How to lay decking with hidden clips: a 6 step guide
In short: lay clip decking on Ipe joists 40 to 45 cm apart, over a weed membrane. Wherever a board crosses a joist, slide a stainless steel clip into the side groove of the board and screw it down to the joist. The next board slides over the clip, which leaves an 8 mm gap on its own. No screw heads show on the surface.
This is how we talk customers through it on the phone. The boards themselves are under Ipe decking with hidden fixings.
What you need
- Decking boards: Ipe, 21 x 140 mm, grooved along both long edges with a tongue and groove at the ends, see Ipe decking boards with fixing clips.
- Joists: ideally Ipe as well, so you are not mixing timbers that move differently, see Ipe joists 40 x 60 mm.
- Clips and screws: black coated stainless steel, see hidden deck fixings.
- Weed membrane, see anti root matting.
- Tools: cordless drill driver, tape measure, spirit level, saw.
The decking calculator works out the quantities for you.
Step 1. Prepare the ground
Make the base level and firm, and make sure rainwater can drain away. Then roll the weed membrane out over the whole area so nothing grows up through the gaps.
Step 2. Lay the joists
Set the joists 40 to 45 cm apart, at right angles to the direction of the boards, and check each one with the spirit level. Wider spacing makes the deck feel springy. Closer spacing only costs you more timber and clips.
Step 3. The first row
Start on the side people will look at most, often along the house wall. Lay the first board square to the joists and line it up carefully. Every row after it follows this line.
Step 4. Fit and screw the clips
At every joist, slide a clip into the groove on the long edge of the board and screw it to the joist. The screw sits in the gap, not through the board.
Step 5. Slide on the next board
Push the next board onto the clips with its groove. The clip holds both boards and sets an 8 mm gap. Why 8 mm? See gap between decking boards.
Step 6. Click the ends together
The boards come in 120 and 150 cm lengths with a tongue and groove at each end, so they click together lengthways. Stagger the end joints from row to row. Each end has a bevelled edge, so every joint shows a neat double V, which looks far tidier than two square cut ends screwed down side by side.
The trade offs
Clip decking costs a little more than face fixed decking, because you buy the clips as well. In return there is less measuring and there are no screw holes in the surface. Replacing a single board does take more effort, as the boards are held together by the clips.
After laying
Ipe lasts 25+ years, even without maintenance. Oiling is still worth it: like wax on a car, dirt sticks less, water runs off and the timber stays more stable in hot or wet spells. See oil for hardwood decks.
For a premium finish, read about luxury hardwood decking. Finished decks from our customers are in decking ideas. Want to feel the timber first? Request a free sample.
Frequently asked questions
How many clips do I need per square metre?
It depends on the joist spacing. There is one clip wherever a board crosses a joist. The decking calculator works out the exact number for your area.
Can I lay clip decking myself?
Yes. You need a cordless drill driver, a tape measure, a spirit level and a saw. The boards are 120 or 150 cm long and straight, so nothing has to be pulled into line.
What gap do hidden decking clips give?
8 mm. The clip sets the gap, so every gap is the same.
Can I replace a single board later?
Yes, but it takes a little more work than with face fixed decking, because the boards are held together by the clips.
