Hidden deck fasteners are exactly that, hidden. They are secured on the edges of timber planks inside slot grooves and fastened through the plank into the sleeper below.
This uniqueness often times tends to intimidate people from replacing damaged deck planks. The issue at hand is how to remove a damaged plank when deck screws are hidden inside the deck fixing.
Below is our very simple method to replace deck planks with step by step instructions.
Cut the damaged deck plank that needs to be replaced down the center. If tight, making two cuts can help you remove the center portion of the plank more easily.
Use a circular hand saw to cut down the center on the deck plank that is to be removed.
Remove the cut pieces and un-screw the hidden deck fastener, if possible, that was screwed through the side groove of the plank.
1. Remove the center piece that was cut in the previous step.
2. Remove side sections of plank (the side that the screw is running through may need to be pried out).
3. If screw breaks, pound flush into sleeper with hammer.
Install a new deck screw at a 45° angle into the side groove that you removed the Ipe Clip® fastener from.
Carefully slide a new deck plank onto the exposed Ipe Clip® fastener.
Installing a board with a groove on just one side of the deck board is optimal in this step.
Countersink a screw straight down into the side of the plank that has no hidden fastener and use a wooden plug over the screw and fill in hole.
If installing a deck plank with side grooves on both sides of the deck board, make sure not to drive the face driven screw through the side groove. (That could crack the edge of the board.)
