One of the best ways to achieve a sleek, modern look on your deck is by using hidden fasteners. Installed between deck boards, these fasteners eliminate the need to drive screws through the top surface, keeping the deck smooth, clean, and free of visible screw heads.
The DeckWise® Hidden Deck Fastener System is designed to secure boards from the side within a slotted groove, preserving the face of the decking and protecting the wood from surface damage. Each fastener is injection-molded from durable, UV-resistant polyethylene around a stainless steel insert – an engineered combination that provides both flexibility and exceptional strength. This over-molded design helps prevent board marring, maintains consistent spacing, and resists screw over-driving, resulting in a long-lasting, professional finish.
DeckWise® Hidden Fasteners are engineered for use with premium hardwoods such as Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, and Teak, as well as thermally modified wood and many composite and PVC decking products. Their material-specific performance and durability set them apart from metal-only fasteners, which may damage boards or reduce long-term deck stability.
Choosing the Proper Clip Color
DeckWise® Hidden Fasteners are available in three distinctive colors designed to blend seamlessly with your deck boards. Selecting the right color allows the fasteners to virtually disappear between the boards, preserving the natural beauty of your decking surface.
The DeckWise® fastener lineup consists of the Extreme, Extreme-S, ExtremeKD, and ThermoClip, and are offered in the following color options:
Shadowline Black: Ideal for decking finished in dark tones. This color also pairs exceptionally well with dark composite materials.
Hardwood Brown: Recommended for natural or treated wood decking. Hardwood Brown also complements tan and brown composite deck boards.
Composite Grey: Best suited for grey composite decking or naturally weathered, silvered hardwoods.
DeckWise® Hidden Fastener Models
Because different decking materials expand and contract at varying rates, DeckWise® offers multiple fastener models tailored to specific wood species, drying methods, and preferred board gaps. Selecting the correct clip ensures long-term deck stability, proper airflow, and a clean, consistent appearance across the entire deck surface.
Extreme: Ideal for achieving a tight, modern deck gap when working with air-dried hardwoods or composite decking.
- Gap: 3/32″ (≈ 2.4 mm)
- Best for: Grooved air-dried hardwood, composite, or PVC decking
- Sizes: Available in Short and Tall versions
- Extreme Short: For 1× or 1×6 Plus decking
- Extreme Tall: For 5/4-thick boards
- Screw Angle:
- 45° for hardwoods – allows for natural width movement
- 90° for composites/PVC -allows for lengthwise movement
Extreme S: Provides a slightly larger gap than the standard Extreme clip, allowing for improved airflow and water drainage. It’s a versatile, all-around option well suited for decks built with mixed materials.
- Gap: 5/32″ (≈ 4 mm)
- Best for: Grooved air-dried or kiln-dried hardwood, composite, or PVC decking
- Screw Angle:
- 45° for hardwoods
- 90° for composites/PVC
ExtremeKD: Designed specifically for kiln-dried decking that experiences minimal shrinkage yet still requires room for expansion. Its hollow spacer leg acts as a shock absorber by allowing controlled movement.
- Gap: ¼″ (≈ 6.4 mm)
- Best for: Grooved kiln-dried hardwood, composite, or PVC decking
- Screw Angle:
- 45° for hardwoods
- 90° for composites/PVC
ThermoClip: As its name suggests, the ThermoClip is designed specifically for thermally modified wood decking, which expands much less than natural hardwoods.
- Gap: ¼″ (≈ 6.4 mm)
- Best for: Grooved thermally modified wood decking
- Screw Angle: 90°
Selecting the correct DeckWise® Hidden Deck Fastener model and matching color ensures precise board spacing, proper ventilation, and reliable accommodation for natural wood or composite movement. The right choice helps prevent issues such as cupping, warping, and premature surface wear—all while keeping fasteners completely concealed.
By pairing the appropriate clip with the right decking material and desired gap size, you’ll create a deck that is structurally sound, low-maintenance, and visually flawless. With the DeckWise® Hidden Deck Fastener system, the result is a strong, stable deck built to perform beautifully and stand the test of time.