4Everdeck Installation Guide

4 Everdeck® composite decking cannot be used as a component of the foundation or substructure.

When constructing the substructure care must be taken to ensure that the joists are level, straight and square as 4 Everdeck® decking will conform to the level and orientation of the joists. An allowance of 3-4mm fall per metre of deck in the direction away from the structure should be made to aid water run-off. 

4 Everdeck® must be supported every 350mm (centre to centre) and must be secured by a 4 Everdeck® plastic fastening clip every 350mm centre to centre.

Boards fixed across the deck at angles other than 90 degrees to the joists require closer joist spacing.  As a general rule the closer the joists the better the deck.

Additional joists will be required where breaker boards are used in the deck design 

The length of the decking boards can overhang the sub frame by up to 10mm. There should be no overhang over the width of the decking boards. Consideration should be given to the overall deck size and the number of boards required to cover the deck. Most professional deck installers prefer to start from the inner edge of the deck which is normally against a wall of an existing structure. The deck boards will be installed across the deck and the finishing board may need to be trimmed in order to line up with the joists or if working to full width boards the joists may be cantilevered and trimmed back to the full width finishing board. Due to normal manufacturing tolerances and the potential for a slight difference in spacing between deck boards we do not recommend trying to pre-determine the width of the final board (the outer board must finish flush with the joist or facia board). Any cut outs around protrusions such as a veranda posts or balustrades need to be fully supported.

Butt joins should only occur over a double joist and a separate clip must be used on each board.  Clips must not be shared on boards butted up against each other.

4 Everdeck® composite decking should not be attached directly to any solid surface or watertight flooring system, such as concrete, brick or tiled patios, waterproof membranes or roofing.  4 Everdeck® battens or treated timber or steel battens are required for fixing 4 Everdeck® over concrete. 

Good ventilation is a necessary requirement for your deck. The required clearance needed for adequate airflow and drainage between each 4 Everdeck® composite decking board is 5mm as provided when fixing with the 4 Everdeck® Deck Clip. 300mm clearance is required between the boards and the surface beneath the deck. Do not seal off deck ends, the airflow should be unobstructed and any water should be able to drain away freely. Failure to correctly install your 4 Everdeck® composite decking may void your warranty.

The first board laid on your deck is referred to as the starting board and will normally be installed with one “free” edge typically gapped against the side of a wall/structure.
The starting board can only be fixed via the starter deck clip on the inner edge. (Screwing through the starting board is also possible but is not recommended when fixing to steel joists). The outer edge groove can be removed via sawing if it is going to be visible or exposed. Before screwing down the deck clips on your starting board make sure that you place your next (second) deck board over the deck clips so that both edges of the deck clip are concealed (inside the outer groove of the starting board and the inner groove of the second board).
The finishing or last board should be treated in the same way as the starting board. The width of the finishing board can be reduced as required by sawing so that it remains supported across it’s width by the joists and/or fascia board. 

4 Everdeck® decking boards make ideal fascia boards.  When using 4 Everdeck® boards as Fascia boards they should be screwed at not more than 700mm centres to an appropriate frame fixed to the sub frame.

When using the 4 Everdeck® board as a fascia board the groove can be removed as required. 

Because 4 Everdeck® composite decking comes in standard 5.8 metre long lengths the preferred method of installation is to use a breaker board rather than having a number of randomly spaced butt joins spread across the deck. Depending on your overall deck size/shape you may need to allow for the inclusion of one or more breaker boards in the design of your deck. The incorporation of the breaker board can greatly enhance the character and appearance of your deck as well as allowing you to use potential off cuts (helping to minimise overall board wastage). Additional joists will be required on your sub floor construction to fully support the breaker boards wherever they are being used.

Running long boards with a butt join may result in a gap of more than 10mm once the boards have cooled and contracted.

Because deck clips cannot be used on a breaker board we recommend that they are glued to the joists/ supports or screwed directly through the board if using timber joists (we do not recommended direct screw fixing to steel joists).

On decks that are wider than 5.8 metres that will require more than one continuous breaker board we recommend that any of the breaker boards that are butted together do not exceed 3 metres in length (e.g. a 5.8 metre board would be cut in half producing 2 x 2.9 metre boards). 

The natural fibres used in the manufacture of 4 Everdeck® composite decking allow some colour variation between boards and will enable the overall colour to lighten, creating a weathered colour effect over time. Allow 8-12 weeks of full exposure to sunlight in order for the majority of the colour weathering to occur.
The grain of 4 Everdeck® composite decking will reflect light differently depending on the orientation of the boards. To ensure the same look across the deck it is necessary to run all deck boards in the same direction as the grain. 

It is mandatory that 4 Everdeck® Deck Clips are used when installing 4 Everdeck® composite decking. Maximum spacing between clips is 350mm centre to centre.

Nailing is not recommended. 

4 Everdeck® Deck Clips are supplied with stainless steel screws designed to be used with timber joists. 

Due to the continual expansion and contraction of 4 Everdeck®  boards with changing temperature it is possible for the individual deck boards to creep in one direction or the other while still being held in place with the deck clips. 

4 Everdeck® Deck Clips provide you the added value appearance of a concealed fix and save you time and money with the installation of your deck.

 4 Everdeck® Deck Clips should be used at each joist regardless of joist spacing.  

4 Everdeck® Deck Clips should be loosely positioned in the groove of the deck board over each joist before sliding the next board in to position. Once the starter board is aligned and fixed in position you can prepare up to 5-10 boards (depending on the width of the boards used) pushed together with deck clips in position over each joist. Use a lever to apply force against the last board you are fixing in the “set” and a string line to ensure that the board is straight and true and then fix the set in place by screwing down the deck clips on the inside of the outer board (the last row of deck clips that have a board on either side of them). Make sure that the deck clips are evenly spaced over the joists before fixing them. Once the outer board is secure you can screw down all of the deck clips between the other boards. Repeat this process until you reach the finishing board.

When fixing a butt joint use a separate deck clip on both sides of each deck board.

Drivers should be adjusted to a low or medium torque setting when fixing the 4 Everdeck® Deck Clips to ensure that the screws are not “over driven” in to the clips.

Additional care must be taken when fixing the 4 Everdeck® Deck Clips to steel joists to ensure the screws cut properly and to reduce the risk of the driver or screws stripping.

 We recommend that a slow speed and minimal force is used to drive the screw through the clip until it is touching the steel. At this point the speed of the driver should be increased to approximately 1000 rpm to allow the cutting edge on the screw to cut through the steel. Too much pressure or too little speed may cause the screw to go off line and will strip out the screw head and or the driver. Once the screw has cut through the steel any pressure on the driver should be reduced immediately to stop the screw from driving through the clip.

4 Everdeck® Deck Clips provide an automatic spacing of 5 mm (+/- manufacturing tolerances) between each board which is the minimum recommended installation requirement to allow adequate air flow between each board.

4 Everdeck® Deck Clips provide the best fixing option for 4 Everdeck® composite decking as they allow the decking to “work” with the deck clip maintaining independent expansion and contraction between the decking boards and the joists. This independent fixing method virtually eliminates the pressure build up on the fastenings that can occur when the decking is fastened directly to joists. This independent movement is critical when fixing 4 Everdeck® to steel joists.

Pre-drilling and countersinking is recommended in order to reduce the risk of splitting when screwing directly in to the face of the 4 Everdeck® composite decking. A minimum screw length of 60mm is required. When fixing a butt joint two screws are required to be positioned 25mm from the outside edge of each board and a minimum of 25mm from the end of each board. Drivers should be adjusted to a low or medium torque setting when fixing screws in to 4everdeck composite decking. Screws should not be “over driven” in to the decking.

Screw fixing directly through the 4 Everdeck® board is not recommended on steel joists due to the different expansion and contraction characteristics of the two materials. 

4 Everdeck® composite decking expands and contracts lengthways due to changes in temperature (there is minimal change to the width of the board). It is critical to have an understanding of the board temperature as boards cut at different temperatures will affect the appearance of the finished deck.

The longer the board the greater the potential for a change in length due to temperature change. All boards must be the same temperature during the installation process (measuring & cutting). The boards should be kept in the shade so that each board is a similar temperature. If there is no shade on the site make sure that all measuring and cutting is done in the morning when the boards are still cool from the previous night. Once the boards are exposed to direct sunlight they will absorb radiant heat and increase in length.

A 5.8 metre long board will grow in length by approximately 3 mm for every 10 degrees Celsius increase in temperature. The board will contract in length by the same amount when the temperature of the board cools.

Even on a day of mild temperatures and minimum temperature change the boards may vary in temperature by 30° Celsius or more if moved between direct sunlight and shade.
Boards should always be measured/cut/installed at cooler ambient temperatures (below 30 degrees Celsius). Therefore in summer months and tropical areas installation should occur in the morning.

Butt joins should always occur over a double joist or cleat (minimum 90mm x 45mm) to allow for the use of a deck clip and screw at the ends of each board.

Running long boards with a butt join may result in a gap of more than 10mm once the boards have cooled and contracted.

The preferred method of deck design is to use a breaker board.

A 5mm to 7mm gap is required around posts or other protrusions in the decking. As mentioned in the substructure information any protrusions should have joists fitted around them so that the end gaps can be fully supported. 

Fixing details and specifications may change without notice.