Installation Process
STEP 1
Installing the First Board
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a: Place board tight against house*.
b: Fasten only the edge along the house, screw at every joist through the decking and into solid support.
c: Install a Tiger Claw Fastener and screw into edge of first board at each support.
d: Board must be solidly secured. Any movement of board may result in installation difficulties.
*If not starting against the house, see "difficulty installing deck board" in Helpful Tips section.
STEP 2
Position Decking Board
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a: Position the next decking board to be installed loosely against fastener points.
b: Place the hammer board against the deck board to prevent hammer marks*.
c: Always start installation at the end of deck board.
*Hammer board should be a 2" x 4" no more than 4' in length; anything larger than 2" x 4" will make installation more difficult. When installing,
position hammer board so that outer 10" (strike zone) will be utilized.
STEP 3
Install First Fastener
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a: While standing on first deck board, drive onto prongs of first fastener by striking hammer board ONCE with sledgehammer. Make sure proper gapping
is obtained.
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b: At this point, install your first fastener on outer edge of second board. This will help hold the board in place and keep from recoiling.
STEP 4
Working Your Way Down The Board
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Continue down the length of the board striking the hammer board ONCE at each joist. DO NOT try to fully install deck board onto prongs on the first pass.
NOTE: While moving down the length of the deck board, swing hammer on the side of your body from which you started the installation. (See illustration.)
STEP 5
Installing the Second Fastener
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Once the end of the board is reached, drive end until proper gap is achieved, then install Tiger Claw fastener & screw to hold in place like at the beginning
of board.
STEP 6
Completing Installation Of Board
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a: Work your way back across the center of the deck board, carefully swinging the sledgehammer once at each joist, until you obtain proper gapping
at each fastener.
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b: Once a proper gap is achieved a Tiger Claw fastener & screw can be installed at each joist.
NOTE: If bouncing occurs do not continue to hit with sledgehammer; move into next joist and reduce force of swing. Please note that over-hitting can cause damage
to both fastener and decking board.
Repeat steps 1-6 until your deck is complete.
Secrets of the Pros
- Two people ease the operation. It helps speed installation and ensure an even surface if one person installs the TigerClaws, while the second drives the screws.
Both should be standing on the deck board as it's driven onto prongs.
- Let the decking extend over the edge of the deck. Once decking is completed, it can be marked and cut clean and straight.
- Hammer board. A bevel angle cut on the ends of the board will help it to slide easier across the joists while working your way down the board during installation.
Deck board replacement
- Make two parallel cuts down the center of the board to be replaced and remove center piece.
- Using small pry bar, remove remaining pieces of decking off prongs..
- Using cutting pliers, remove prongs down lead side (side with no visible screw heads).
- Position new board into place, and carefully drive onto remaining prongs. (For dense materials, it may be necessary to predrill holes on board edge, see difficulty
installing.)
- Once board is set into position, secure the lead edge by either a finish nail, finish screw, or counter drill, screw and plug.
Railing posts
Railing posts inside frame must be installed as the decking installation progresses. Decking board must be notched and installed; then the post should be placed
into notch and secured. Then the next notched decking board should be installed to finish.
Railing posts outside frame: All the decking can be completed. Then decking overhang can be removed until flush with the framing, to receive the post properly.
45 Degree Installation
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Where deck is in walled corner of house, always start with smell triangular piece of decking in that corner and work your way out. When working with small pieces,
it is advisable to mark prong impressions and predril. When installing TigerClaws, offset the center 3/4" towards the long point of joist, so screw will not
exit side of joist when driven.
Difficulty installing deck boards:
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When very dense composite materials are used, bouncing may occur during installation of first few boards. Following these steps can ease the installation of the
first 3-4 courses if difficulties arise.
First decking board must be solidly secured and have no movement.
Position next decking board, lightly tapping the board against the fastener prongs to leave impression marks on the edge of deck board.
Using a 1/8" drill bit, drill a hole 1/2# deep on each impression mark.
Place a deck board back into position against prongs, and continue with installation process.
Butt Joints
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When butt jointing deck boards, drive the first deck board onto prong with the seam end centered over a support. When installing the second deck board, start installation
at the butt seam if you prefer a small gap in the butt seam. If you prefer no gap in the butt seam, start installation at the outside end of deck board and work
toward seam.
For TC-2 only: Before driving the Tiger Claw into the other side of the butt seam, turn the fastener around so that the outer prongs are driven into the decking
first, giving the widest spread across seam.
Coverage
- Multiply the number of joists by the number of decking boards to equal the number of fasteners needed.
- 100 fasteners will cover approximately 50 sq. ft. (using 5.5" decking boards on 16" centers).
FASTENERS NEEDED
|
|
Deck Size sq. ft. |
Joist Spacing
(on center) |
|
100
|
200
|
300
|
400
|
500
|
|
12"
|
242(3)
|
462 (5)
|
693 (7)
|
924 (10)
|
1114 (11)
|
|
16"
|
198 (2)
|
352 (4)
|
528 (6)
|
704 (7)
|
880 (9)
|
|
24"
|
132 (2)
|
242 (3)
|
363 (4)
|
484 (5)
|
616 (7)
|