Testing:

    We are always testing new products, from stains and sealers, to fasteners and materials.  With all the new materials now available for decks, and each brand name telling you their products is the best, how do you choose??. Well, we at Deck Specialists, Inc. devote a great deal of time and effort into testing and comparing products before we install them in your project. All products we use pass our rigorous testing procedures.

Lumber:

    There are now many exotics as well as composites and vinyl products available for decking lumber.  We are currently testing:  P.T. (southern yellow pine), Mahogany ( Red Merrinti, Cambara, Meriden), Ipe or Pau Lope, Cedar (western red and Port Orford), and Teak. As well as these composites: Epoch Evergrain, (our favorite composite) Fiberon, Trex, Smart Decking, Choice Deck, Timber Tech, Correct Deck, Carefree, and several others. We also are testing many solid PVC products and plastic lumber materials . We are testing for hardness, decay resistance, lifespan, stress loading, heat transfer, deflection, checking, splintering, bending, twisting, cupping, and appearance.

Note: at this time, no other material we have tested comes close to Ipe (ironwood). Ipe is much tougher, less likely to scratch or gouge, less prone to staining, provides less tooth for mildew growth, has no problem with heat transfer (composites get very hot in direct sunlight, enough to burn bare feet), Ipe has a far superior fire rating, no splinter problem, can span 16" or greater joists centers, resistant to decay and insects, etc.

Simply put: nearly everybody that researches extensively for outdoor materials on high end projects choose Ipe the ironwood. 

With the high costs of composites and other high end materials, there is no better buy than Ipe.

Sealers:

It is mind boggling the amount of products available to seal or stain your deck.  Each wood may require a completely different  product! In fact each exposure may require special consideration. Does your deck get nothing but sun, are there many windows on your house to reflect and  concentrate the sunlight and actually bake the wood, or are you just the opposite? Is mildew your worst problem?.

   We are constantly testing various finishes and applications on all types of lumber and exposures. In fact, we even have a rooftop test lab set up with hundreds of samples. We test a multitude of products and application techniques for wood protection as well as  the integrity and beauty of the finish. Currently, for our Ipe decks we are using Cabot Austrian timber oil in multiple coats, this is a thin penetrating oil that after several coats of the ultra dense Ipe works very well. We have found no one coat answer for Ipe as it is so dense and will only absorb a little product at any one time.

Fasteners:

     We monitor many brands of screws, nails and bolts with coatings consisting of galvanization (plated and hot dipped), Ceramic (climacoat), Zinc, stainless steel, evercoat, and duracoat.  We  are looking for strength, corrosion resistance, and hardness. As well as its effectiveness in the application. (An example might be, is the screw too large for the purpose?, does it split the lumber?, is the teeth to shaft ratio proper, or do the screws pull out easily??).

     Sometimes a fastener that has good attributes may be lacking in other respects. (Some stainless screws are very soft and bend easily during application, although very corrosion resistant they may never make it into the wood.) We purchase screws by the pallet literally 100,000 at a time.

Hidden fastener systems:

As hidden fastener systems are all new to the market no long term tests exist. Materials include polypropylene, fiberglass, various other plastics, stainless and even lexan.  We are very concerned with decking cupping and even defeating the fastener with variants in temperature and moisture. Catastrophic fastener failure is also possible, especially with the plastic clips. High cost and labor extensive installation are of course relevant, also, even subtle bows or hooks in decking boards are very difficult to install. These systems limit or constrict decking pattern options and make no allowances for board replacements if the need arises.

The public is accustomed  to seeing screws in outdoor decks, as such decks can actually look almost naked without the visible screws. Face or through screwing is by far the best time tested and long term method for fastening decking boards. Any concern about moisture penetration at the screw insertion are negated by Ipe and composites as neither material are affected.  From a price point advantage the extra costs of the hidden fasteners and the extra labor to install, are better spent elsewhere in design, options or size. We will be testing some of these systems with reservations.

Pictured above: some of the hidden fastener systems from Ipe clip, Eb-ty, Tigerclaw, Deckmaster, and Invisi-fast.

Construction Methods:

    We are always updating our methods of building. New materials may warrant new procedures. What technique works for one material may not work for another. We test every aspect of construction and  examine all feedback from our carpenters and customers. We are always looking to maintain and improve the high level of our product.

Tools, blades and bits:

We are always on the hunt for a new tool or tool design, better blades and bits etc. Recently, great strides have been made in the cordless tool market, and lightweight tools are getting more prominent. We are a huge advocate of cordless drivers and guns and nailers as well as lightweight saws. We came across this tool last year and were pretty impressed http://www.deckwrecker.com . We purchase nearly every new blade that shows promise and give them a try.