Step 1: Pre-Drilling May Be Required

Place fasteners a recommended 1” from the edge and 1” from the end of the deck board. In instances where there is not enough room to be 1” away, it is necessary to pre-drill the deck board.

Using a speed square. Place the tool on top of the deck board and tight to the outside edge. Use a 1/8” wood drill bit in the drill and drill a hole at 1” in from the edge of the deck board. 

The fasteners must be less that 16” on center. For this project, with the deck joists installed at 16” on center, follow the center of each joist to install the fasteners.  If the joists were different than 16” on center, then measuring along the edge of the deck board every 16” would have been required.

Step 2: Fasten Deck Board

Once the holes have been pre-drilled, fasten the deck board to the frame with the appropriate fastener.

Make sure the fastener is flush with the top of the deck board.  Do not indent the fastener past the top of the decking material.

Step 1: Cut Piece of Board

On the other edge of the board Trex Hideaway® Universal Fasteners will need to be installed. Start by cutting a 1 ½” wide piece of the decking board. 

Step 2: Place Clip In Groove

Place the clip into the groove of the deck board. Slide the 1 ½” piece of deck board up against the clip so that the clip sits in the groove of the small piece of decking.  Push the small piece of deck board tight against the clip and the full deck board. By holding the clip with this small piece of deck board, the clip will be straight and not move when the fastener is installed.

Step 3: Use Drill To Install Fastener

While holding the block tight to the clip, install the fastener into the deck frame with a drill and a long T10 Star bit.  This bit will come in the packing of the Trex Hideaway Fasteners.  

Step 4: Drill Fasteners

Drill the fastener to just under the top of the deck board. 

Do not install the fastener tight into the clip at this time. The fastener will be tightened when the next deck board is installed.

Step 5: Tighten Fastener

When the block is used and the fastener is left slightly raised, make sure to tighten the fastener once the next deck board has been installed. Do not overtighten the fastener. Repeat this process with the remaining deck boards.

Step 1: Place Clip In Tool

Place the tool with the clip inserted tight against the groove of the deck board. Install the fastener into the deck framing and make sure the fastener is tight against the clip.

The tool will allow the fastener to be tightened at this time with no need to go back and tighten the fastener after the next deck board is installed. 

Step 2: Install One Fastener at Each Joist

Install all the hidden fastener clips into the deck frame, with one fastener at each joist. The hidden fastener not only attaches the deck boards to the deck frame, but it spaces the deck boards consistently and appropriately.

There needs to be a specific amount of gapping between each deck board. For a list of recommended gapping requirements, review the Trex Installation Guide.

Step 3: Slide Boards Into Place

Slide the next deck board into place. Tap with a rubber mallet to ensure the deck board is tight against the hidden fastener clips. 

Repeat the process of installing the hidden fasteners.

Step 6: Install Last Board

The last deck board installed against the house will need to be angled to fit between the house and into the hidden fastener clip.

Step 7: Inspect Placement of Boards

Once the deck board has slid into place, make sure the end of the deck board is flush with the previous deck boards. Hold a straight edge up against the ends and move the deck board as needed.

Step 8: Tighten Board Against Clip

Use a pry bar between the deck board and the house to tighten the deck board against the hidden fastener clips.  A small amount of pressure will work in this instance.  Do not over tighten the deck board.

Step 9: Install Surface Fasteners Against House

Surface fasteners will need to be installed against the house. Fasten them in the same fashion as you did at the front edge of the deck.

Avoid drilling a fastener into the ledger flashing if possible.  In this project, the ledger flashing was 1 ½” away from the house so the fasteners were drilled at 2 ¼” away from the house. Pre-drill the hole first.

Step 10: Add Color-Matched Fastener

Insert the color-matched composite screw into the hole and drill in place until the fastener is flush with the top of the decking. Repeat this process at every joist.

A breaker board is a deck board installed perpendicular to the other deck boards, usually in the middle of the deck or in some pattern breaking the decking surface into sections. This board can be installed before or after the field deck boards.

Step 1: Cut Board To Precise Length

The first field deck board on either side of the breaker board needs to be cut to the precise length.  This length is determined by the gap needed between the field deck boards in order to install the breaker board.

In this project, the breaker board was 5 ½” wide. A gap between the breaker board and the ends of the field deck boards is required. This amount of gap depends on the ambient temperature.

Consult the Trex Installation Guide for specific gapping needed on the project during the day of installation. 

Step 2: Cut Boards Against House

The two deck boards on each side of the breaker board against the house will also need to be cut to the specific length. Cutting the boards to length will give the proper gap between the field deck boards so that the breaker board can be properly installed.  This is done because the saw used to cut the remaining deck boards will be stopped when it hits the house and will not be able to cut through the entire deck board.

Step 3: Leave Field Boards Long

The field deck boards are left long and overhanging the edge of the blocking joists. You save time and obtain a cleaner cut by leaving the field deck boards long and cutting them at the same time. Each deck board could be cut to the specific length and then installed but this takes more time and can present more obstacles depending on the project.

Step 4: Snap Chalk Line

Using the field deck boards that were cut to the specific length at the front edge of the deck and against the house, snap a chalk line between the two deck boards. Also snap a chalk line on the other side of the breaker board.

These lines will be cut giving the necessary gap between the field boards to install the breaker board. Do not use red chalk. Most colored chalks are permanent and may discolor the surface. Use only Irwin Strait-Line® Dust-Off Marking Chalk (purple), available at www.Irwin.com.

Step 5: Cut Deck Boards

Set the circular saw to the appropriate depth so that the saw only cuts the deck boards and not the deck frame joist underneath. 

Start the saw and follow the chalk line continuously to the house. Repeat the cut on the opposite line.

Step 6: Position Breaker Board

Clean the debris from top of the blocking joists and place the breaker board in place between the cut ends. Maintain the same gap on each side of the breaker board between the cut deck ends..

Step 7: Install Fastener

Measure 1” from the edge of the board and every 16” install a recommended color-matched deck surface fastener. 

Predrill and then install the fastener. Make sure that the blocking joists underneath the breaker board are not shared by the breaker board and the deck boards coming in perpendicular.  The decking ends should have their own blocking joist to support them.

Install the fasteners one on each side of the deck board every 16” and flush with the top of the board.