Crabwood Decking Installation

Building a floating deck

Prepare The Area

  • The foundations should incorporate a drainage slope of 5 mm per meter to avoid water pooling
  • The installation condition should be flat and stable in order to avoid deformation of the decking surface
  • A gutter or scupper should be made in the foundations
  • Composite boards must be a min. of 100 mm off the ground
  • In areas of potential excessive water and debris build up, we recommend the plastic / Wooden bearers (be 200 mm off the ground to ensure good air ventilation and water passage.

Installation of Decking above ground

LAYING THE JOISTS

After laying the pedestals, starting from the edge of your sub-frame, place the joist on top of the pedestal centres

Suggested type of foundation when trench is wet or has ground water seepage.

Ensure that each joist is supported in a min. of 3 places, to the max. span of 400 mm..The decking range will also determine the joist centres

Click Images To Enlarge

One hidden fasteners should be per board end at butt joints . Butt joints should not share one clip

SPACING & SUPPORTS

CrabWood Range                Max. Support Span                       Diagonal Support Span

Decking                                400 mm                                           300 mm

Where the joist end meets a cross beam, you must leave a min. of 10 mm gap to allow for joist expansion.

At butt joints the deck board ends should not share a single joist, each deck board end must be supported by a full joist. For deck board butt joints you must ensure to have a double joist structure underneath.

  • CrabWood Decking boards should have a min. 5 mm gap side to side
  • CrabWood Decking board butt joint should have a min. 8mm gap end to end
  • Timber joist butt joint should have a min. 8-10 mm gap end to end
  • A minimum 10mm gap is required when abutting walls or other fixed objects
  • Crabwood Decking boards should not overhang joists by more than 20mm
  • To ensure sufficient water run-off a drainage slope of 0.5% (5mm per meter) should be incorporated

D E C K I N G        I N S T A L L A T I O N

 With your sub frame levelled and stable, you can now start installing your deck boards.The Deck Boards –  The first board must be fixed with CrabWood hidden starter fasteners that will clip to the side groove of the board

  • Align the starter fasteners along the first joist, every 400mm along the joist length

•  Ensure the counter sunk section of the hidden secure fastener is facing up.

•  Install 1 hidden fastener on each joist .

•  Always use hidden fasteners at board ends.

•  Use 1 fastener per board end at butt joints (never share a fastener across 2  board ends) for 6mm plastic hidden fasteners, lightly screw in place, and do not tighten at this point.

•  For 3 mm metal hidden fasteners, fully tighten the screw at this point

•  Securely screw each fastener to the joist.

•  Simply clip the first decking board to the starter fasteners.

•  To fix adjacent boards, place the hidden fasteners (3mm or 6mm) into the grooved edge of the fixed board and insert the secure screw into the hidden fasteners.

•  Screw holes should be lined up with joist centers.

Deck Fastener Plastic Clip

CRABWOOD CONCEALED CLIP

CrabWood WPC decking fastener clips LHMS 431  are ( made from recycled ( HDPE) waste. It is U V stable and sets a 5 mm gap between boards when installed .

Our CrabWood concealed decking clips allow you to lay your deck with virtually no visible fixings, giving you long clean & uninterrupted run of 2.9 mtr.

The decking clip is supplied in plastic packets of  (100 pcs ). The stainless steel screws are also supplied in plastic packets of (100 pcs ). you can choose your screw from lengths of 25 mm / 30 mm/ 35 mm  for use on wooden joists. To fix to aluminium sub frames you will need to source self-tapping screws.

                                 CRABWOOD STARTER / END CLIPS

Starter Clips are used on the outside edge of your first slotted board. This will hold your first board in place until you begin using the Hidden Fasteners on the second board.

Starter Clips are made from Marine Grade Stainless Steel.

Starter Clips are sold in plastic packets of ( 100 pcs ).

                                                        DECK FASTENER STAINLESS STEEL

CrabWood WPC stainless steel decking fastener clips LHMS 431 Z  sets a 5 mm gap between boards when installed .

Our CrabWood concealed stainless steel decking clips allow you to lay your deck with virtually no visible fixings, giving you long clean & uninterrupted run .Good in wet areas especially around swimming pools or if decking is fitted near seaside locations.

This stainless steel clip  is supplied in plastic packets of  (100 pcs ). The stainless steel screws are also supplied in plastic packets of (100 pcs ). you can choose your screw from lengths of 25 mm / 30 mm/ 35 mm  for use on wooden joists. To fix to aluminium sub frames you will need to source self-tapping screws

 JOIST / BOARD LOCKING  CLIP STAINLESS STEEL

The joist //board locking deck clip is  used to control the small amount of expansion & contraction produced by each board.

LHMS 665 Board lock clips are in stainless steel and supplied in packets of 100 .

This locking clip should be positioned between joists . you need one lock clip per board regardless of the length of the board and usually closest to the center of the board.

                                 CRABWOOD STARTER / END CLIPS

Starter Clips are used on the outside edge of your first slotted board. This will hold your first board in place until you begin using the Hidden Fasteners on the second board.

Starter Clips are made from Marine Grade Stainless Steel.

Starter Clips are sold in plastic packets of ( 100 pcs ).

                                 FASCIA SCREWS

Fascia Screws are used to fix Fascia or ‘Edge Boards’ to your joists.
Edge boards have no slots in the side to accommodate the Hidden Fasteners and will need to be top screwed. These stainless steel screws have a tapered head to sink flush into the boards to hold firm. For use on wooden joists only.

  • Sold individually or in packs of 100.