The U.S. patented Hardwood Wrench is a self-locking board straightening tool that offers endless benefits. With its larger self-locking cam, stainless steel and ergonomic hardwood handle, and adjustable joist pins it straightens deck boards with ease. But wait, there’s more. The Hardwood Wrench is expandable, reversible, dual-purpose and has a pushing force of roughly 1,100 pounds.

Sounds pretty awesome, right?

Here’s how the Hardwood Wrench works: You start by placing the adjustable joist pins on the joist and butt the cam against the board. Turn the handle to straighten the deck board, which automatically locks the cam into place. That’s it!

Both of your hands are now free to install the fasteners. To remove the Hardwood Wrench you simply swing the handle to unlock. One other tool you may want to consider using, which compliments the Hardwood Wrench, is DeckWise^® Board Spacers. These brightly color-coded spacers come in five different sizes and are meant to work flawlessly with the Hardwood Wrench. These spacers assure you that you have even gaping between your boards.

If you are interested in the amazing new Hardwood Wrench and want to find out more visit www.DeckWise.com. This site also offers further information on all our other products.

The post How Do I Straighten Bowed Deck Boards? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Permits

First and foremost, check with your local Division of Building Code Enforcement. Typically, permits will be required that will inform you on certain codes that need to be followed. Being a rebel and building without a permit will probably result in a hefty fine or, possibly, having to tear down the deck and start over. The importance of the codes is to instill safety, assuring that inadequate construction did not occur. Also, you may want to review your HOA rules and regulations.

Location

The second consideration is establishing the proper location for your deck. Establishing the function of your deck is important, such as using it for entertainment or a pool deck. One you have a clear understanding of your deck’s purpose, you should decided what type of access you want. We thought it would be smart for entertainment-based decks to be located closely to the kitchen. However, choosing the deck location is primarily up to the builder.

Budget

Naturally you must have the right allocated funds to produce your deck. Deck building is not a cheap task, so outlining your budget before starting a project is important. You have to decide how big you want and can afford your deck to be, the supplies that will be required to properly install the deck, and the amount of work that is required.

Design

Planning your deck layout is exciting because the designs are endless. If you are struggleing to think of your dream deck design do not fret. You can find many designs (some for free) online, in bookstores, at your favorite home improvement store or even at your local library.

Here are some things to keep in mind while you are choosing your designs:

• Consider what you will be placing on the deck, i.e. a grill, dining table, lounge chairs, planters, etc., and make sure that the design will comfortably accommodate these items.
• If you are planning on placing a dining table on the deck, you might want to allow roughly four feet of space on each side. This will give people sitting at the table room to walk around.
• Consider future add-ons, such as a hot tub or fire pit.
• Decide whether you want separated areas. This can be done by building multiple levels or using separators, such as flower boxes or built-in benches.
• Don’t forget to think about lighting. Many lighting options are installed before construction of the deck is complete, therefore you don’t want to leave this step for last.

Once design is determined, we recommend laying out your design. You can simply do this on the grass with rope. Laying out the design will allow you to visualize the future deck better and to make sure you have enough room to fit all your desired items on the deck.

Decking Materials

This is where things can start to get complicated. With the abundance of different material now available, you have quite a few options to choose from. Although wood decking is still the most widely used, other types of material are becoming more and more prominent. Your options include, but are not limited to:

• Softwood (Cedar, Redwood)
• Tropical Hardwood (Ipe, Tigerwood)
• Composites
• PVC

Each option has positives and and negatives. Choosing the type of material depends on your desired overall look, budget, and labor ability. Some materials are easier to work with, have longer lifespans, and some require less maintenance. However, there is no such thing as maintenance-free materials. Additionally, some materials are not compatible with certain hardware. We recommend you talk with your local lumber yard and let them assist you in the discovery of which material is best for you.

Tools

Having the proper tools will be the ultimate factor on how successful and timely your deck was build. People who do not spend then time researching the proper tools will most likely have a result that they are not happy with. Also, building with proper tools will determine how durable your deck will ultimately be.

Below are a few tools we think are absoulteyly nesscary to create a nice and stable deck.

1. Drill, Countersink and Driver (since nailing deck boards in place is pretty much something of the past) – If you don’t have one or more of these items, look for a model that has all three , such as the Drill & Drive. This will help your job move along about three times faster.

2. Deck Board Straightener (if you have chosen hardwood as your decking material) – This is another tool that will save you time and labor. But make sure you find one that is strong and self-locking so you can keep your installation a one-man operation. Check out the Hardwood Wrench, designed to straighten deck boards with ease.

3. Deck Board Spacers – (because it’s so important to create proper gap spacing) – These handy little accessories will help you create a long-lasting, beautiful deck. With deck board spacers, you simply place them between the boards, install the fasteners and then slide the spacers out. If you are interested in purchasing some that will prevent denting and marring, you may want our DeckWise Deck Board Spacers.

Fasteners

Last, but not least, you must choose proper fasteners. Contrary to belief, not all fasteners are created equal. Whether you opt to face screw your boards or you choose the hidden fastener option, there are certain things you want to watch out. First, watch out for anything with a Phillips head, as these can strip easily. Instead, look for high-grade stainless steel screws with star drive finish heads, such as DeckWise^® Colormatch Deck Screws. Another important factor, especially if you will be driving the screws through hardwood, is the tip. Auger tips work best with minimal effort. And do not forget to ALWAYS pre-drill!

If you are looking for the ultimate hidden look, you should select a hidden deck fastener system, this is the system we always suggest. Choosing the proper hidden fastener is important because some are not designed to allow the wood to expand, which can eventually make your deck unstable. Our group of engineers have researched designs to create the DeckWise^® Hidden Deck Fasteners, which allow wood to expand and are extremely durable.

Well we hope this helps give you the knowledge you need to start purchasing materials and building your new deck!

For more building tips check-out our website at www.deckwise.com.

The post Wondering What Things To Consider Before Building a Deck? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

When deck boards are face nailed or face screwed, the wood is prevented from naturally expanding and contracting. Because of this, the nails will loosen over time causing a number of issues with your deck boards. Also, the loosened nails allow for water penetration, which can result in dark deck stains, splitting and even rotting wood. If problems such as those arise, your deck will not be as durable and safe.

We believe the use of hidden deck fasteners is crucial to the overall success of your deck. Though the installation of deck boards when using hidden fasteners can take a little longer, you want your deck to look beautiful and last for years to come. This process can be shortened by using our Drill & Drive, which allows you to properly install the fasteners in a fraction of the time.

NOTE: Hidden deck fasteners cannot be used with softwood, but work well with hardwood, PVC and composite material.

• Compatible with the type of material you are using
• Easy to install
• Allows the material to expand and contract
• Allows for even gap spacing
• Has maximum holding power (45 degree screw angle)
• Attaches to both the board and the joist (if using wood)
• Is durable
• Is UV & chemical resistant
• Has a lifetime warranty

Remember, the above features are not listed in order of importance, as all features are of the same value. You will find that many of the hidden deck fasteners have a few of these features, but very few have them all. If you want all of the features combined, I recommend you take a look at DeckWise^® Hidden Deck Fasteners.

The post What’s The Difference Between Face Nailing/Screwing and Hidden Deck Fasteners? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Here at DeckWise®, we specialize in the tools needed for proper installation. And our first-hand experience provided us with the knowledge to inform you with a few tips to prevent stripping and breaking on your future projects.

First, and most importantly, we recommend pre-drilling no matter what type of screw, fastener and wood you are using.

Next, you should make sure you have the proper tools to successfully complete your project. Choosing the correct screws can help avoid stripping and breaking. DeckWise® offers screws that are of higher quality stainless steel, which makes the screws less susceptible to corrosion. Using these high-quality screws, when properly installed, will give you a longer-lasting and more durable result. Though choosing the right screw for you is important, using the right drill will also affect your finished project. When working with dense exotic hardwoods, we recommend a cordless drill with an adjustable clutch. Using tools that are too powerful can strip, break or over-tighten the screws and fasteners.

The last tip we have for you is to make sure your driver tip is seated properly in the screw head and that it is not worn out. Having the correct alignment can sometimes be difficult to see, take a moment and double check that your alignment is approximately 45 degrees.

You can learn more tips like these and about our products by going to our website at DeckWise.com

The post Got a Few Screws Loose? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

I’m talking about pre-drilling. Recently, I blogged about the reasons one should pre-drill so I’m not going to repeat myself. What I would like to do instead, is discuss how you can pre-drill without adding more installation time. Typically, when pre-drilling is involved it includes a number of different tools that you must constantly change out such as drill bits, countersinks, and drive tips. With this in mind, pre-drilling can definitely become a time-consuming task. But it doesn’t have to be.

What if you could take three tools that all perform different functions and combine them into one? Imagine the time you would save and the hassle you would rid yourself of. No more worries about dropping parts or switching from one tool to the other. Imagine deck installation moving along three times faster, without skipping steps.

DeckWise^® has just the right tool to do the trick. It’s called the Drill & Drive and it is a 3-in-1 drill bit, countersink bit, and driver tip that will help speed up pre-drilling your hardwoods, countersinking for plugs, and driving screws. Budget-friendly and durable, the Drill & Drive is a complete kit that will take care of all your needs, efficiently. Simply drill, flip, drive (video).

It’s wise not to skip steps, but even wiser to combine three steps into one. You’re time is valuable and DeckWise^® understands that.

The post Want To Cut Down Your Installation Time? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Some of the confusion has to do with the pronunciation and spelling of this wood’s name, which is pronounced “ee-pay.” And, although you now see the correct spelling as Ipe, it has been searched many times through Google using the terms epae, epay, eepay, eapae and ipay.

Ipe is native to rainforests in South Central America. Although it’s known by a number of different names, Ipe and Brazilian Walnut seem to be the most popular. It’s trunk diameter can grow to six feet round and can grow up to 200 feet in height, which makes it one of the tallest trees in the Amazon. Famous for its beauty, the wood appears oily and has a medium texture boasting an olive brown to black color as the heartwood, and a whitish yellow as the sapwood. Once milled, it will eventually darken to a rich medium to dark brown.

Other qualities that make Ipe stand out above the rest have nothing to do with beauty, but instead, durability and performance. Ipe has been given a fire Class A fire rating, the same given to steel and concrete, and is impermeable and highly resistant to fungi and termites. According to the Janka Rating (which measures the resistance of wood to withstand denting and wear), Ipe is the hardest, most durable decking material available with a rating of 3,684, which makes it three times as hard as Red Oak. Because of this, Ipe has many different uses such as flooring, naval construction, bridge work, outdoor furniture, and of course, decking.

DeckWise^® features many products designed to perform flawlessly with Ipe and other hardwoods such as Ipe Oil, Ipe Seal, Ipe Clip® Hidden Deck Fasteners, Colormatch Stainless Steel Screws and the Hardwood Wrench. You can view more information about our products at DeckWise.com.

The post What is Ipe? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

All wood, including premium hardwood such as Ipe and Tigerwood, is at risk of developing issues such as fading (or ‘silvering’), splitting, rotting, shrinking, swelling, and warping. This is caused by a number of factors including climate, insects, fungi and bacteria. Additionally, the cut ends of deck boards are vulnerable to certain elements and, over time, can start to end-check (split or crack), leaving you with an unattractive and uninviting deck.

Reason enough to take that final step and apply wood finish and end grain sealant to protect it from these factors, right? But how do you know what to look for? What type will extend the life of your deck for the longest period of time?

If your deck is built with hardwood you want to purchase a hardwood deck finish, such as Ipe Oil, for the face of the deck boards. The most important aspect to look for in a deck finish is excellent penetrating power because, as the name suggests, ‘hardwood’ is hard and some finishes are not powerful enough to penetrate this type of wood. Another important factor is the amount of UV protectant it offers to prevent fading.

As mentioned above, Ipe Oil is an excellent choice. It provides superior penetration and, with its oil-based natural wood finish it is specially formulated to protect and preserve your hardwood deck, safeguarding its natural elegance.

As for protecting the end cuts, Ipe Seal is an ideal choice. It is a wax emulsion sealer that forms the barrier needed to keep out moisture and prevent end-checking, extending the structural integrity of your deck.

Choosing the proper materials for your deck is important, but so is protection. After all, you want your dream deck to last a lifetime. Discover more at www.deckwise.com.

The post Why You Should Protect Your Hardwood Deck? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

The winner of the 2011 DeckWise^®deck photo contest is Jason Szykulski from Minnesota. This project was done using our Ipe Clip^® Extreme4, Extreme Hidden Deck Fasteners and also our Hardwood Wrench Board Straightener. Congratulations on winning, Jason and great job with the project!

The post 2011 Deck Photo Contest Winner appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.