Official Deck Jig™ Thread

[KregRep]

On March 23rd, 2010, we announced the all-new Kreg Deck Jig™ through the Kreg Jig Owners' Community.  Community members were the very first customers to hear about the new tool, outside the walls of Kreg.  On May 1st, the Deck Jig will start become available at many dealers across the country, including Lowe's, Woodcraft, Amazon, and more!

"Whether you’re building a new deck or refinishing an old one, you want to do the job right. With the Kreg Deck Jig™ – and a few simple tools you already own – you can create a beautiful and functional deck surface, completely free of exposed fasteners and painful splinters! Traditional concealed-decking systems utilize awkward steel fasteners or thin plastic clips to hold your deck boards in place. The Kreg Deck Jig™ utilizes a more straight forward approach, creating an incredibly strong wood-to-wood bondthrough precisely placed self-tapping screws.

Layout Mitered Corners, Set 3/16" Reveals, Transfer Measurements, Align / Square Your Projects, Set Bit / Blade Heights, Layout Wall Studs, Use as a Basic Rule, Marking for Layout, Use as a Simple Level"

This thread is a place where members can post their thoughts/comments/questions/reviews regarding the Deck Jig, as well as posting photos, reviews, applications of their own Deck Jig.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

[Richard Sands]

Does using pocket holes to build exterior stairs meet the latest IRC Residential Building Code?

Tim E Daniels said:

Check out this post too if you are building a deck that needs stairs.
Building stairs for my house.

Pocket holes can be used to attach stairs from below too.

[Gary roofner]

I am just completing my deck frame . Should be starting my trex deck boards installation Sunday or Monday with Kreg deck jig depending on the weather.

[Gary roofner]

Here is a picture of my new deck build about half of the deck boards are screwed in place. Only complain is the driver bit for the screws does not last long. I have found good luck with putting the screws in with my sears right angle impact driver. The driver puts screws in slow and easy just put just below the surface. THe deck is 10 x 16 ft. I will puost picture when railings are done later.

[David Dean]

My some one has been busy and the bad news is you still have the hand rails to do
just remember to keep that rage on the back of your neck
Gary roofner said:

Here is a picture of my new deck build about half of the deck boards are screwed in place. Only complain is the driver bit for the screws does not last long. I have found good luck with putting the screws in with my sears right angle impact driver. The driver puts screws in slow and easy just put just below the surface. THe deck is 10 x 16 ft. I will puost picture when railings are done later.

[Gary roofner]

Thanks for the comments David and ecouragement. Here are a few things I learned . In order to get the spacing consistant everyone of the deckboards had to be turned around end for end other wise big gap in the middle the curve complement each other and the looked and fit better. You guys that do this all the time already know what I'm talking about. Using the deck guide to hit the center of your joist don't look at the guide hole its only 1/4 ". Instead look at the line on the jig in front of drill guide pin on the other side of the jig. I also found it worked best to set the middle three joist to quarter inch screw them down  with the other two spacers at 6 ft from the ends then I would screw the quarter inch space at the 6 ft marks then tie the ends down then I drilled the remaining holes and facine that side completly on the side oppisite the spacers then otherside last.

[David Dean]

Thanks Gary but with all the work we got the wife's deck is going to wait.

Gary roofner said:

Thanks for the comments David and ecouragement. Here are a few things I learned . In order to get the spacing consistant everyone of the deckboards had to be turned around end for end other wise big gap in the middle the curve complement each other and the looked and fit better. You guys that do this all the time already know what I'm talking about. Using the deck guide to hit the center of your joist don't look at the guide hole its only 1/4 ". Instead look at the line on the jig in front of drill guide pin on the other side of the jig. I also found it worked best to set the middle three joist to quarter inch screw them down  with the other two spacers at 6 ft from the ends then I would screw the quarter inch space at the 6 ft marks then tie the ends down then I drilled the remaining holes and facine that side completly on the side oppisite the spacers then otherside last.

[Jim Langley]

I have been researching composite boards like Trex and have found that there have been thousands of claims on them as it appears the ultra-violet breaks down the plastic or resin holding them together.    I have seen a couple myself that have only been up for 4 or 5 years.   Then again some people say they have had them for over 10 yrs so maybe it is like throwing the dice whether they use the right amount of resin in their lay up etc.

Not me.   I'm using wood.  It should last 200 yrs if all owners paint at the proper time.  

William Anderson said:

I want to use this jig on my next deck project with 5/4 X 6 composite deck boards. As I understand it the boards will only be fastened from one side and I am wondering if there might be any curling occurring.

[Gary roofner]

Your infomation is wrong you put a screw in each side of every joist. My deck has awning over it should not get as much sun.  You also need to go with 12" centers  not 16. I looked at decks built on 16 centers using composit they have hills and vallies. Works great I did not have trouble with collars slipping either as others. I don't know if they fixed the problem or my deck was only 10 x 16. I have only had the decking down for just a week no give in any of the boards when you walk on them don't even feel any vibration while walking on the deck.  

[Gary roofner]

I forgot to mention you are supposed to slope the deck away from the house 1/8 " / per foot to keep the mold problem from occurring. This keeps standing water off the deck.

 

[Gary roofner]

Here started to put posts up.

[Gary roofner]

Here is my deck with 2/3 complete.

[David Dean]

sweet