To some extent, deck fasteners are expanding because of the success of deck projects overall. “Decks are becoming installations from a standing position. larger and more complex,” points out Martin Ruch, vice president of retail sales and merchandising at USP Structural Connectors. “Deck design was easy when it was just a rectangle, but there are very few of those any more. That means they take longer to put together and are more complicated in how they are fastened.”
Higher Quality encouraged
The higher-quality products being used today also encourage the use of higher grade fasteners. “There’s a strong niche for stainless-steel products,” says Scott Park, product manager for fasteners at Simpson Strong-Tie. “The lifespan for a deck used to be 10 or 12 years, but now the warranties are covering 30-plus years, and people are realizing that they need their fasteners to last that long, too. It’s especially strong in coastal areas. They see the value of using stainless-steel fasteners.”
Mike Gerstenberger, partner at Tiger Deck, agrees that stainless-steel options are growing. His company offers a proprietary stainless-steel fastener for its hardwood deck boards. “Whatever fastener is used, it has to flex to work with the movement of the wood so it keeps secure. Stainless-steel fasteners seem to be preferred by contractors installing our products.”
Adds Mike McFarland, director of nonferrous product lines at PrimeSource, “Stainless-steel fasteners are continuing to grow, in part due to support from the high-quality, long-term building materials’ installation guides. The companies are recommending or requiring stainless steel fasteners be used. They want to be assured that the installation will last as long as their deck boards.”
Knowledgeable customers provide more encouragement, he notes. “Many homeowners and builders are reviewing the installation guides and following through in building their project. If the builder isn’t using stainless-steel fasteners when they’re recommended, that creates a challenge.”
Along with higher-quality screws is a continuing move toward hidden fasteners. “Over the past five years, the market has shifted quickly to hidden fasteners,” says FastenMaster’s DiSanto, estimating the market is about 50-50 now. “I don’t see exponential growth from now on, but I expect their use will continue to grow more slowly.”
USP’s Ruch agrees. “Composite boards and exotic hardwoods are using hidden fasteners more often, as they don’t want the fasteners to interrupt the look of the boards. They want to anchor them from the bottom.”
 According to FastenMaster, its TrapEase® 3 Ultimate Deck Screw is the only fastener guaranteed to create a clean, finishedlook without predrilling in composite, PVC and capstock decking. Guaranteed for the life of the project, the screws are available in colors to match leading deck board brands. |
