Deck Problems - Nail Pops

There's a good chance this deck will have many nails popping up.

When you're putting together your must-have deck tools and deck hardware list, if you settle on nails, cheap deck screws, and no deck fasteners, you are setting yourself up for multiple issues. When a deck has nail pops, it's a very serious deal. If you look at the picture above, you can see that, while this nail hasn't popped up yet, over time, the conditions are right for it to do just that. Why?

Deck nails pop up over time as the wood expands and contracts naturally. You can't avoid this from happening since wood will "breathe" as it absorbs and releases moisture. When a deck has been constructed in a shoddy fashion, what will happen is that the wood will eventually push up the nail, forcing it to literally pop up out of the decking.

Nail pops are dangerous and can cause injuries due to falls, broken toes, or punctured skin. You can use your imagination as to what stepping on, or tripping over, a nail pop up would feel like. If you're a soon-to-be-deck-owner, you also don't want to have a neighbor or one of their kids trip on your deck since your insurance premiums would surely skyrocket thanks to the lawsuit that would be filed against you.

Prevent Nail Pops by Using Deck Fasteners

If you want to save money and keep yourself, your family, and your guests safe, then there's no reason to not use hidden deck fasteners. The use of a deck fastening system will allow for the natural expansion and contraction of your deck boards without nail pops. Because you use insert the deck screw at a 45° angle into the joist, you will have a smooth deck surface without having to worry about nails popping up on the deck surface.