Am building a rather large deck for a client. Using PT Joists with 2×6 cedar decking. I priced it for hidden deck fastners but now trying to figure the best one to use. I don’t like the idea of lying on my back installing decks so considering the EB-ty or the new Ipe Deck clip. Any one have any experience with either of these. Thanks in advance
Brian
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I've used eb ty in the past with Ipe, very good system but a lot of added time. You need to drill everything with Ipe anyway, so the time difference wasn't as much as something like Mahogany or cedar that you can gun nail. Whose choice is the cedar? I don't use cedar for decking, for the rails its fine but not for the surface. I've never seen a cedar deck that looked very good after a few years, its just too soft and too many woman wear heals or other hard bottomed shoes.
Do a search in the archive for eb ty, hidden fasteners, etc you'll find a lot.
If you have the room to get under the deck comfortably, look at deck master, that would be much faster then eb ty and look the same.
http://www.deckmaster.com
I just researched this same topic for a job I'm working on and we've decided to use the Eb-ty hidden fasteners with either Ipe or Cumaru decking. (Both are hardwoods that are ideal for long term decking use. The Cumaru is also 30% cheaper.) A couple of thoughts; several people have advised me to use construction adhesive to glue the decking board to the joist with the Eb-tys and I'd advise you go to Flooring.com to purchase the fasteners; they sell them in 500 piece boxes for half price. Good luck!
I did two decks last winter with the Simpson concealed fastener. Took a bit of getting used to but I liked the overall effect. Pricing is fairly reasonable too. They're are a hot dip galvanized rather than SS.Lignum est bonum.
I have no personal experience with the product, but there is some spikey thing (Tigerclaw, I think) that should work with a soft wood like cedar. I think it is also SS. There have been many threads about this recently (weather must be getting better), so if you can figure out the archives, give it a search.