We have all heard the adage that a chain is a strong as its weakest link. Most often the reason for deck failure is poor hardware. Saving money on fasteners is the wrong idea. Quality hardware is important for the longevity of your deck as well as you and your family’s safety.
Building a deck is a sizable investment. Today, more than ever, people are building Custom Vinyl Decks & Custom Composite Decks , which area more costly. Although these decking selections are much more maintenance free the underlying deck frame is still made of Pressure Treated Wood. Pressure Treated wood is very corrosive and will fail with the wrong fasteners. Even the AQC treated fasteners are marketed for Pressure Treated wood it has been our experience that they still corrode and fail. Stainless steel is the best choice for all decking applications. At Raymer & Son Exteriors we use only stainless steel fasteners.
Stainless steel last the life time of the decking material without staining the surface. Stainless steel fasteners are more expensive, but the added cost is easily justified when one seeks long term beauty and structural integrity.
Stainless steel is a nickel and chrome alloy. There are several different steel alloys, each offering different properties. The most common used in outdoor construction are AISI grades 302, 304, 305 and 316 stainless Grades 302, 304, and 305 are considered to be in the 18-8 group of stainless steel. This means that they contain a minimum of 8% nickel and 18% chromium. Grade 316 steel contains approximately 12% nickel and 17% chromium, but it also contains approximately 2.5% molybdenum (moly). With the increased nickel and added moly, this alloy composition is better suited for high chloride environments such as seaside and poolside building locations.
Raymer & Son Exteriors has been building Custom Vinyl Decks, Custom Composite Decks and Custom Wood Decks since 1998