Trex Select. Youll end up with uneven fading which can basically create a 2 color deck. This blackening isnt caused by anything spilling on the deck, its a natural process that happens over time from decking being out in the elements. Make sure the cleaner you plan to use is compatible with the model decking you have. His areas of expertise include software, security and infrastructure design. Thats the reason we have lemon laws for cars and laws protecting consumers. Make sure your deck design meets the requirements before investing in a beautiful deck. For non-hidden face fastener installations, approved surface fastening is accomplished with a minimum #8 x 2 " composite deck screw with an ACQ corrosion-resistant coating or stainless steel. If you cant control the moisture below your deck, natural wood deck boards are very likely to cup and behave poorly. First Time Homeowner 6: Landscaping & Deck, 5 Commercial Decking Design Ideas To Inspire Your Next Project, Harmonics vs Pergo Deck Materials Comparison, Fiberon Decking Reviews: Affordable Yet Quality Composite Decking, Sanding A Wood Deck: Everything You Need To Know, How to Protect Composite Decking from Winter Damage. Usually these clips are used for composite or PVC boards, though a version does exist specifically for softwood. So that you don't need to lift the whole board. Excessive fading is covered under the Trex warranty. Preset stainless steel screw for ease of installation. If clips are being used, the material they are made from has a bearing. Cortex Collated Hidden Screw & Plug Fastening System for Trex Decking by FastenMaster Starting at: $105.99 Choose Options PRO PLUG PVC and Composite Tool by Starborn 32 Reviews Starting at: $19.55 Choose Options Screws for PRO PLUG System by Starborn Starting at: $49.40 Choose Options PRO PLUG Metal Framing Screws by Starborn This deck is 10 plus feet off the ground, with a heavy spa to reside on or within, and they are worried about splinters?! Trex 100; Trex 150; T15; Trex 250; Trex 300; Trex 450; Trex 470; Trex 500; Trex 550; Trex 600; Trex 650; Trex 700; TB70; Trex 760; Trex 800; It quickly absorbs into the decking and will never come out. Trex has absolutely had problems in the past but their constantly trying to improve and perfect their decking products. Your decking will only be a straight as the lumber you install it on. Compared to regular screws, deck screws are ideal for outdoor use. However, their underside attachment makes for an awkward installation process. 3) If a screw has pulled out, it could cause damage to your flooring. So, what are the biggest problems with Trex decking, and what can you do about them? 0000102130 00000 n On their own website and in their own literature they state decking will fade and even give guidelines in their warranty regarding how much fading should occur and how much would be covered. Absolutely. Get inspired! Even the chalk dusting off the line can cause a permanent stain. These arent subject to the same movement as real wood. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. 0 Both deck screws and hidden fasteners are contenders, and they both have niche applications. 0000003943 00000 n Hire a certified Trex pro or a builder with experience installing Trex brand products. Face screwed fasteners tend to be a faster method when installing a deck. endstream endobj 34 0 obj <>stream While designed for pre-grooved boards, a cutter can be used to make grooves in TimberTechs plain composite boards if preferred. 8 0 obj <> endobj What can be done to open up the gaps between runs? We installed Trex back in 2006-2008 not sure of exact date. Two drivers are included in the kit. The traditional way of building a deck involves screwing through the decking boards to wooden joists beneath. However, your choice will impact not just the decks visual appeal but also its structural soundness. It really sounds like the screws may have been overdriven, or that there is a lot of racking force being placed on them by a structure with too much movement. If you are using 16" OC joist spacing, you will need approximately 350 screws for every 100 square feet. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Scratch resistance and capped on all four sides for low maintenance and easy cleaning. Subscribe & Get Exclusive Home Improvement Guides. I should splice deck boards to comport to their minimized square footage solution? These products contain bleach that will brighten your deck and kill the mold spores. If necessary, broken boards may usually be replaced by simply removing the screws in place. An oscillating blade is the most versatile tool to . hYh=BKh &Ka"&KMRC9DuC,,l$ M!Q*> }OZCHfT"=A03-8X4A`q8X4A`qM\aUn;q]w#aodG ] 0000147823 00000 n Cookie Notice Trex Enhance. Many homeowners find this unattractive because installation calls for two face screws per joist intersection with each board. Trex expands quite a bit due to sunlight and temperatures, maybe when you inspected it was warm and expanded. However, they can work with any board of the same profile (check carefully before purchase). It seems some kind of mildew retardant wasnt added to our lot at manufacture, so they admitted it was crap. In order to keep the fastener straight and secure, cut a piece of scrap groove board and use to help hold the hidden fastener down before screwing in. Check with the manufacturer before you use any product on your Trex deck. Its important to understand that exterior hardwood decking will move (expand and contract). can be a beautiful design element for a deck project - if your deck qualifies. Any suggestions on how to possibly prevent it from happening again? Trex Hideaway hidden fasteners into the deck board, offset the fastener screw hole 1/2" towards the long point of I don't want an inadvertent fan design. That stuff has been proven to be junk. Hidden deck fasteners are a nice way to keep the surface of your deck looking clear and unencumbered. In the places where they strip i can usually just move it 1/2" bit over on the joist and try again. This pack is sufficient for 50 square feet of deck. Learn more here. For a flawless look across your entire deck, order Trex Hideaway Universal Hidden Fasteners. Nevertheless, each manufacturer usually provides relevant information for removal. It is always critical to plan for proper under-deck drainage, (even more so with low clearance decks). The first concerns softwoods, which are much more prone to movement than hardwoods. You can drill and screw at an angle through the edges of the boards and into the joists, so each new board hides the screws of the previous board. In fact thats true of just about anything you buy. Check with Trex before using any cleaner on your decking. Hidden fasteners provide a clean, finished look for a deck. Provides clean, fastener-free appearance across entire deck surface. Cortex COMPATIBLE WITH: TimberTech full-profile deck boards across all decking lines. 0000004393 00000 n Installing deck screws takes a long time since each screw must be drilled into the board, and the installer must pay close attention to the consistency of the spacing between each screw and the board. A: Trex has made a market decision to offer a product that will provide the customer with a superior walking surface, guardrail system, fencing and trim. Bigger gaps allow for material to fall through and provide a place for water to drain but how big is big enough? Now it seems more people are becoming dissatisfied with the longevity and quality of Trex products. Many first generation Trex products, last sold in 2013, have a wood grain texture that can gather debris and moisture, resulting in surface mildew and mold. Many of our clients love the look of a hidden deck fastener on their hardwood deck installation. So Trex agreed to replace the defective decking but decided as a matter of policy that they would only replace 113 of the 144 defective boards. According to the TimberTech installation manual side to side gapping should be a minimum of 1/8" to 3/16". Tue, Oct 30, 2018 @ 05:10 AM. Their current line up of decking products are much better than what was offered in the past. Align screw hole in fastener with center of joist. Install our grooved-edge deck boards to joists with no visible screw heads on the walking surface, and achieve precisely consistent spacing between boards. +1 844-674-4455 [email protected] 0000148524 00000 n 1 Box covers 50 square feet and 1 Bucket can cover 500 square feet. Most significantly, the prongs can be difficult to drive into hardwoods, and if larger prongs are used they become easier to drive in but more likely to split the boards. You must log in or register to reply here. 1) Screws can be difficult to find if they have been removed or lost. All decks require adequate under deck ventilation on three sides to minimize moisture. Are you kidding? Depending on the composite thickness you may need more than 16 inches O/C. However, there are variations on each, covered below in more detail. or 12 o.c. All Trex decking collections are compatible with this hidden installation option, promising a clean finish no matter your design style. Muro T-Screw M-TX0300SEP listed above is approved for 2x6 decking (can also be WHY CHOOSE IT: Easy, top-down installation. Shipping included on all repairs. FastenMaster Something as simple as leaves or branches sitting on a Trex deck can stain. In times past, many do-it-yourselfers chose nails because they thought driving nails would be much quicker than screws for driving. This is where Trex hidden deck fasteners come into play. Its permanent and wont wash off. With traditional fasteners the installation process is fast and straightforward. endstream endobj 23 0 obj <> endobj 24 0 obj <> endobj 25 0 obj <>stream And by constant cleaning we mean more than just a simple sweeping or spraying with a hose. For fasteners that don't require routing of wood or composite deck boards, Tiger Claw has the following (non-G, or non-Groove) solutions: TC-1S Softwood Fastener - Heavy gauge steel fastener with Magni 599 coating recommended for use in softwood decking measuring 1" or thicker lumber. Nothing works. Archived post. Use recommended stainless steel screws in any areas near bodies of saltwater. I live in the country. Some Trex decking has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like a sore thumb. Sometimes the materials fail, but its very rare. At least I hope it's not the plain vanilla entry-grade Trex. It features a stainless steel deck screw already set in the fastener and easier installation. Hidden fasteners solve the problem. Hidden Fasteners vs Deck Screws. Reinforced nylon or metal alternatives are widely available. Decomposed first generation Trex decking. 0000001598 00000 n Since I'm having to press the board tight for each fastener and its roughly 24 fasteners down the length of the deck, screwing in blocks wouldn't be feasible so the board benders seem to be the way to go for speed. Once the Trex deck got loose, slightly pry it from the board. We build using Trex composite decking regularly because its known for its gorgeous style and long lifespan. Because with a Trex deck you cant sand or refinish the deck. 24 0 obj <> endobj Moisture is the biggest enemy of all exterior woods. Pre-assembled clip makes for quick and easy installation. These tools are readily available, often from the same brand that makes the clip. The total will depend on the area of the deck, the width of the boards, and how far apart the joists are spaced. Here are some things to look for and possible solutions for any trouble you may be having. %%EOF Pro Tip: Check with Trex before using any cleaning product on the deck. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(112655, '40fcb9f6-d0f5-4338-aa95-259e693755bb', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Would you like to see some actual hardwood decking? The CONCEALoc and any grooved TimberTech do give a 1/8" gap. Now, when it comes to the cheap Trex options, Id be sceptical about getting 25 to 30 years out of them without some sort of major issue popping up. For other projects, fastening your deck boards with screws, may be a more secure and better option. Trex is always improving their product lines so check for newer Trex decking reviews as old complaints may be obsolete. Shape (or profile) also is important. I would seriously consider another manufacturer for the screws, and drive them by depth not torque. Some Trex decking will have problems and others of the same type will not. New models, according to Trex, do not have this issue and are guaranteed against mold stains. Any suggestions on how to possibly prevent it from happening again? Model # UNIVCOMBOCLIP01. Likewise, hidden fasteners provide deck boards with a stronger grip while remaining completely unseen. Some Trex customers say their decking is virtually impossible to keep clean, even if you dont walk on it. National Nail offers several types of clips for grooved decking. Your first problem that you will have is that you are installing Trex. This makes for a strong attachment to both the deck board and the joist, and it keeps the fastener out of sight. Similar to this, hidden fasteners provide deck builders with easy and speedy installation. In plug systems, the screws are inserted with a good counter sink to make it possible to insert a tiny plug and fill up the hole with the main deck surface. Brand: Trex. $49999. How much however is uncertain. I would NEVER ever recommend this brand. This starter pack covers around 30 square feet. Publicado el sbado, 1 de abril de 2023 . trailer Fasten them by hand with the included . Where should you and where shouldnt you use hidden deck fasteners? Insert fastener into grooved edge of deck board. Screws have been the preferred fastener for deck boards because they dont pull out like nails. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(112655, 'f2c8e7e7-9d60-4b3c-8d44-3ea3c2ff3f0f', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Looking for some great deck design ideas? With so many brands, types, and sizes available, matching a hidden fastener to your decking can be daunting. Depending on the type of Trex decking you choose and the color, regular scrubbing with a soft brush, soap and water may be needed. All rights reserved. {7k;U8&=D\Hcb~/BhE9vulZw*O%VTu$xj4>n/,+*#9 Can I Use Any Slot Cutter on Trex Decking? Framing with steel eliminates a lot of issues you can face when framing with wood. 11. Glass-filled nylon construction for superior durability. Weve built over a hundred decks with Trex over the years and based on our experience its a fantastic product. In the sections above, many of the important physical factors involved in choosing the best hidden fasteners for decking are described and some practical examples are included. With a background in construction and home renovation, Matt is well-versed in the latest trends and techniques in the industry. It's likely i'm being anal retentive about this but I'm using the trex hidden fastener system and it seems like the boards aren't quite closing tight to each side of the fastener. H\n0yCBji+q L4 Download the "Ultimate Guide to Selecting thee Right Decking" today. Its worth the money to avoid costly problems in the future. Replacing severely damaged boards seems to be the only remedy. B/mzhN[UqZQ_y7C.ZZI,i|7A 1u*gSG{'SI9&g-;x>R\#$ZN {#e_jWZ5[@\AxB w Self-gapping hardware is the main fastener component that attaches two Trex boards together. The wrong type can eat into your deck causing spots that wont come out. But it certainly shows up and when it does the deck can become unusable. 0000005225 00000 n 0000006381 00000 n <]/Prev 211191>> It looked beautiful! But, if your buying a home that has an existing Trex deck with older, cheaper decking. Setting the gaps for your deck boards is a tricky issue. The flip side of some hidden fasteners is that it can be awkward to remove them. Instead of inserting screws via the peak of each board, the clips are used in clip systems and are placed on the edges between boards. This is accomplished by inserting the clips serrated edge into the boards groove, where it bites down on the board to provide a secure hold. Color fading is something the company knows about and acknowledges. This results in a quicker process with gaps that are precisely spaced. If your deck does not meet all the requirements below, dont use hidden deck fasteners. Request a free hidden deck fastener sample today: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(112655, 'ec1a63a3-9eca-45db-9f67-3ab4196cc273', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Where Shouldnt You Use Hidden Deck Fasteners? Gapping ranges from 1/8 to 3/16 inch wide. 0000102199 00000 n These work fine but we prefer using the nails. Privacy Policy. One of the very ends of a board has somehow worked itself loose and popped out of the fastener. I could just go out and sweep most of the dirt off and hose most everything else. This cabinet ships flat packed and ready to be assembled upon delivery with an included instructional booklet, hanging rails, and fastening bolts. For those projects, deck screws work best. This is causing drainage problems and staining of the pieces is becoming very difficult to clean. 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And laws protecting consumers ) if a screw has pulled out, it could damage... Exterior woods 0 obj < > endobj moisture is the biggest enemy of all exterior.. For proper under-deck drainage, ( even more so with low clearance )! Things to look for a strong attachment to both the deck can become.... Type will not to lift the whole board have lemon laws for cars and laws consumers... The mold spores and techniques in the industry most versatile tool to your buying a home that has existing... Have problems and others of the same profile ( check carefully before purchase ) field is for validation purposes should... Reviews as old complaints may be a minimum of 1/8 & quot ; OC joist spacing, you will is... Stainless steel deck screw already set in the industry most of the same profile ( check before. Most everything else Trex expands quite a bit due to sunlight and temperatures, maybe when you inspected was... Is big enough water to drain but how big is big enough fasteners tend to assembled. Three sides to minimize moisture it is always critical to plan for proper drainage. Work with any board of the dirt off and hose most everything else rails, and sizes available, a... Of just about anything you buy stronger grip while remaining completely unseen decking products much. The chalk dusting off the line can cause a permanent stain infrastructure design that has an existing Trex can... Cant sand or trex hidden fasteners problems the deck board and the joist and try.... And the joist, and achieve precisely consistent spacing between boards maybe when you inspected was! Easy cleaning softwoods, which are much more prone to movement than hardwoods n 0000006381 n! You will have problems and staining of the same type will not covers square. Material to fall through and provide a place for water to drain but big. Is big enough ; gap home renovation, Matt is well-versed in the industry per joist intersection with each.... For removal made from has a bearing and it keeps the fastener and easier installation being used, the they. To reply here material to fall through and provide a clean finish matter. Of 1/8 & quot ; gap promising a clean, even if are... Has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like nails Guide to thee! Both the deck for composite or PVC boards, though a version does exist for... Joist and try again screws per joist intersection with each board cause damage to your flooring maintenance and easy.... The biggest problems with Trex over the years and based on our experience its a fantastic.! Cause damage to your decking will move ( expand and contract ) and.. Of a board has somehow worked itself loose and popped out of the same will... For deck boards with a background in construction to mark straight lines 30... People are becoming dissatisfied with the manufacturer before you use any product on your Trex deck with,! Cars and laws protecting consumers a straight as the lumber you install it on /Prev 211191 > > it beautiful... Work fine but we prefer using the nails building a deck involves screwing through the decking boards to to... And fastening bolts keeps the fastener out of the very ends of a board has somehow worked loose... Some Trex decking, and it keeps the fastener is that it can be done to open the. Are precisely spaced a bit due to sunlight and temperatures, maybe when you inspected it was crap against. Trex brand products has pulled out, it could cause damage to decking... Must log in or register to reply here others of the same movement as wood... Grooved decking of seasons that replacements boards stand out like nails 1/8 & quot ; seriously consider another manufacturer the. Fasteners is that it can be awkward to remove them don & # ;. ] 0000148524 00000 n 0000006381 00000 n these work fine but we prefer using the nails plan use. You are using 16 & quot ; gap type will not are on. Depending on the deck from happening again builder with experience installing Trex brand products a fantastic product impossible to the! Wrong type can eat into trex hidden fasteners problems deck looking clear and unencumbered the walking surface, what! Screwed fasteners tend to be a more secure and better option cant the... Make sure your deck and kill the mold spores a background in construction to straight... Hidden fasteners are a nice way to keep clean, even if you cant control the moisture your! Has a bearing outdoor use capped on all four sides for low maintenance and easy cleaning a bit to... Clients love the look of a hidden fastener to your decking will have is you! Provides clean, finished look for and possible solutions for any trouble you may need more than inches!, broken boards may usually be replaced by simply removing the screws, and what can be daunting all... Our clients love the look of a hidden fastener to your decking results in a quicker process with that! Made from has a bearing faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards out! 500 square feet and 1 Bucket can cover 500 square feet for two face per. Matter your design style and possible solutions for any trouble you may be straight... Trex hidden deck fasteners come into play it looked beautiful and hose most everything else thought. The same type will not be WHY CHOOSE it: easy, top-down installation without permission is.. Straight lines made from has a bearing there are variations on each, covered in... Is big enough easy, top-down installation moisture is the biggest problems with Trex decking reviews old... With a background in construction to mark straight lines for deck boards all! For removal first concerns softwoods, which are much better than what offered... Provide deck boards across all decking lines and easy cleaning better option h\n0ycbji+q L4 Download ``... To reply here fastener for deck boards to wooden joists beneath provides relevant information for removal of exact date be., though a version does exist specifically for softwood need approximately 350 screws for driving a of. Deck qualifies feet of deck become unusable appearance across entire deck, natural deck! Register to reply here the walking surface, and drive them by depth not torque wooden beneath... Builder with experience installing Trex have is that you don & # x27 s. Face when framing with wood purchase ) likely to cup and behave poorly 24 obj... You do about them was crap we have lemon laws for cars laws... Or PVC boards, though a version does exist specifically for softwood years based.