Hidden deck fixings for Ipe decking
Hidden clips let you lay a deck without a single screw in the walking surface. You screw the clip to the joist, the board slides over it with the groove in its edge, and the clip holds an 8 mm gap. Our Ipe decking boards come with the clips and screws included.
How the clip system works
Our Ipe decking boards are 2.1 x 14 cm, with a groove along both long edges for the clip to slide into. The clip is stainless steel with a black coating. You fix it to the joist with 2 screws, wherever a board crosses a joist.
The ends of the boards have a tongue and groove, so they click together lengthways and not every board has to finish on a joist. Every end has a chamfer, which gives a double V detail where two boards meet. It looks far smarter than you can get with face screwing. The boards are usually 120 or 150 cm long. Short lengths are dead straight, so there is no need to pull them into line the way you would with a 4 metre board.
Benefits and things to watch
- A smooth surface with no screw heads, nice underfoot even barefoot.
- A fixed 8 mm gap. Rain drains away and the underside stays ventilated.
- The timber can move. The board sits in the clip rather than being screwed through.
A few points to note. The first and last boards have no neighbour on one side, so you pre-drill and screw those. Every board needs to rest on at least 2 joists. Leave at least 1.5 cm between the long edge and a wall, because timber moves across its width. The ends can sit against a wall.
Laying a deck with hidden clips, step by step
- Ground and membrane. Level the ground and lay a weed membrane.
- Joists. Space the joists 40 to 45 cm apart, ideally in Ipe so different timbers don't work against each other.
- First board. Set it straight, pre-drill and screw it down.
- Clips. Slide a clip into the groove at every joist and fix it with 2 screws.
- Next board. Push it up to the clips so they grip the groove, and click the ends together.
- Last board and edging. Pre-drill and screw it down. Enclose the deck on all 4 sides with a timber or concrete edge or a wall.
The full guide, with tools and groundwork, is on how to build a deck. It also shows how to replace a single board without taking the deck apart.
Which decking boards use this clip system?
All Ipe decking boards with hidden fixing and the Ipe decking boards 21 x 140 mm with fixing clips.
Building a fence too? There the clips go on the posts and the gap is 5 mm: read about slatted fence fixings.
Hidden deck fixings: your questions
Are the clips and screws included with the boards?
Yes, our Ipe decking boards with the clip system come with the clips and screws. If you need extra clips, just ask our advice team.
How wide is the gap between decking boards?
8 mm. The clip sets the gap, so it is the same everywhere. On a fence the gap is 5 mm.
How many screws go into each clip?
2 screws per clip, into the joist.
How far apart should the joists be?
40 to 45 cm. Every board needs to rest on at least 2 joists.
Can I use the clips on boards without a groove?
No. The clip grips the groove along the long edge of the board. Without that groove the system doesn't work.