We recommend against all hidden fasteners of ANY brand that are solid plastic. They break, screws drive through them and some of them squeak. There are other quality fasteners costing about the same as plastic fasteners that don’t have these problems. Durable decking needs durable fasteners to ensure the longest useful life.
Camo Hidden Deck Fasteners
The Camo Tool guides your drill bit and then your screw into the side of the board and into the joist. This provides much better holding power than using clips and since you can use coated steel screws, these fasteners cost much less than any other option. View our Camo System installation video or click here for more information on the Camo Tool and Fastners.
Ipe Clip Extreme
This clip is brown plastic coated stainless steel. Screw must be driven through clip and board at 45 degree angle because screw hole is slotted. Driving straight down will allow boards to move. Items included will provide hardware for 100 sf of decking using 16” centers.
- 175 clips
- 190 Stainless steel torx head screws
- Drive chuck
- 12 ipe plugs
- 1/8” drill bit
Aluminum Deck Clips
Aluminum Deck Clips are preferred by some installers because pre-drilling is not necessary. These deck clips are durable and hold well but the boards may shift as they shrink because the screws are not driven down through the board. The screws are driven straight down through the clips between the boards. Using All Weather Sub Floor Adhesive solves this problem. The installation procedure for these aluminum deck clips is described below.
Run a bead of adhesive down the top of the joists where you are beginning your deck installation. Apply enough to accommodate your first couple boards.
Install your deck clips along the entire edge of the first board with a clip on each joist. The screw must be run down until the top of the screw is level with the clip. Do not tighten it down because this will tilt the free edge of the clip down thereby preventing you from slipping the 2nd board into place.
Once you’ve installed clips on every joist along the edge of the first board, slip the leading edge of the 2nd board into the clips snugly.
Visit the Documents Page for more detailed instllation intructions for aluminum deck clips.
Pro Plug System by Headcote
The tools and plugs offered in this system provide for a totally hidden fastener that can be installed from on top of the deck. It provides the same holding power of face-screwed boards and twice as much power as hidden clips. Plugging boards using this system can be done with about the same labor as installing hidden clip fasteners at about the same cost. Compared to standard plugging methods, these tools provide for easier drilling, no plug trimming needed, better glue control, and perfect fit plugs.
- Pro Plug bit drills the perfect holes for the screw and the plug at the same time.
- Uniquely designed glue tip puts the glue on the sides of the holes where it’s needed.
- Plugs that fit perfectly in the holes without the need for trimming later.
Visit Starborn Industries for more information.
Hidden Screws GRK
These are not really hidden but are easy to hide. When installing a deck with hidden fasteners, you’re left with only a few options for steps, border boards and fascia boards.
You can install with plugs to match the decking (we supply plugs to match any species), the Deckmaster system below or using tiny headed screws like these GRK screws. GRK are available in steel with corrosion resistant coating or stainless steel, these #8 x 2” or 2 ½” screws can be driven into a pre-drilled hardwood board 1/8” below the surface.
Filling over this screw with a glue and sawdust mixture (wipe with wet rag to clean off excess) will hide the screw. This is a fast and easy hidden screw application.
Deckmaster Grabber Under Deck Installation System
The Deckmaster Grabber Under Deck Installation System comes complete with brackets and the exact screws you need. Powder coated to match hardwood decking. Boxes of 10 or 50 brackets 21 ½” long.

Fortress Rail Sections and connectors.
This is the easiest railing to install, makes the most solid railing and provides the best high end look of any other choices. It also COSTS LESS than the other high end options (which excludes pressure treated lumber). These are double dip galvanized, then powder coated and carry a 10 year warrantee. After mounting the posts, cut your rail section to fit (6’ and 8’ sections available), mount them with our attractive brackets and install a hardwood handrail across the top. They are very easy to install with our Fortress Railing installation guide.