Warranty

C-F-14 © 2014 SIMPSON STRONG-TIE COMPANY INC.
Simpson Strong-Tie
®
Fastening Systems
12
Important Information and General Notes
Deck Construction and Fastening Tips
• Before beginning construction, allow your decking materials
to acclimate to the jobsite conditions. A freshly pressure
treated deck board can contain over a gallon of liquid.
• Select the proper fastener based on your application,
environment and the material that is being fastened.
Consult page 15 of C-F-14, or www.strongtie.com/info for
guidelines on choosing the correct fastener.
• Consider using 300 series stainless-steel fasteners when
unusual exposure conditions may exist, such as presence of
de-icing salts or close proximity to swimming pools, hot tubs,
sprinklers, ponds, foliage and other resident moisture sources.
• Inadequate gap spacing between boards can put additional
load on the fasteners and lead to broken screws or nail pops.
• Orienting the crown of the deck board “bark side up” will help
to shed water and reduce cupping and other weathering-
related defects
• Use caution to avoid overdriving fasteners during installation,
which can cause breakage.
• Allow for proper water drainage. A deck should angle away
from the structure a minimum of  " for every 8' to reduce the
possibility of standing water.
• If your 5⁄4 " decking is to be installed diagonally, reduce the on-
center joist spacing to 12" versus standard 16".
• Adequate ventilation is necessary to minimize cupping,
warping and other weathering related defects. Construct
the deck a minimum of 18 inches off the ground to allow
proper airflow. If this is not possible, reduce on-center joist
spacing to 12" versus standard 16". A moisture barrier
(landscape fabric) under the deck, covered with gravel is
also a good practice.
• Proper maintenance is essential. Staining and sealing, along
with periodic inspection of fasteners and hardware, will
potentially add years to the life of the deck.
For more information on deck construction and
products from SimpsonStrong-Tie; please see our Deck
Connection and Fastening Guide (F-DECKCODE).
Please refer to the American Wood Council’s Prescriptive
Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide (DCA 6)
for important information on best practices and code
compliant design.
x. Only use fasteners for their intended purpose as
described in this publication. Connection failures can
result from inappropriate substitution.
y. Be aware of special conditions that may increase
corrosion risk and select product accordingly.
z. Test drive fasteners to assure fasteners install correctly.
aa. With the use of any power or pneumatic tools, follow
manufacturer’s safety instructions.
ab. Screws made from austenitic stainless steel are
generally softer and have less torsional strength than
screws made from carbon steel. SimpsonStrong-Tie
does not assume liability for breakage or damage due
to screw breakage during or after installation. Pre-drilling
may be necessary in some case. For best results, drive
at 2500 RPM or less.
ac. The term “Designer” used throughout this catalog is
intended to mean a licensed/certified building design
professional, a licensed professional engineer or
licensed architect.
ad. Follow material manufacturer’s installation instructions
and fastener recommendations.
ae. This catalog includes all information available as
of the effective date of publication. Please consult
www.strongtie.com for current information.
Simpson Strong-Tie
®
Fastening Systems