I would like to build an exterior wood deck using nominal 1″ white oak deck boards attached to white oak 2″ joists. The problem is that I want to attach the boards from the under side so as to not have screw heads showing on the face of the boards. With only 3/4″ or so of wood thickness to work with, I am wondering if I should use an exterior adhesive with the screws or if it is even possible at all to use 1″ stock…?????
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

Listeners write in about insulating behind stucco and ask questions about basement finishing and a “leaky” chimney
Featured Video
Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by BrickHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
http://www.swansecure.com
http://www.ebty.com
http://www.correctdeck.com
It's certainly possible to use 3/4" oak for a deck, but you'll have to space your joists closer than 16".
Hardware is commercially available for screwing deck boards from below. Basically it's fancy angle iron. An alternative is to attach 2x2 cleats to the sides of the joists and screw up through the cleats into the deck boards.
It's not clear to me that glue would add anything to this kind of installation.
You may not be happy with oak, long term.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Aaron and Unc..I just removed white oak porch flooring at my place..it was installed prior to 1940..2x8 joists on about 2' centers..1x6 face nailed. It was still as good as the day it was put down in most places. The termites did not touch it except for some ares that had sapwood.
As stiff a IPE almost..so, 16" centers is plenty, and I am planning on going back with the same when I rebuild the foundation under it.
With all the bru-ha-ha about PT and such, I am not using it anywhere in my restoration where a local naturally resistant wood will suffice. White Oak is among the best. My 150 yr. old logs can attest to that. The prices locally also are incredible compared to storebought PT. About a 1/4 of the cost..that makes it worth the extra labor for trimming and such.
Though I am not blind fastening like the OP..I have no doubts that WO will make an excellent deck with the proper installation.
View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Yes, in your locale it might be wonderful.
Here, in rain forest country, chances are it will be replaced from rotting sooner than later. I never said anything about PT, note.
I have no idea where Terry lives, so I tend to err on the side of caution.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
White oak is good, commonly used for mudsills 200 years ago. Locust is another one if you're willing to work with some of the hardest wood around. Here in CT, it's dirt cheap, like $.75/bf, green.Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
gee, and I thought .40 a BF was high..<G> locust will dull some edges fast. It and white oak are the species of wood in my place that survived intact..even the chestnut got chewem ups..oh the cedar posts are still good too.
View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
On This Old House where they rebuilt the bothers house that burned down they used IPE for the decking.
But they used a 3M marine adhesive (I think that it is a urethane similar to PL premium, but not sure) and use SS finish nails to hold it in place until the adhesice curred.
The only problem I see with the glue is that IPE does not cup like white oak does. That is also where he will have to really read the board well so the cupping is making humps not swales..I think that will be his biggest concern with the oak.
If it was a porch and not a deck I would T&G the oak. But if it has to drain water..he needs spaces.
View Image
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
White oak doesn't cup, either, if you saw it right.
Are the joists going to be visible? If not, I'd consider going pt to save on the $$. Two inch white oak joists are going to be pretty expensive. There are a number of different ways to attach the decking without face nailing or screwing. Look in the back of the magazine. The common feature to all of them is that they're not cheap.
As mentioned above, Ebtys will do the trick. The result will be awesome. So will the fastener price, and plan on twice the labor. You'll need a biscuit cutter.
5/4 plantation mahogony (Meranti, etc.) is a reasonably priced long term alternative. Cna be finished in a number of natural colors, or allowed to silver.
Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT