What Do You Use To Screw Down Decking?

In_Mexifornia

I was thinking of getting the Simpson Quik Drive System, but wanted to ask around to see what everyone else is using. I usually use Trex and the TrapEase composite deck screws.

BuiltByMAC

Makita 18v Li-on Impact Driver (nice and light!) to run temp screws (6-8 per board to hold it in place) - after a good chunk of decking is down, set up the corded drill with a 12" long square drive bit and go to town. I have marks where each screw goes so I have to be able to see the end of the screw is to make sure it's in the right place. That's why I haven't purchased a stand-up screw gun. Breaking the job into pieces like that allows me to zone in and work faster on each type of repetitive motion.

Mac

John Hyatt

I always use ss square drive screws/makita 12 volt impact driver. J

PA woodbutcher

Me too except I use a Dewalt impact. I have the quick drive system, that I've used on one deck and will use it again this next week. Juries still out. It sure is a time saver, but takes some getting used to to drive the screws exactly where you want them, and they're the galv that like to strip out (seems like the bits could be a bit larger than a #2 also). I used it on regular PT so you might not have a problem with it.

Like MAC when I have some of the deck down I snap a line and run the rest of my screws. Worked best to walk the joist and put the head on forward edge of the board and run just that edge and then come back on the same joist for the other edge of the board.

Before buying it I figured that it would cost me a extra .02 a screw to put them down.....not bad for the time savings as it will make that up quick. I had a guy screw down roughly 250 square feet of decking in about 45 minutes. That time included learning how much pressure was needed to set the screw before running it down. You can't just put the pressure to it and run it. Hard to explain on here, but there is a method and a slight learning curve

It does have a18-20" extension that takes the bending over out of decking.

I won't use it on my railings as I prefer the square headed grey coats for positive placement and you have to work pretty hard to strip the hea out before sinking it

RobertCDF

I dont use screws.... unless I have to. HFS is the only way to go. But when I do screw down wood decking I just use an 18V drill and a handfull of screws. I did 400 SQ FT in about 2 hours last time I had to. And I dont have to go back and try and fix the ones the quickdrive screwed up.

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In_Mexifornia

I don't mind putting the all the screws in, but man after bending over like that all day is a back breaker. I just put a deck in and there were over 2500 screws.
I get only a few screws in first to get the boards straight, usually one in every other joist. Then I go back and screw all the rest after they're all down.

Forry

18v dewalt, #3 philips head screws. I like to screw 'em off as I go, so I can get it all perfectly straight. I predrill the ends with a counter sink to reduce/eliminate checking. Takes a while, but comes out real nice.

John Hyatt

John's little trick>> I have two girl temps they love repetative work doing the predrill runing the screws in is perfect for them so they both get a call on ipe projects<< J

lgoode

I have used the QuikDrive with the extension and it works well. There is a learning curve and I would try it on a little test deck first. It is hard to get the screw exactly where you want it when you're using the extension though.
This gun is good for screwing down subfloor as well. I know some guys use it on drywall projects too.

KentWhitten

Glue and SS finish nails. Quick and clean. Haven't heard anything yet, but maybe they're too mad at me!

John Hyatt

Framer Mon,there is no hope for you, of course I am the one who uses temp call girls for my screwing. So Funny!!! J

BuiltByMAC

Perhaps I'm not understanding your post correctly...by finish nails do you mean these?

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...1L._SS500_.jpg

Mac

Forry

I think mebbe its a joke, 'cause I don't get it either

KentWhitten

Well, yeah, close, Stainless steel finish nails. 15 ga. angle for my senco. We use a construction adhesive here specifically for this purpose. We use it for the mahogany/ipe decking. Haven't tried it on Trex type stuff. I'll see if I can find the exact adhesive. We used it this winter in 0° weather and it came out pretty smooth without heating it. Not regular construction adhesive.

Glue it down just like subfloor and nail it off. No squeaks.

Forry

What about movement? Seems like it would rip the glue apart after a few seasons of exp/cont.

KentWhitten

From my understanding, it's pretty flexible. I dunno, I've only done this on one, but people around here do this quite a bit from what I hear. I don't do too many decks, but the one we did this on was pretty big (2000 sf) and the builder wanted us to do this.

Forry

Huh... I think I'll stick with big ole screws, 'cause I KNOW they'll stay put. Curious what the glue is you were using though, it must be good stuff. Not just subfloor goo or anything I hope?

KentWhitten

Oh no, it's not regular. It was a specific glue for this. I'm searching now, but have found that Eb-Ty's it seems, they want construction adhesive under the deck boards.

They've got to make glue for something like this. Otherwise boats would be ripped apart too. I don't think it's as bad as you think, but if it was my house, I don't think I'd do it this way.

Forry

And the nails are for holding everything still while the glue sets?