The deck I just did was with those clips. I don't like the big gaps either. It was only 16' long so single board per row and yes if you're not careful it will "warp" when stored on site. Were you using a ratcheting screw gun? Seems they strip easier with those. I use a standard drill as the noise of the other bugs the chit out of me. Did you look into their website Chuck about what they recommend for stripped screws? Try the screw extractors? That plastic decking ain't cheap and I'd really hate to see you replace boards.
Building on this idea, the way the screws are made the head does not hold anything. The screws have 2 sets of threads one goes into the framing and the other which is coarser grabs the composite and being coarser suck the composite down to the framing. If you get the correct size drill bit for the plug you can drill the head off and not compromise the attaching of the composite. Then you can install the plug and never know. If you can not seat the plug fully you can use a sharp wide wood chisel to shave it flush.
Thanks Brad, I feel a little better knowing someone else didn't like the look because I kick myself everyday. Our boards are 16' as well. We have a center board (different color) going down the center and 16' boards shooting from each side being cut at about 170 1/2". I got two batches of boards delivered, you can tell they are worlds apart. One looks like a newer batch, boards straight, no warping, no bellying on the board. The other batch which is the vast majority warped, wavy, bellying. You can see when it rains it just sits like a puddle on the board, the others, the rain rolls right off. I was using both a impact driver and switched to a regular drill and I had issues and strips with both. I did reach out to them, haven't heard a lick back! I tried some screw extractors, problem is that dam screw is small and messing with it with those extractors is creating a bigger hold that cannot be plugged. I am sure I can find a larger plug to match if they worked but I am having no luck. Those screws don't want to come out because of their design. Really good stuff ironpony and the direction I am going in if I can get my panties out of a wad and stop my hissy fit for the better part of a week. It will be a screw by screw basis and tedious but that's what needs to be done. My wife and kids think I should check in to the mental institute. Lord knows if I did, what other crap they might find in this box of rocks on top of shoulders, they'd never let me out!! Thanks all for the support, feeling my pain, wonderful suggestions and lastly reading my rants.....I know you all been there and can relate, every man and women has...!
Good luck Chuck. Take a deep breath and let us know how you make out. Oh, and if you didn't hear from them, try again with both email and phone and let us know how you make out.
Can you pound them in, plug it and put another secured screw near it? And I would so be on the phone returning the older warped boards. When those puddles ice over in the winter it could be a slip/fall factor for certain people (ahem).
Nothing, but I think I've found a work around. As mentioned by someone drilling out the heads seems to do the trick and shaving the plug a little with a razor knife works out well. I've fixed a few by doing this but have many more to go and just taking them one by one. I'll post some pics when I am done. It's certainly not a perfect deck, few things I wish I did better but I am no carpenter or deck layer. I tend to be a perfectionist but lack the skills to be one.....I'll live with it.
I made out ok, thanks for asking I still have a few plugs I am not happy with that went in wonky and kinda protruding up a little bit. I am very anal so I notice it more and irks me. I have to take some time ID them all (I'd say about 4-6) and drill out/remove the plug and drill out the stripped screw more and re-plug. I actually have bigger plugs I can use as well. In hindsight I wish I went with the trek fasteners, ugh I am over my temper tantrum haha, I have to accept the fact there are mistakes and things I could have done better but when you just don't know you just don't know and I don't have the experience. In reality I relied to much on my brother in law, I should have educated myself more but I was lazy just relying on him. When I was left with the project I didn't take the time to educate myself more, and at that point I just wanted it done with. Overall I am happy with it, should last many many years and the good thing is he helped me with all the foundational work which is most important. I probably spent more than I needed with the amount of mistakes. I am also very pleased with how the front steps came out and the 2 side steps (there is steps on both side). I've never done something like that before and happy with results. I ended up buying a 12" miter saw used on FB for $60, older dewalt, thing was priceless on the miters for steps and a dam good saw cuts straight as can be. I also decided to pour a 9x9 pad granted I've never poured a concrete pad in my life, you know what frig it, I did it and it's not pretty but serves it's purpose as smoke/grill pad. Lot of work, wife helped a lot, we were in bed early that night and trust me it wasn't for some hanky panky. More like pass the pain killers and ben gay! My trailer was SCREAMING with that load of concrete on it That was a fun ride home but only had to go literally a few miles. I went early in the AM before the maniacs and congestion starts. Last thing we'd like to add is privacy walls along each side, front will stay open but that's another $1,500 so we are just waiting to recover from the summer vacations and a little lingering deck debt. We are going to landscape on each side of the steps as well and put some type of border brick wall or similar and plant some nice smaller trees and colorful plants. We do not have green thumbs but we'll give it a go ehh. Anyone critiquing please go easy on me it is what it is
ReelFaster Nice work. The steps look great with the miters. I wish my quilt corners looked that good.
Thanks so much! Having the 12" miter saw made a world of difference. I tried using a circular saw but just didn't come out nearly as nice.
If you are going for the last privacy look I have a good solution for you. That is the look the wife wanted around the pool but I thought the price was crazy. So I did some looking and creative thinking and this is what I came up with. I found these panels on Lowes website 6" tall 8' wide $99. I took the top and bottom rail cut them in half to 4'. I then turned all the boards horizontal making each section 6' long. I cut spacers out of trim vinyl boards and used them to space the slats.
More cheap than clever, wife wanted the pool, I didnt want to spend money so I built her one. there is a thread here somewhere.
