The weather is warming up, the days are lasting longer, and deck-building season is on the way. Reliable fasteners help builders hold it all together. Here’s a look at some of the latest and greatest deck-building fasteners for your next big outdoor project.
U2 Universal Screws
Want a “deck screw on steroids?” That’s how U2 Fasteners describes its enhanced Universal Screw, ideal for replacing those old, failing deck screws. Made of case-hardened carbon steel, these self-starting screws feature U2’s trademark Tight Star Recess, so they grip the matching U-bit so tightly they allow for one-handed installation. Underneath the Universal head, special Burrow Pockets are dynamically engineered to help countersink into the toughest of materials. This screw is designed to drive and secure into the many types of materials used in residential construction, and they’re available in sizes ranging from 1/2 to 12 inches, as well as in an assortment of stainless 316 versions. www.u2fasteners.com
Cap-Sure CCD Screws
For composite decking lovers, Sure Drive USA offers the Cap-Sure Capstock Composite Deck Screws that are color-matched for leading decking suppliers such as Trex, MoistureShield and others. They’re available in 2-1/2 and 3-in. lengths and feature the popular star-drive bit system. The undercut trim head traps loose material, and the top threads push composite material back into the decking, so there’s no “mushrooming” effect. Sure-Drive also offers Copperguard Deck Screws in tan and redwood colors to match pressure-treated and redwood decking. www.suredrive.com
U2 Construction Screws
For heavy-duty applications, the U2 Construction Screw (aka the CS Screw) is the next generation of structural screw that is replacing lag screws. It features a dome head for enhanced structural strength, a self-starting tapper point, and “Talon Grip” nibs beneath the head that prevent loosening when countersunk. Plus, the Reamer Thread enlarges the hole in the material to reduce tension on the screw head when drawing materials together. The CS Screw is a gnarly, fast-driving and reliable choice for installing ledger boards, anchoring beams, and other such heavy-duty construction tasks. www.u2fasteners.com
Mantis Clips
When it comes to hidden fasteners in grooved deck boards, Sure-Drive USA offers one of the easiest solutions to install—the Mantis Clip. By using the Eliminator RCS pneumatic tool with its EZ-Slide attachment, you can install the Mantis Clips using Ballistic Nail Screws up to 75 percent faster than conventional methods. (Mantis fasteners can also be installed using standard hand-drive screws.) Made in the USA of high-tensile coated steel, the Mantis Clips come in a choice of four profiles, so you can choose the best fit for your deck board. And unlike other clips on the market, the Mantis is built with a base that promotes airflow to protect the deck structure. Sure Dive USA is so confident the Mantis Clips prevent lateral movement and uplift that the company backs the installation with a 30-year warranty against loose deck boards. www.suredrive.com
CAMO Edge Clips
For hidden fasteners in grooved decking, the CAMO Edge Clips install wood, composite, capped composite and PVC deck boards. The two-component fasteners can be installed in a single pass to create a 3/16-in. gap, and a handy screw guide is included with each box of fasteners. According to CAMO, the Edge Clips are proven to be 88 percent stronger in lateral movement tests than the leading deck board manufacturer’s clips.
To fasten deck boards at an angle over the joists, go with the CAMO EdgeX Clips, which install the same way. Or, you can even install hidden fasteners over metal framing, with the latest CAMO innovation, the EdgeX Metal Clips, which can fasten any angled installation of grooved decking over any 14–18GA metal framing, including Fortress Evolution and Trex Elevations.
CAMO Drive Stand-up Tool
Install decking up to 5X faster with the CAMO Drive cordless stand-up deck fastening tool that attaches to your drill. It can be used for three fastening methods—Edge, Clip, and Face fastening—on any deck board surface. The tool has a reversible handle, it’s easy to swap out nose pieces, and is quick to reload with fasteners. It is designed for exclusive use with CAMO Collated Deck Screws, EDGE Clips, EDGEX Clips, and EDGEXMETAL Clips. (Not for use with impact drivers.) www.camofasteners.com
Deck2wall Spacers
The deck-ledger connection is notoriously susceptible to rot, which can dangerously affect the stability and support of the deck. Deck2wall Spacers help prevent rot from occurring by separating the ledger from the supporting structure, providing a path for water and debris to flow harmlessly through the assembly, while promoting circulation and drying. Stacked washers have often been used as spacers over lag bolts, but Deck2wall Spacers have attachment holes to keep them in perfect alignment for faster and easier installation. They offer more bearing surface than washers for better load distribution, and the plastic spacers are non-corrosive. Plus, the one-piece design and installation method provide superior waterproofing. Deck2Wall Spacers also work as a long-lasting solution for attaching shade structures, posts, stair stringers, landings, built-up beams or mechanical equipment. Made in the USA and available in two sizes, the spacers are injection-molded, fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene. The original Model D2W58 is 5/8-in. thick with a 2-1/2-in. diameter and a 11/16-in. bolt hole (use #6-8 corrosion resistant screws in attachment holes).
The smaller version, Deck2wall Spacer model SWS, is now approved for installation with SPAX PowerLags. Based on testing conducted by SPAX, the 1/2-in. thick x 2-in. diameter SWS spacer is now included in the updated PowerLags deck ledger fastening table. The approved screws are available in 5/16- and 3/8-in. diameter, and have two different head types to choose from, T-STAR and HEX drive. As structural wood screws become more popular each year for deck ledger installations, so has the SWS spacer. The updated PowerLags fastening table is accompanied by an engineering letter, and is available at www.deck2wallspacer.com
DeckWise Hardwood Wrench
Got bent or warped boards? Straighten them with the Hardwood Wrench from DeckWise, makers of the Ipe Clip hidden fastener for hardwood decks. The tool is easy to operate for a single deck installer, offering many benefits over other methods of straightening deck boards. All it takes is a simple swing of the Hardwood Wrench™ tool's handle and it will make even an extremely bowed board straight as an arrow. www.deckwise.com
Shadoe Track
The HIR staff has re-decked a large project using this unique track-based system, which installs along the upper edge of the joists and fastens to the deck boards from beneath. Note that this system requires installers to have working room beneath the deck surface. Available in powder-coated colors or stainless steel, this versatile system can work with any type of deck-board material. The Shadoe Track system is backed by Sure Drive USA’s 30-year warranty against loose deck boards. www.suredrive.com