Builders' Show: 'Camo' hidden deck fasteners

If you've built your own wood deck or even watched a pro do it, you've probably seen the usual procedure of nailing or screwing boards down through the face of the board. Over time, boards often split and moisture seeps in. While hidden fasteners are invisible after installation, certain decking materials require certain metals. And hidden fasters generally can be expensive and labor-intensive to install.
 
At the 2011 International Builders' Show, National Nail Corp. is announcing its Camo Hidden Deck Fastening System, which the company claims will attach treated lumber, hardwood, cedar, composite (a wood/plastic mix), and PVC plastic deck boards directly to the substructure, with a clean look above. We'll be checking it out at the show.
 
A cordless drill is all you need to add to the DIY kit, which costs $59.95 and will be sold through lumber yards and hardware stores. (The website includes a dealer locator.) The kit includes 700 screws of carbon or stainless steel, 30 starter-board screws (for the first boards abutting the house), two driver bits, and the Marksman tool. That tool aligns the screw for side-angle entry without predrilling or splitting. A pro version of the Marksman tool can align screws on two edges of a board at once.
 
One hitch may arise if you plan to use Camo for a composite or PVC deck. Using fasteners not specifically approved by—and perhaps sold by—the manufacturers of certain products voids the warranties. So we recommend checking beforehand with the decking manufacturer. And, if possible, getting approval in writing.
 
—Ed Perratore