Deck Fasteners - Air-Dried Wood

Buy the Right Deck Fasteners for Air-Dried Wood

If you are buying wood that needs to be air-dried and are wondering what hidden deck fastener to buy, this guide is for you. If you don't know why air-drying wood is even worth mentioning, let's take a look at the purpose of air-drying wood.

The process of "seasoning" or air-drying decking basically means that you allow the pre-cut decking to dry outdoors until its moisture content is equal to the relative moisture content of the surrounding area. Wood is air-dried to:

Boost dimensional stability. Wood contracts (shrinks) across the grain when it dries. If you cut your decking before it has acclimated to the surrounding air-moisture content, it will contract as it dries and will end up being smaller, thereby throwing off your deck plans altogether.
Reduce or eliminate the chances of decay & sap staining. When you let your decking dry below 20% moisture content, you increase the chance it will end up decaying and getting sap stains.
Give your decking a diet. Seriously, by allowing your deck to air-dry, it will be a lot lighter. The process of seasoning decking means that you can reduce the weight over 30% just by allowing excess moisture to be removed.
Make your decking stronger. Air dried wood is stiffer, harder and stronger. In fact, most species of hardwood decking are around 50% stronger so long as the wood has a moisture content of roughly 15%.

OK. So, now you know about air-dried decking. But the question now is: What deck fasteners go with Aid-dried wood decking?

The Extreme™ deck fastener made by the Ipe Clip® Company was specifically designed to work best with air-dried wood decking. The Extreme™ is a hidden deck fastener that: Extreme Deck Fasteners

Allows your the decking to shrink normally without giving way and warping the boards
Works great with pre-grooved or regular decking
Provides maximum holding power
Features a stainless steel insert to make the fastener virtually unbreakable
Holds perfectly in extreme hot, or bitter cold weather
Available in brown, black, or gray to match your decking

Learn more about the Ipe Clip® Extreme™ and why it is the best deck fastener for air-dried wood decking.

The Deck Fastener Buyer's Guide:

More About Hidden Deck Fastening Systems

The number of hidden deck fastener systems on the market today is also high, although not as many options are available as face driven screws. There are pros and cons to each one of these systems as well. Each System has its own unique installation method. They all are constructed of different materials that have its advantages and disadvantage. Click HERE to READ MORE ABOUT THIS OPTION >