Some of our customers don’t like to look at the exposed nailheads on a typical face-nailed deck. As a result, we’ve developed the system shown in the drawing to secure deck planks to their joists.
With our method, we begin in the middle of the deck with a piece that is toenailed on both sides to the joists. Then we drive 8d galvanized nails halfway into both sides of the plank on 24-in. centers, and cut their heads off with bolt cutters or a pair of beefy sidecutters. We drive subsequent pieces of decking onto the protruding nail shanks by pounding on their sides with a hammer and a block, or by using pipe clamps on pieces that are longer than 10 ft. or so. Then the new plank gets toenailed to the joists, and the side-nailing process begins again. To make sure everything stays put, we also sqeeze some construction adhesive between joists and planks. This method leaves no exposed nails to work their way upward, and we’ve found it to be quicker and cheaper than screwing a deck to its supports.
Bill Hart, Templeton, CA
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