4 Common Problems You Could Experience With PVC Hidden Fasteners

Although traditionally wood was the material of choice for decks, the extended lifespan and minimal maintenance required by PVC have replaced it in modern deck building applications. Unlike wood, PVC is capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions and doesn’t need to be constantly painted or stained. Fixing the PVC boards together implies the use of resistant stainless steel screws with non-corrosive properties that are fastened into the deck’s base. Even though this installation method allows the boards to be set without visible nails and screws, the truth is that you could experience a few problems with these fasteners.

1. Limited applicability

While hidden fasteners are ideal for improving the overall appearance of the deck, they don’t constitute a one-size-fits-all solution for all your decking applications. To put it simply, numerous PVC boards out there are designed to be installed with screws or nails and hence, they come with pre-drilled holes. In addition, certain deck kits come with boards with descending slots so the installation implies sliding them into the designated hidden fasteners. For optimal performance, it is highly advisable to match the correct decking material with the appropriate fasteners.

2. Daunting installation

Because the hidden fasteners are little metal brackets that are attached to the deck’s base, they feature grooves that screw into the base from underneath. The advantage of using these types of fasteners for deck applications is that you don’t have to worry about leaving small gaps between the boards. On the other hand, this also translates into a trickier installation as you need to make sure all fasteners are aligned precisely into the slots. It is important to note that even small differences in angle or attachment could lead to problems regarding the board continuity across the deck.

3. Time consuming installation

Since the hidden fasteners need to be installed prior to attaching the boards, building the deck will be a time-consuming activity. Well, at least compared to decks that use standard screws which can be easily fastened by driving them in place with an automatic driller, that is. Let’s not forget that time is a sensitive issue for property owners and contractors alike, thus making the hidden fasteners a less optimal choice in cases when the project needs to meet a sharp deadline.

4. Hidden fasteners don’t work well in all climates

The importance of selecting the appropriate hidden fastener according to the climate cannot be stressed enough. More often than not, galvanized fasteners are recommended for deck application in areas with significant temperature changes. As far as the stainless steel fasteners are concerned, they are best used in climates that see a great deal of precipitations and humidity. Therefore, forgetting to account for the climate characteristics when selecting the appropriate type of fastener could mean you’ll experience problems with corrosion in time. It is highly advisable to avoid choosing the hidden fasteners for a deck application based on the price criterion, as they tend to corrode faster and are more expensive to replace than standard nails and screws.