Azek Deck With Eb-Tys

buildenterprise

Just started running the decking today. I originally had the TigerClaw TC-P tap-in fasteners but I was not looking forward to all that sledging so I returned those for the TC-G groove clips. Got my biscuit router set up and cut the grooves, opened one bag and started then promptly returned those. Boy are they a PITA! Too small and they are hard to get sitting flat and screwed down without pulling the following board clip side down too far, making it impossible to get the next board onto the clip. Got the Eb-Tys instead. I know someone on here called them garbage but let me tell you-they are great, especially when working solo since you don't have to lift the board to get it onto the biscuit. And the screw actually goes through the board at a 45 as well as the biscuit, unlike the Concealocs and Tigerclaws. I'll post pics soon.

buildenterprise

Did I say before that I like working alone? This deck made me think twice. 12 feet in the air, about 500 sf including the landings. Finished running the decking today, starting the rails tomorrow.

John Hyatt

Working alone good,most of us started out that way and a lot still do.

Eb-tys bad,,,hoping for the best for ya but down the road you might have a few little problems. John

buildenterprise

Hopefully not with the liquid nails I put down as well.....

bjg5240

I had nothing but problems with the CONCEALoc fasteners. I talked with the sales rep at the supply house and he said that many complaints have been coming in about the system. How did you like working with the Azek?? Super lite stuff, especially compared to the TT TwinFinish I just put down.

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buildenterprise

Yea, the concealocs and Tigerclaw TC-G clips are almost identical. They're too darn small!
As for the Azek, I love it! It's all I've been selling down here, so nice to work with and stands up much better to installer abuse. Especially for second and third floor decks, much easier to get it up there than your typical 50 pound composite boards.

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Bone Saw

for those having problems with with conceal loc/tc-g with non TT groved boards, you're obviously not steeing the depth of your slot cutting device properly. with a 1/4 slot, a true flat frame, you should not be having problems

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buildenterprise

It has nothing to do with the slot depth, that was fine. I just don't like the fact that you have to lift the board onto the clips then lower it down. That's no fun with a 20 footer working solo. I also don't like the massive gaps between the boards it creates.

bjg5240

The boards I used were factory groved. The problem that I was having with the 20' & 16' boards is its required to angle the board slightly to get the fastener inserted. Not such as easy task alone. I like the design of the fasteners used with CorrectDeck. Any word on if Azek is going to start offering groved boards?

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Bone Saw

mabey its just me, but ive never had a problem getting a board aligned, and while walking the joists, giving it a shove with my foot down the line, and its in like flynn, I also plane my joist tops for flattness too, sorry to hear you having problems with em, I have used em with grooved and non grooved ipe as well as tt grooved and honestly have never experienced trouble getting em it. they are also designed for a 1/8" gap, so not sure how that is a problem to most other clips 3/16 + gapping
I have a 1/4" slotting bit (1/4" shank) for the router, I find setting the depth a tad on the high side makes for a real snug fit and the next board goes in nicely

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bjg5240

Maybe I'll give planing the joist tops a try & see if that smooths the installation process. I'll keep ya posted.

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BuiltByMAC

Bonesaw's got it - though the installation guide says to angle the board in, there's no need to. The few times it doesn't go in with my foot pushing it, I'll lay a 6' 2x4 down next to the deck board and slam it against the side of the deck board to push it into place.

BuildEnt, the gaps using ConcealLocs shouldn't be much larger (if at all) than using Eb-Tys. Perhaps you're not getting the screwheads sunk fully into the metal clip - if that's the case, the board edge would be held out further (by the protruding screw heads) than the clip's auto gap. Another thing that will keep the screw head proud is running them in vertically. The screws and clips are designed for the screw to be installed at a 45%ish angle.

Mac

buildenterprise

I hadn't tried Concealocs, only the Tigerclaw TC-G clips. They were definitely fully seated as I could see the spacer nib was tight against the deck board.

Anyone used the Fastenators by CD yet? They look decent. I'm getting ready to sell a good size multi-level deck on Monday, they just have to decide on the decking. They like the PVC decking and I showed them the Azek brownstone but they are interested in something a little darker so I need to get them some samples like the TT XLM in mountain cedar or the CD CX in mahogany.

EDIT: Where's Marty? What's the deal with needing touch-up pens and color matched sealer for board ends on the CX? That could start to be a real pita after awhile. How thin is this surface layer that we need to worry about "touching up scratches"? I'm liking the mahogany color but not with all the "baggage".....and another thing-$83 for the router bit? Does anyone know the profile so I can get it for $20 at my local tool supply?

Garrett

deck looks great is that a reskin or new?and are those bolts through the beam? and one last thing what do you do for footers down there because of the sand?

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buildenterprise

It's a reskin. Yes, those are hex head thru bolts in the beam that all have to be cut off so we can install the fascia wrap. These older places don't seem to have true footings for the decks, just concrete pads. When we build new down here we do our footings just like anywhere else, 36" depth with 10" concrete, the rest backfilled.

Garrett

what will you cover the beams and posts with?

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buildenterprise

Posts will get covered with 4 piece pvc cladding, the beam gets wrapped with 7/16" pvc by Veka, it's kinda like Azek/Koma but it's glossy and has a woodgrain. Comes 12" x 16' so you rip it to desired width. And it's a heckalot cheaper to boot.

Garrett

i have yet to have to wrap a beam but do you do anything to the top of the beam to prevent water from sitting between the beam( P.T.) and wrap boards?

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RobertCDF

So your bagging on a product you have never used because they actually offer a touch up kit when no one else does? I have had to use the touch up kit 1 time in well over 20 Correct Deck decks. The 1 time I did was a saw kickback that knicked the board.
Try it once and if you dont like it I would be very suprised. The idea behind the touch up kit is genius. Ever had to toss a board aside because the idiots at the lumber yard messed it up? Now you have to wait a week for them to get another one special ordered.... Or just use the touch up kit and carry on.

As far as durrability it blowes away almost every brand. And it is certainly the strongest that offers real colors, lots of rail options, and hidden fasteners all in one line.

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buildenterprise

We were discussing that the other day, since I was considering using an aluminum U-bend to cap the bottom of the beam then fascia on the sides. That would REALLY create a tub for the water to sit in though. Our normal procedure is to run the front and back fascia long and tuck the 2 7/8" bottom rip up in between, leaving a 1/16" gap on each side for drainage.