A Look at Deck Fasteners
Deck fasteners are screws especially manufactured to fasten the
many soft, thin planks of a wood en deck in place. Wooden decks
must be able to withstand many different kinds of weather and
corrosion, and so deck fasteners must be able to stand up to
these elements just as well. Therefore, deck fasteners are
usually coated with a weather-resistant coating that protects
them from rust and corrosion. The coating is made of zinc
plating. A steel screw plated with zinc is called a galvanized
steel screw. A screw can also be coated in a ceramic material.
Deck screws can also be made of stainless steel or
high-copper-content screws, as these screws won't stain the deck.
Deck fasteners are designed to drill their own hole, drive
downward gradually and easily, lay flat against the surface of
the deck, and be difficult to extract once inserted. For this
reason, deck screws are said to be sharp-pointed, self-drilling,
self-countersinking, and shallow-threaded. Sharp points
eliminate the need for extra drills. The threads of a deck screw
are sharp as well. The top of the shank, up at the collar by the
head, flares upward, so that it sets perfectly level with the
deck. The threads of the screw are set at a very gradual or
shallow degree, so that the screw goes in easier. Some deck
screws are even lubricated, for even greater ease of insertion.
The heads usually have a square-shaped insertion point for a
square-headed screwdriver or screw gun. Square heads don't
accidentally strip as easily as Phillips-head screwdrivers.
Hidden Deck Fasteners
Hidden deck fasteners or "blind" deck fasteners eliminate screws
from view entirely. Rather than drilling into the surface of the
deck and into the under-support, the thin planks fit together
like a simple jigsaw puzzle using a series of brackets. These
brackets are attached to the side faces of the planks using
screws. You screw the first or edge plank normally, and then you
fit the second planks into it via a slot. Follow this series
until you get to the end of the deck. Fasten the last plank in
place normally, and voila! You have a new deck with no visible
screws. The deck holds together as if it were one piece of wood.
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Fasteners Info
provides detailed information about stainless steel, hook loop,
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