page contents
You are here: Home / Archives for Decks And Porches / Fasteners

Deck Safety Retrofit

October 16, 2012 Written by Robert Robillard 11 Comments
deck joists connection

Deck Safety Retrofit:  Deciding whether to retrofit or replace your deck There are approximately 40 million decks in the United States and only half of those are code compliant.  Deck safety is a real problem. Every year we hear about decks that collapse under the weight of people or snow load. If you have an existing deck that is more than 3 years old you should have it inspected for safety issues and make necessary deck maintenance … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Decks, Decks And Porches, Fasteners, FastenMaster®

Duo Fast Cap Nailer DCR175CN

September 10, 2012 Written by Robert Robillard Leave a Comment
Duo Fast Cap Nailer DCR175

DCR175-CN In Line Cap Nailer Review The folks at Duo-Fast recently sent me their Duo Fast Cap Nailer DCR175CN to review. The DCR175CN is a pneumatic nailer that is designed to deliver a 7/8 to 1-3/4 inch roofing nail along with a plastic cap to effectively and efficiently install building house wrap, synthetic roofing underlayment and roofing felt. This cap nailer results in a better more reliable weather seal and install by holding … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Duo-Fast Tools, Fasteners, Roofing

Attaching Decking to Metal Deck Framing

June 28, 2012 Written by Robert Robillard 1 Comment
DF-METAL_brown-hero-metal

Metal Joist Framing Systems A major new trend in the decking industry is the growing use of metal joist framing systems. While treated lumber will remain the most common substructure for residential decks in the near future, builders and homeowners now have the option of using steel and aluminum deck framing systems, which have several important benefits. First, metal joist systems are now required in some areas to meet building codes, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Decks And Porches, Fasteners

Replacing A Rotting Porch

November 24, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 1 Comment
wood porch repair

Everything has a lifespan ~ choose your materials to last: This week we were called to a home to repair a porch.   As soon as I saw this porch listing to the right it was obvious that non-pressure treated wood was used. I broke the news to the homeowner that we would need to completely re-build her porch from scratch.  What many people do not grasp is that it sometimes  involves more money trying to repair something that is too far gone, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Decks, Exterior Repairs, Fasteners, FastenMaster®, House Flashing, Rot Repair, Uncategorized

Steel Deck Framing System

November 16, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard Leave a Comment
Trex elevations Iron Deck

Steel Deck Framing System eliminates the need for pressure treated wood deck frames Trex Elevations™  will manufacture and market new Trex Elevations Steel Deck Framing – a deck framing system that offers   superior longevity performance and aesthetics as Trexdecking and railing products. Trex Elevations is a dual-coated, galvanized steel, which not only looks great but is stable and lasts along time too.  Because it is steel it  … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Decks, Decks And Porches, Fasteners, Steel Deck

Installing Hidden Fasteners In PVC Trim

October 10, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 6 Comments
cortex-trim-hardware-59052e18-38da7d65 (375x375)

Concealing Your Fasteners Translates Into a Quality Job! I just finished installing a bunch or PVC  trim around a garage door opening.   One thing I wanted to do was install the PVC securely and hide the fasteners. I've used the The Cortex Concealed Fastening System many times before  [see post on Installing an Acorn Finial]  and have found that is is one of the fastest and easiest way to conceal the fastener heads when installing PVC … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cortex Hidden Fasteners, Fasteners, Hidden Fasteners

Deck Maintenance

June 20, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 1 Comment
Joe the pro (366x640)

It’s Never too Late to Clean Up the Deck By Joe “the Pro” Sainz  at www.BeThePro.com Early summer is a great time of year.  The weather’s good, it’s time to grill a few burgers and you can do a few things around the house, including cleaning up the deck. For much of the U.S., the deck is where the family lives in the good weather months.  But during the bad weather months it gets a real beat-down from wind, rain, heating and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Decks, Decks And Porches, Fasteners