Thread: Use of liquid nails to build deck

Not reliable enough by itself, the decking needs nails etc to hold it securely.

Sounds a bit dodgy to me! I agree with echnidna- use decking nails

Originally Posted by lopezjm2001

Has anyone used liquid nails to lay decking on the joists when building a deck. This would eliminate filling nail holes and laying rubber/plastic sheets in between to keep water out.

John,

No, it won't work!

If you look around any construction site, you'll find stuff done in the cheapest, most efficient way, and NOWHERE will you find a glued deck.

There are lots of reasons for this, the least of them being that general construction adhesive is not "waterproof" in the long term.

Apart from that, even dead straight perfectly milled timber (if it existed, which it doesn't) would need a mechanical fixing while the glue goes off, or clamping at the least. Because the timber will want to move with climatic changes, the stresses on the glue joint would get to it in the end. Even boat decks designed with special adhesives need periodic replacement.

You don't need the plastic IF you give the tops of the joists a really decent coat of heavy oil-based primer.

You can also buy special concealed clips now that fix the boards down without exposed nail holes if that is important to you, but they do cost a bit.

I think Journeyman Mick has posted elsewhere on his experience in using them. I saw some in Lee Valley's Hardware Catalogue but they are available locally too apparently.

Please DON'T use the glue!

Cheers,

P

Lopez,

I used a system called DeckLock about 10 years ago and they work fine.

Attachment 24392

Here is a pic of one. The angled legs sit on the joists, which lifts the decking off the joists. The Deck Lock Spike is driven into the side of the decking using a 12mm square section (supplied), It fits over the other spike and drives the piece into the decking. Once driven into the decking, a galvanised clout nailed through one of the holes in the larger section fixes the Deck Lock into the joist.

The next piece of decking is then driven onto the other spike and so on and so on.

If you reach a point where you can not drive the spike into the timber, just break off the spike stem off and use it as a spacer to keep the decking off the joist.

The decking in fixed in the sides by the spikes and NO HOLES.

I used these on treated pine decking so I don't know how the spikes would handle hardwood. Can not remember the exact price but I do remember that they were a bit pricey....but you have to way this up with the time saved not having to putty up the holes.

I had to nail the first line of decking otherwise you have too big of a space on the edge with a spike jutting out one side, after that the Deck Locks were used on the rest.

I think I got them from FPM in Brisbane (now Bunnings), but I don't think they would have them in stock and would have to be special ordered.


Hope this helps

Apparently "Bodgy Brothers" are good at liquid nail decks.
I can let you know when they are passing through your town, if you like.
Don't know why they don't have an adress or phone number though.
They must rely on word of mouth, I guess.