Screwing Down Deck Boards

JPV123

I know the pros and cons of screwing vs nailing down decking. But would you say a "Higher End" deck/screened porch that is on a more expensive custom built home should be screwed down and not nailed down? We are replacing decking and building a screen porch. The decking that we are replacing is nailed down. I'm thinking I should screw down the new decking to make it a nicer job. Thanks

Mike Finley

I would think any decking should be screwed down.

JPV123

Would you leave a gap using pressure treated lumber. I find the lumber shrinks so in a few months a natural gap will appear. I've seen newly installed pressure treated decks with gaps and 6months to a year later they have huge spaces between them.

slowsol

I always screw down and usually butt the lumber right next to the eachother. Like you said, the lumber will dry and their will be an 1/8'' gap between every plank. The only exception is if I get PT that is really dry (rarely to never) or I am using composite.

Steve Unkie

I always use screws and do leave a gap between boards. The gap is determined by: how wet my decking is, is it the wet time of year or the dry season,
gap it so that it may be a tight 1/8 in winter to 3/8 in summer.
That's what I do anyway.

Steve Unkie.

Glasshousebltr

Screw....Gap.......Uh....rutt row, did I type a boo boo.

Bob

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Bob

Joe Carola

I'm just curious as to why since you think it's a better job, why not screw a deck down on any job high end or low end? Your job should be nice no matter what the cost of the house you are working at is.

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Joe Carola

DecksEtc

Screw down - always.

Leave gaps - I always put the boards tight to each other - I've never gotten PT or cedar dry enough from the lumber yard to have to leave gaps.

specwood

I agree with the general consensus here.

Screw the deck. The expansion and contraction of deck boards will inevitably loosen any nails over time making for a squeaky deck.

Keep the deck boards tight on installation for wood decks. They will dry and then you will have all the gap you need.

RobertCDF

PT tight as can be (bowrench) and screw every deck no matter what never use nails for the decking surface.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

JPV123

The reason I think it's a better job is because I see a lot of "builder" decks that are nailed down, spaced way to wide and not cupped correctly. I sell the fact that I build a better deck than these builder decks. I always screw down my decking with no gap when using pressure treated lumber. The reason I'm asking is a customer wanted us to "match" an existing part which was nailed down. The spacing question was something my partner had questioned me on and I just wanted to get other opinions on it.

nadonailer

Always screw, and butt the boards...

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Bukemdano

A lot of framing contractors around here (MI) just include the deck in the framing package and just slap the deck boards on with nails. I cut the framer out and build the decks myself. Agree with the everyone else. If it is (PT) there is no gap.

Glasshousebltr

He said screw and butt.

Bob

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Steve Unkie

So no-one else leaves any gap between pt boards. I'm in Wa. state where it rains all winter, seems to me that if I buy my lumber from an inside lumber yard in the summer, and install it with no gap,then when the rainy season comes and the decking expands, there will be no gap=no drainage and possible buckling.
I think I'll continue to leave some gap, but now I will pay attention to see if what you guys say is so for my part of the country.

Steve Unkie.

Rambone

If you looking for a premo job use the under the board fastening system I use it on high end decks you will see no screw holes at all every thing it done from under the deck as you build.

Woodcrafter74

THE under-the-board fastening system? There's a lot of them, which do you use?

IHI

Tore out too many decks when I was younger than were nailed to ever think about doing that on my own stuff...not possible to have a long term deck with minimal maintenance.

I've only build one wood deck using the gap method and that was because I finally tired of arguing over it with the homeowner so we did it his way. I was back a few years later for another aspect and looked at the deck and laughed...what started being spaced with a 16d nail between planks turned into 3/8"-1/2" gaps between boards and some large enough to stick your fingers upto your knuckles.

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Rambone

The ones my supplier carriers are TIGER CLAW AND DECK MASTER!!
I use them mainly on TREX but they can be used on any material.

Woodcrafter74

Okay, I'm hijacking this thread somewhat, but I think JPV got his question answered about whether to screw or not to screw.

Rambone,
Have you ever had any problems with either or those fastening systems. I haven't tried the Tiger Claw on composites, but I'm thinking that mashing large prongs into the side of a composite board just isn't right???
And on the Deck Master system, I talked with a rep recently and asked him how much of an increase in installation labor they estimate their system causes--since it's all underneath. He said $3 sq/ft. I just laughed, I don't see that product being worth that type of labor increase.
What's your experience been?