working from
below. The job went quickly and precisely and the slight extra cost of
using the concealed fasteners and stainless hardware was worth it.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

DEC-KLIP has been around for ~20 years, the fact that theyre still in
business says something.

DECKMASTER system is a lLOT more involved but IMO would produce a much
more securely fastened deck. Screws hold way better than nails

My opinion

Face nail; really fast but has exposed fasteners
Face screw; not as fast but more secure, still has exposed fasteners
DEC-KLIP, pretty fast, not as secure as screws, no exposed fasteners
DECKMASTER; slowest system, most secure, no exposed fasteners

what would I use on a DIY project?

To help calibrate my opinion; I used 3" Stainless SMS to intall the the
2x2 cross members on my redwood patio cover (~12' x 25') . The timber
was ~$2k so I figured WTF another $30 for screws is small price to pay
for no rusted fasteners to help destroy the structure.

If I was building MY deck (or for a highend customer who understands &
appreciates "better") I'd use the DECKMASTER system w/ stainless SMS
either square drive head or hex washers head (www'mcmasgter.com) ~
$9/100ea.

The bitterness of low quality is remembered long after the sweetness
of low cost has faded.

Cheers
Bob (aka King of Overkill)

I did a 1000+ sqft deck using the deck master system with nexwood decking
planks. Holds very well looks great, however, there are a lot of screws to
install, so it was time consuming.

Off Topic: I would not use any pressure treated material for the decking
surface. The thought of the treatment chemicals dragged into a home on
bottoms of shoes or bare feet is a health concern.
"BobK207" wrote in message
oups.com...
DEC-KLIP has been around for ~20 years, the fact that theyre still in
business says something.

DECKMASTER system is a lLOT more involved but IMO would produce a much
more securely fastened deck. Screws hold way better than nails

My opinion

Face nail; really fast but has exposed fasteners
Face screw; not as fast but more secure, still has exposed fasteners
DEC-KLIP, pretty fast, not as secure as screws, no exposed fasteners
DECKMASTER; slowest system, most secure, no exposed fasteners

what would I use on a DIY project?

To help calibrate my opinion; I used 3" Stainless SMS to intall the the
2x2 cross members on my redwood patio cover (~12' x 25') . The timber
was ~$2k so I figured WTF another $30 for screws is small price to pay
for no rusted fasteners to help destroy the structure.

If I was building MY deck (or for a highend customer who understands &
appreciates "better") I'd use the DECKMASTER system w/ stainless SMS
either square drive head or hex washers head (www'mcmasgter.com) ~
$9/100ea.

The bitterness of low quality is remembered long after the sweetness
of low cost has faded.

Cheers
Bob (aka King of Overkill)

JD Wrote:
Today I will begin installing the joists for a deck so I am a couple
weekens
away from installing deck boards. I would like to get the group's
opinion
about hidden fastening systems. I will be using 5/4 treated pine
decking on
a deck that will be about 2 feet off the ground so I could get
underneath if
I had to.
I have been looking at Dek Clip and Deck Master.
Does anyone have any experience with these products? Gripes, praise,
recommendations tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jackson

I have used deck clip hardware in the past and have never been
impressed, particularly not by the Simpson Strongtie clips Bob_M
mentioned in his post.

The reason is that these type clips do not work well with bull nosed
decking nor with square edged lumber unless you can find perfectly
square lumber which is not usually possible with most treated types.

Through surface fastening remains the best fastening method.

But if you insist on fastening from below, you can make your own hidden
fastening methods that will work much better than most manifactured
decks clips.

Such methods can include ripping a 1x1 piece of treated lumber that can
be fastened to the side of a joist and up through which a screw can be
fastened from below.

Similalry, common angle brackets can work when fastened to the side of
a joist and to the underside of the deck board.

Angle irons with pre drilled holes can also work well when fasten to
the side of a deck joist and the to the bototm of deck planks.

Having built scores of decks thru the years, I would prefer my own
methods to the Simpson or other type deck fastening hardwares.


--
manhattan42
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manhattan42,
Why is through the deck a better fastening method than hidden methods? If I
do go non-hidden I plan on using screws. What would you recommend?
JD

"manhattan42" wrote in
message ...

JD Wrote:
Today I will begin installing the joists for a deck so I am a couple
weekens
away from installing deck boards. I would like to get the group's
opinion
about hidden fastening systems. I will be using 5/4 treated pine
decking on
a deck that will be about 2 feet off the ground so I could get
underneath if
I had to.
I have been looking at Dek Clip and Deck Master.
Does anyone have any experience with these products? Gripes, praise,
recommendations tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Jackson

I have used deck clip hardware in the past and have never been
impressed, particularly not by the Simpson Strongtie clips Bob_M
mentioned in his post.

The reason is that these type clips do not work well with bull nosed
decking nor with square edged lumber unless you can find perfectly
square lumber which is not usually possible with most treated types.

Through surface fastening remains the best fastening method.

But if you insist on fastening from below, you can make your own hidden
fastening methods that will work much better than most manifactured
decks clips.

Such methods can include ripping a 1x1 piece of treated lumber that can
be fastened to the side of a joist and up through which a screw can be
fastened from below.

Similalry, common angle brackets can work when fastened to the side of
a joist and to the underside of the deck board.

Angle irons with pre drilled holes can also work well when fasten to
the side of a deck joist and the to the bototm of deck planks.

Having built scores of decks thru the years, I would prefer my own
methods to the Simpson or other type deck fastening hardwares.


--
manhattan42
------------------------------------------------------------------------
manhattan42's Profile:
http://homerepairforums.org/forums/member.php?userid=46
View this thread:
http://homerepairforums.org/forums/s...ad.php?t=75633
This post was submitted via http://www.HomeRepairForums.org