Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Nov 20, 2001 06:51am | #1

   *
   we use SS deck screws.. but a 10d SS ring shank nail would be ok too...

1. 
   Donald_Garrison | Nov 20, 2001 04:06pm | #2

   *Yeah use deck screws.. that way if something goes hay wire you can remove the board ( at least you can try to save it). Use the spacer provided by your lumber yard ( it should be free from trex) Gap according to manuf. specs to allow for expansion and contraction.

1. 
   crosscutt_ | Nov 21, 2001 03:16am | #3

   *Doug,Make sure you countersink and drill before sinking the screw to avoid a nasty looking mushrooming around the screw head. cc

1. 
   gary_weiss | Nov 21, 2001 05:00am | #4

   *just curious, how bad is the mushrooming? Can it be pounded flat?Gary

1. 
   Tommy_B. | Nov 21, 2001 05:01am | #5

   *Hey crosscutt,That's how I used to do it. Seemed like it was the professional way. But I was in buying a countersink at the supplier and the owner told me to do it another way. He said on his beach house he just drove the screws below the surface until it mushroomed, then pound the mushroom into the whole. I thought it sounded kind of hokey, but it works and it looks a whole lot better. Can't even see the screws. And faster. I use grabber screws which work well with this method, don't know about others. The real beauty of this method is my quickdrive gun should work. I'll be trying it out in the next week or two on a trex deck.

2. 
   Mike_Smith | Nov 21, 2001 07:24am | #6

   *the screw mfr's are pushing trim head screws for trex.. to set the screw just below the surface and hide it... i'll be trying my old faithful #10 x 2.5" alongside some trim head #7 x 2.75 " next week....

3. 
   Schelling_McKinley | Nov 21, 2001 07:46am | #7

   *We tried to pound the mushroom flat as directed by our supplier. It works better than nothing but I'm not too happy with it. We took a little electric soldering iron and melted the mushroom into the hole. This actually worked and should keep water and ice out of the hole. My twelve year old is off from school tomorrow and I will try him on this job.

4. 
   crosscutt_ | Nov 21, 2001 04:03pm | #8

   *Maybe it's just me but I like the screws to be just below the surface level of the trex. It takes longer but gives a better look instead of sinking the head out of sight, and if you do need to remove this board for whatever reason you won't tear the hole when you remove the screw. When water gets trapped in the hole that hasn't been drilled first it could even make the mushroom effect worse. My thoughts anyway.cc

5. 
   Doug_Cunningham | Nov 22, 2001 08:45am | #9

   *Started a deck today. Tried using a nail gun with poor results. Switched to dark green square drive deck screws. Just drive them in until they disappear, then smack the mushroom down into the hole. My superdrive screwgun was even better, but we didn't have any screws. Any autofeed system seems to be the way to go. The stainless finish screws seem to strip out so easy. D.

6. 
   Bill_Hartmann | Nov 22, 2001 01:05pm | #10

   *DougGOOD stainless steel screws don't strip out easily. Try getting some from McFeely's

7. 
   Mike_Smith | Nov 22, 2001 06:50pm | #11

   *doug.. why would you use a product like trex.. with such a long life.. and NOT use SS fasteners?most of the sq. drive strip-out is the same problem as phillips strip-out.. bad bits.. and off center driving.. technique and forget about speed.. the autodrive doesn't seem like the right tool to me..we use scorpion ss sq. drive... on the current job i've ordered swan.. never have used mcfeeleys..wanted to use GRK from canada.. but their distribution system sucks big time.. you call their distributors for local dealers & the local dealers don't stock the product...

8. 
   piffin_ | Nov 24, 2001 05:01pm | #12

   *Mike, When that's the case you can buy directly from them. I can find the distributors info Rep's name for New England is Sienkiewicz(sp?)I htink the reason for this is thew higher cost of these screws. Most guys shy away until they use them once or twice and get converted to the better way of life. They find out that they save so much labor time that it is worth ther extra time. eg. The bugle heads are slotted to cut their way into the deck material, doing their own countersinking. They are stronger material, I've only broke a few of them and they WANT them back when I do so their engineers can look and see why.

9. 
   Mike_Smith | Nov 24, 2001 06:22pm | #13

   *piffen.. this was the sequence.... call GRK.. they give me 2 dist. one in MA, 1 in Ct.. call them.. they are wholesalers..give me names of RI retailers.. call retailer.. they don't stock.. screw this...call Swan.. they will ship immediately.. place order..next time i need 5000 screws i'll try GRK again..they did look like a better drive system..and the self cutting screw head looked like just what i wanted...the Swan looks like the equal to the Scorpions we've used for 5 or 6 years... so....i'll let you know.. stay tuned...

10. 
    piffin_ | Nov 25, 2001 02:50am | #14

    *The retailers will be willing to stock them when enough craftsmen are asking for them.Such is the reality of marketing. I think GRK has a lesson to learn here. Alot of new products gain market share by floor plans where they agree to put it on the retailers floor for so long free to let a market build. GRK seems to be just creating matket by doing the shows where we go.

2. 
   Doug_Cunningham | Nov 25, 2001 02:51am | #15

   *
   What's the best method of fastening Trex decking to cca framing? Screws or nails? Our lumberyard recommends using a regular framing gun with ten penny nails. I thought most people were using screws these days. What do you think?