I’m getting ready to lay my first Mahogany (5/4 x 6) deck, and am planning to attach it to p.t. sleepers over a membrane-covered exposed balcony. I’ve read quite a few of the older threads re. this type of decking, but don’t seem to find a consensus for the preferred type of fastener to use – anybody have any input on this? The decking has been sealed on all edges.
I was thinking of using stainless bugle-head screws……should I use adhesive also? Any pitfalls I can avoid?
Replies
Redstaines,
You're talking about making duckboards, right? That is, kind of like a pallet which will stand off the wet surface?
If it's at all possible, I'd consider trying to backscrew into the finish material. That way, you won't have any visible fasteners at all, but it won't be complicated, either. I did this once on a project where the duckboard was put down in a number of separate pieces. However, you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it.
Hope that helps.
Ragnar
what about EBTY fasteners ive never used them but they are not visible and are attached from the top
if anybody else has used them maybe they could let us know if they are any good
I have used the eb-ty deck fasteners several times. They look awesome as a finished product. Two tips.....first, get a heavy duty biscuit joiner, and second, use two drills to speed you along(one drill to predrill, and one drill to screw). Eb-ty fasteners are a great product, but it is a slow installation. Charge accordingly.
Thanks for the input, think I'll try the eb-ty system. I was a little skeptical about them, but seems like the consensus is that they're the way to go.
red.. with 5/4 mahogany.. we'd normally use an 8d SS ring shank nail with a small waffle head... pre-drill and repititious pattern...also.. most of our decks would be 5/4 x 4 , not 5/4 x 6.. and the spacing would be an 8d common
if you are neat with your siding gun , and can keep the nails in alignment.. you can use a gun nail.. set it proud and finish the drive by hand..
we've also drilled screwed and plugged mahogany... but in most applications , the SS nails look fine...BTW.. there's mahogany & mahogany.. most of what we're buying nowadays is called Meranti.. which is a little harder than whatever species they were selling in the early '90s... the earlier ones were about the hardness of red cedar..
this meranti species is about the hardness of poplarMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
hey thanks Mike, I like your advice re the 6x vs the 4x, however, we have already got the 6x on site (owner choice-, $$ driven). Fortunately, the owner is already aware of the cupping possibility, and doesn't seem too bothered by it (kind of a non-slip surface).
Do you recommend nails in lieu of screws?
like i said , red... ( nice flow to it , no ? )
we use a 2.5" SS deck nail with a smallish waffle head and we pay close attention to the nails looking like little soldiers in alignment, all dressed and covered...so, we're getting 1.5" of penetration into our framing
for some reason , unknown to my conscious mind, we use 2.5" SS screws on Trex decks..
in both cases.. the fasteners are visible, but keeping them all in a row, makes them just background..
now if we were doing an Ipe' deck, i MIGHT consider a concealed fastener... maybe Ebty... but i don't like the thought of those ones you fasten from below... i want to work from the top...and maybe i'd drill & plug instead... it can't be any more work than an Ebty
others may have a different observationMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I just did a mahogany deck last month, nice choice that stuff is gorgeous. I used the ebty and it turned out pretty nice, my only complaint was it takes a long time. WE used stainless steel self tapping screws. If you are going with mahogany I would definately use a hidden fastener, althuogh the hardness might limit your choices.