Want a better looking deck? Get rid of the visible screws

As a country in love with indoor-outdoor living, many New Zealanders take pride in their ability to entertain friends and family in an outdoor setting. And one of the classic cornerstones of a Kiwi home is a beautiful outdoor deck.

Building a beautiful deck is a process that takes a fair bit of time and skill, but not so much that it’s inaccessible to the accomplished DIYer. And once all the technical details have been ticked off, and the framing is installed, it’s fairly straightforward to lay the boards: all you need is timber, some nails or screws, a skill saw and a drill.

But like many things, new and innovative technology can make age-old architectural features even simpler. This is the case with modern decking, and it comes in the form of a concept just as simple: nail-free timber decking.

Timber and nails have been the standard combination for decking for centuries — but just because it’s a historical mainstay, doesn’t mean it can’t be updated. Exposed nails or screws in decking can often skew the natural aesthetic of hardwood timber; if not done professionally, often they can appear off-centre and asymmetrical — not to mention the risk of popped nails later down the line, which can lead to potential injury.

Nail-free timber decking is the natural solution to this problem, and ShadowDeck — a leader in the field in New Zealand for almost 12 years — is an expert. The company has long taken note of the flaws of decking secured with nails or screws, and has endeavoured to improve decks in New Zealand by removing them entirely from the deck surface.

“With traditional decking using nails or screws, you often see splintering over time as a result of water getting into the timber, which then expands and splinters around the nails or screws ” says ShadowDeck’s Darrel Grace.

“From an aesthetic perspective: screws often detract from the natural look of the hardwood timber. If you look particularly at larger decks, the eye is drawn to the visible screws.”

The solution to the problem, Darrel says, is a timber hidden deck fastening system — a patented and trademarked design from ShadowDeck which is also BRANZ appraised, and integral to the company’s offering.

So how does it work?

Instead of fixing screws through the top of the timber, the ShadowDeck system uses timber that has been edge-grooved at the mill.

The ShadowDeck fastener fits snugly into the edge-groove of the board, and is screwed down into the joist at a 40° angle which provides greater holding power, requires half the number of screws, and removes the need for pre-drilling or countersinking.

The hidden deck fasteners also allow the timber to expand and contract in the seasons, which minimises the chances of the timber splitting.

Since the fasteners are hidden on the joists and not visible on the deck surface, users of the system can rest assured that their decks are thoroughly fastened while simultaneously benefitting from the absence of unsightly, troublesome nails or screws.

Aside from the superior aesthetics and the enhanced practicality, ShadowDeck’s system also boasts another key benefit: it’s DIY-friendly.

“The system is designed to be very DIY-friendly — it’s not a complex system,” says Darrel. “We provide a very straightforward installation guide, which is used by both homeowners and builders.”

As for the framing and the joists, there are no special requirements — standard framing is fully compatible with the ShadowDeck system. The versatility doesn’t stop there, though. Whilst ShadowDeck timber already comes edge-grooved and has a slight dome profile to aide watershed and prevent cupping, the system is available with a range of hardwood timbers.

“Our system works with any hardwood timber available in New Zealand,” says Darrel. “By using a standard biscuit-cutter on site, the builder or homeowner can make any hardwood fit the hidden deck fastening system’.

This versatility allows homeowners to match their deck with their overall exterior aesthetic — and this, combined with the fact that unsightly screws are eliminated entirely, is the crux of why so many homeowners are drawn to ShadowDeck’s solution.

“We get a lot of referrals from existing customers’ friends and family, because they’ve noticed that their ShadowDeck actually looks different — the lack of visible nails or screws really makes a difference,” says Darrel.

As Craig, a ShadowDeck owner from Auckland says “It’s a finish that’s unbeatable”.

Learn more about ShadowDeck and its patented timber hidden deck fastening system.