Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Need help with composite decking fasteners

Hello, I'm using composite decking (Choice-Dek) for a small deck and have a question about attaching trim facia board. Choice-Dek states, as just about all other composite decking manufacturers, that the trim facia board must be fastened the same way as the 5/4 deck boards with 2 1/4 x 7 stainless steel screws. This seems crazy to me, and I think it total overkill, and looks lousy too. When you use a large 2 1/4 x 7 screw to fasten trim, you see all the screw heads when your done and it just doesn't look good. So, my question is this, is using a large screw really necessary to fasten trim or can I just use a galvanized or stainless finish either nail by hand or with a nail gun? Thank you mross

I've seen facias that were attached with galvanized finish nails and that works fine. I attach mine with stainless screws that have colored heads that match the facia. Trim head screws have a better appearance than bugle head screws.

lefty,

thanks for your reply. Genererally trim and facia boards are installed vertically and therefore require a fastener every few inches to attach it firmly and to eliminate bulging. If you did that with screws you see all the screw heads in the trimand generally speaking, when trim is installed properly you're not supposed to see any fasteners . So, I'm curious why did you opted to use screws instead of nails?

thank you mross

Most of the time I'm installing 1/2" X 12" facias horizontally, and they get screwed every 16" or so, top and bottom. Bowing or bulging has never been much of an issue. They are well supported with backing.

With screws that match the color of the deck board or facia board, especially using trim head screws, they tend to blend right in with the facia.

Screws won't pull out -- nails can, especially if the facia tries to bulge.

Listen to what Lefty says.

Several years ago, in order to justify buying a nail gun to my wife, I opted to nail everything on my deck with ringshank nails on the deck and finishing nails elsewhere. Worked great for about a year. Now I go back every year and reset nails and/or add screws. Trust me, you want to use screws. Don't make the mistake I made.

Lefty and Bruce, Thank you for your advice, I'm convinced to use screws, now. I have a couple more questions. The screws Choice-Dek recommends is a stainless 2 1/4" x 7 for deck boards and facia boards. If I use a 2 1/4" length screw for the facia boards, the screw will go completely through the facia board and backer boards, do you see any problem with this? Or would it be better to use a shorter screw that doesn't go completely through both boards. I would rather not have to buy 2 different length screws if I don't have to, as there is very little facia trim in this project and won't need that many screws. When screwing the facia boards, I'm planning on putting a screw every 16 inches at the top and bottom of the facia board, should I stagger the bottom screws from the screws along the top or put them in-line or doesn't it really matter? And lastly, what are better stainless steel screws or coated (painted) screws. The stainless screws will never rust but a more noticeable, the painted screws blend better with the decking but I'm concerned in time they will rust and stain the boards.

thank you again for all your advice. mross

Assuming that you are using a 2X for the facia backer and the facia is 1/2" thick, a 2-1/4" screw will only have 1/4" of the point sticking out behind the backer. Since it is under the deck, how much of an issue is that going to be? (I always look and that and then decide how to deal with it.) Most times, it isn't an issue, so I can ignore it. But when it Is an issue, there are ways to deal with it. The way I use most is to add a strip of facia where I will be putting the screws in the facia. But that has to be planned for BEFORE the deck boards are installed so that the overhang of the deck boards comes out correctly. Otherwise, you need to go to shorter screws.

Stainless or coated screws?? First, the screws for a composite need to be the style designed for use in a composite. Mostly right hand threads, with a short section of left hand thread just below the head. This eliminates 'mushrooming'. Head Cote came out with a 1-5/8" or 1-3/4" stainless trim head screw that has a colored head to match Azek decking, but that's not a composite screw, and it will 'mushroom' if you put it into a composite. Fasten Master has colored composite screws, but I don't think that they have a length less than 2-1/2".

As far as the coated screws rusting, I've never seen it happen. That coating is pretty tough, and the only spot where it's exposed is the top of the head.

I don't stagger the screw pattern in the facia.