Hidden Deck Fasteners

Hidden fasteners are small devices designed to lock down your deck boards without being seen. Hidden fastener systems typically consist of two parts: a clip and a screw. The clip slides into a groove in the side of your deck boards, and the screw drives down through the clip and into a joist to fasten the board to your deck frame.

Hidden deck fasteners add to the look and function of your deck, while providing the same strong hold you’ll get from other fastening options.

The first benefit you’ll notice is visual - hidden deck fasteners install below the surface of your deck without creating holes in your deck boards. This creates a smooth, blemish-free deck surface for a clean, polished look. 

Because they don’t create holes in your deck boards, hidden fasteners maintain the integrity of your boards and make them easier to replace in the future. You can avoid cracking, splitting, and mushrooming with the low-impact hidden fastener installation, and you’ll also ensure your deck surface has no screwheads sticking slightly above the deck surface to catch toes or furniture.

Depending on your deck boards, hidden fasteners may be the best way to maintain your decking warranty. If you’re curious about your brand’s warranty, give us a call at 1-888-824-5316 for the best recommendation.

Hidden deck fasteners and decking plug systems are both ways to fasten your deck boards down while hiding screw heads and creating a smooth, unblemished surface. Hidden Fasteners install between deck boards, holding down boards via grooves in the board edges. With a plug system , you drive deck screws through the top of your deck boards and below the surface, filling the space above the screw head with a small, circular plug that hides the screw.

If you’re not sure whether to use a hidden deck fastener system or a decking plug system, give our team a call at 1-888-824-5316 . We can learn more about your deck project to help guide you to the best system based on your deck plan, experience level, and desired deck look.

You can use hidden fasteners on wood decking, as long as your wooden deck boards have grooved edges. For square-edged boards, you’ll have to router a groove into the wood yourself in order to use hidden deck fasteners. Just be sure the grooves are the right size and the right height to match the hidden deck fasteners you plan to use. Our team would love to help you plan out all the details of your project - call us at 1-888-824-5316 to create your plan and streamline your installation.

The best hidden deck fasteners are the ones that best fit with the rest of your project. Many deck board manufacturers have their own proprietary hidden fastener systems designed to work best with their boards. If there’s a hidden fastener system made to match your brand of deck boards, it’s best to use the same brand of boards and fasteners to maintain your warranty.

For example, Trex Fasteners are the best option for Trex Deck Boards to maintain your deck's warranty, while Stowaway Hidden Fasteners are the best option for Deckorators Decking . Camo Hidden Fasteners are a great option for installing nearly any type of grooved deck boards. Give our deck project planners a call at 1-888-824-5316 if you are unsure what system is best for you. We love making the deck-planning process easier at every step, and we’ll guide you through planning and installation!

If you’re planning to use hidden deck fasteners to secure your deck boards, make sure you get deck boards with grooved edges. Most of our composite decking brands offer grooved-edge options. The groove is what allows the hidden fastener to attach your boards without driving a hole through your deck surface.

It’s always a good idea to use the same brand of hidden fasteners and deck boards, if possible. Trex designs its own line of hidden deck fasteners for use with Trex deck boards. The same goes for AZEK TimberTech , Deckorators , DuraLife , Envision and Fiberon . Matching your deck boards and hidden fasteners will make installation easier and maintain the warranty on your deck boards.

Every hidden deck fastener system will install slightly differently. You can find full installation instructions on the product page of each hidden fastener system, or you can give our team a call at 1-888-824-5316 for a personal walkthrough.

In general, hidden deck fasteners fit into grooves in the side of deck boards. The hidden fastener clip slides into the groove to hold the deck board down, while the hidden fastener screw drives down into the joists of your deck frame to attach the whole hidden fastener securely to the frame.

If you want to use hidden deck fasteners but don’t have grooved deck boards, you may be able to create grooves yourself. You can use a slot cutting router bit to cut a groove into the side of your deck boards. Just make sure the grooves are the right size and the right height to match the hidden deck fasteners you plan to use. Our team can be a big help in planning this process - call us at 1-888-824-5316 to create your plan and streamline your installation.