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Selecting deck fixtures
To ensure that your deck has a long, trouble free
life, it's important to use the right fixings used to
fix the planks to the bearers. This choice can be
influenced not only by the prevailing climatic
conditions, the proximity to marine environments, but
also the actual wood used. As your deck will around for
a long time, it’s best not to compromise too much on the
fixings as the higher cost of better quality products
will be repaid many times over with a longer service
life and better looking deck.
Normally, standard iron nails should not be used on
external decking as they can rapidly corrode in certain
climatic conditions or close to marine environments and
not only leave black stains around the nail holes, but
can eventually corrode so extensively that they will
simply snap. Remember that all wood will twist and warp
to some extent so its important that wood planks are
firmly fixed to the bearers at regular spaced intervals
to keep the timber from moving. If you wish to use
nails, then you should use a good quality galvanized
nail, recommended for exterior decking. Note that some
species of lumber - in particular, Western Red Cedar,
Merbau and Redwood - contain tannins that can cause
corrosion to occur more rapidly than with other species
of lumber.
If using screws to fasten the decking planks to the
bearers, then again you shouldn’t use standard steel
screws, but either stainless steel or good quality
plated screws. But there are many different methods of
plating screws and some of the cheaper products may look
great in the packet when they’re purchased but not so
pretty after a few years of use. Plating may be only
superficial at best and in the process of fixing screws
into the plank, the plating can be damaged which allows
corrosion to start from day 1. So it's important that
you use a good quality plated screw and is specifically
recommended for use on exposed decking.
For the best long term results, stainless steel
screws will always be the best option. Although these
screws can be significantly more expensive, the extra
cost will be repaid in their long life, their ongoing
appearance and lack of blackening around screw holes.
Note also that in marine environments, stainless steel
screws should always be used, as even plated screws can
be subject to significant corrosion problems in such
harsh environments.
Apart from nails or screws, other fixing devices are
also available on the market. These devices generally
rely on the metal fixture (typically galvanized iron)
being driven into the sides of the planks rather than
the top, and the fixing itself is nailed to the
bearers. One of the obvious advantages of this fixing
method is that there are no screws or nails visible on
the top surface. However, one of the disadvantages of
this particular fixing system is that if you need to
replace planks at any time, it’s very difficult to both
lift up and replace any plank in the middle of a deck.
Normally the replaced plank would need to be fixed in a
conventional manner with nails or screws. Fortunately
such replacements are rarely needed so, this may not be
such an important issue.
It's also possible to cover a deck with a timber
surface that does not require any nails, screws or any
other fixing devices. Modular wood decking tiles are
available on the market which simply lock together by
means of an integral plastic base. The base not only
allows any water to drain away freely from underneath,
the tiles but keeps each tile, securely locked
together. Whilst such decks cannot be installed over
traditional timber bearers, they can be very useful for
covering old concrete patios and courtyards to avoid the
trouble and expense of ripping up the lot and
rebuilding.
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