Fastners pros & cons

[tomyco]

I am so confused!! I am having a deck built, we plan on using Port Orford white cedar, clear grade. I love the way it looks without nails or screws and have looked into fasteners, Deck Master and Deck Klips.

I have heard that they don't really work, the wood can shrink which will weeken the fastener. Also, white cedar is a soft wood and if I need to replace a board it is very difficult.

I really don't want to use screws or nails, is anyone familar with these fastener systems or any other fastener system that really works. Thanks! :confused:

[lefty]

I've tried several different blind fastening systems and have yet to find one that I really like. I keep coming back to face screws. (Nails aren't even an option for attaching the deck boards to the joists!!)

What I have gone to are stainless screws with colored heads that match the deck board. Several companies have them, and you can usually find ones that are a very good match to the color of the deck boards. Of course none are collated to fit the Dura Spin, so we are hand screwing the decks. More labor (meaning a higher cost) but a better look that the customer is happier with.