When it comes to your decking lines, selling the boards and railings is often what comes to mind first; fasteners can sometimes be an afterthought. But with a diversity of fastener options that directly contribute to the deck’s look, feel, and performance, knowing the choices inside and out can be a differentiation point for many dealers—and may offer upsell opportunities for both you and your pro customers.
While most composite and capped composite deck materials can be surface-fastened with traditional screws according to manufacturer recommendations, hidden fastening systems deliver the ultimate clean appearance and eliminate exposed nails while providing secure holding power for lasting performance.
TimberTech® offers several hidden fastener options to meet customers’ needs depending on their budget and design parameters. With an understanding of these product lines, you can help ensure they design and build to the best possible finished deck for each project.
Hidden Fastener Options
Hidden fasteners for composite and capped composite decking typically come in two forms: surface-driven screws that are concealed by plugs (designed for traditional boards) or hidden clip fasteners used on the sides of grooved deck boards.
Top-Down Hidden Deck Fasteners
Top-down fasteners are those that run through the face of the board into the joist below. TimberTech offers two top-down hidden fastener options:
• Cortex® Fasteners: Screws are hidden by plugs made of the same material as your chosen deck boards. Compatible with all TimberTech full-profile deck boards, Cortex fasteners are easy to install, can be used on the entire deck surface, and deliver the strongest connection.
• New Collated Cortex Plugs: The same advantages of Cortex, but plugs are collated in convenient strips; they’re pre-aligned for the plug grain and eliminate handling individual plug pieces, helping to speed installation by as much as 50%.
Hidden Clip Fasteners
TimberTech grooved deck boards can be used with three types of hidden clip fasteners:
• CONCEALoc®: Designed exclusively for TimberTech® grooved deck boards, this hidden fastener system provides a fastener-free surface and can be installed pneumatically with the FastenMaster® Tiger Claw Installation Gun or by using a standard drill.
• EDGELoc®: Designed exclusively for TimberTech® grooved capped composite deck boards, EDGELoc features pre-set screws and 12-clip collated strips for a faster install time. The hidden fastening system offers superior lateral hold thanks to serrated surfaces.
Sales Support Tools
Among the TimberTech product knowledge, technical, and sales support opportunities, TimberTech stocking dealers can now take advantage of the EDGELoc POP Display Bundle. This package comes with all the EDGELoc needed to fill the display at a lower price.
How to Choose a Hidden Fastening System
To help customers choose the right hidden fastening system for each project, there are several factors they can consider:
• Installation: While all hidden deck fasteners offer straightforward installation, some customers may be more comfortable with top-down vs. hidden clip installation, or vice-versa.
• Use on stairs and perimeter: Cortex screws are the only hidden fasteners that work for the entire deck surface, including the stairs and perimeters.
• Overall deck design: Certain hidden fasteners are better suited for tighter butt joints and miters, which is important for design elements like a picture frame border.
Weyerhaeuser Distribution is committed to delivering the reliable, consistent products you can rely on. Connect with your Weyerhaeuser representative today about outdoor living solutions available in your market.
