Thread: How many screws in boards and joists?

I've always heard 2 are sufficient. I'm not sure on the placing from the outer edge, but someone maybe able to help out.
I have seen a deck recently built using 140 merbau and there were only 2 screws in these.
The most important thing is to use a jig for a consistent line of screws. As they're going to be a feature you don't want them wandering along the deck.
Some also say you need to put them off-centre to each other on the boards.
There was one drawn up on how to make one on this forum, so you could do a search for this.

Sorry I wasn't a huge help. You could use the search option, I find that most of my questions have already been answered here!
Hope it all goes well

Definitely screw every joist. I'd just put two in, 25mm from the edges.

Originally Posted by clackerz

Some also say you need to put them off-centre to each other on the boards.

That's to stop the joists splitting, but I doubt you'd have a problem with pine joists, so it's just a matter of what look you prefer.

OK so 2 it is. I have found thats its 20mm from the edge. I'll have to remake my jig.
I am not off centering them. Treatied pine joists should be fine. Sorry for asking the same questions..I want to get this right.

20/25mm, wouldn't really make much difference. Perhaps there's a technical manual out there somewhere if you want to get fussy, but I was just envisioning it in my head.

cool, stainless steel screws look realy good in a deck. Here is a good tip. A lot of people dont get there deck sanded after the install, but i can tell you that the difference between getting it sanded and not is worth the process of getting it done. It is simple and can be done with a orby. It just cleans up every thing just nicely before you coat it. In north Queensland, i used to sand heaps of them for builders. But trhey were big decks and we used our floorsanding machines. the deck was crisp and clean before we coated it. Also We always used oils, Feast Watson or cabots is good,. Gotta go, my 75 year old motherin law wants a cuppa tea.

O buy the way 2 screws countersunk 3mm 20-25 in from the edge in a staggered line is good.

140mm wide boards 22mm finish we'd generally go stainless bugels 75mm 2 per joist as the bigger boards have more power to move around plus the customer who wants wider is usalll after the jetty look so the bigger fixings go with the bigger board and bigger budget LoL...
Either way bring the screws in approx 30mm from the edge to spread the holding power .... 9 gauge ???? thought it was 8 or 10G

cheers utemad

Im with Utemad Gav,

Originally Posted by Larry McCully

Im with Utemad Gav,

Geeeeez thanks Larry ...... I might get round to putting the stair photo's up ....What do ya reckon ....could give you a plug aswell but have to wait and see....LoL

Should see the deck on the front and the pergola now .... 6x6 merbau posts and chunky as you know what... I will get a happy snap when i go back and post it for all the hardwood fans amongst us along with a before to see the change.... Boy did that one cost in timber and milling

Cheers utemad

Yeah I thought 8 or 10g but I will take a foto of the box and show you taht its actually 9g and they are 53mm long...strange sizes...

I've gone 20mm in, I only laid 5 boards today..too much stuffing around trying to work everything out....
Got a good production system going now so I'll be able to lay heaps. I been countersinking them..

I have noticed that I have to stand on the board when Im screwin them down as the boards lift up a little when they are getting screwd down. Im so glad I bougt the impact driver...screws go in like they are in butter.

Originally Posted by oohsam

Yeah I thought 8 or 10g but I will take a foto of the box and show you taht its actually 9g and they are 53mm long...strange sizes...

I've gone 20mm in, I only laid 5 boards today..too much stuffing around trying to work everything out....
Got a good production system going now so I'll be able to lay heaps. I been countersinking them..

I have noticed that I have to stand on the board when Im screwin them down as the boards lift up a little when they are getting screwd down. Im so glad I bougt the impact driver...screws go in like they are in butter.

The impact driver is definately the go.... we use 3 when doing large decks so as to rotate them and save burning them out as we screw off the whole deck in one go generally....
The board shouldn't stand up if your pilot hole in the board is 1/8 inch for a 10g screw and the tip is a type 17 point to cut into the joist....

cheers utemad

Hmm...
Im using a 3mm bit for the pilot hole for the 9g Screws and they are type 17...
I was looking at the deck this morning, one of the boards a little thicker than the others and you can notice it when walking on the deck..Should I pack out the other boards just a little to compensate?

I would measure the difference in thickness and plane down the thicker one to match. But first make sure it is just the board that is thicker and not your framing .

I see. I have a good electric plane that I will put to use.
When planing merbau, will you be able to notice its been planed..ie, in the colour?
You can tell with most wood once its been planed.

Not unless you climb under your deck to look at it.