Installing the First Deck Board (With Camo Markmans Pro)

[@dougcarlson6800]

Old time carpenter here. I have used the camp system on a few decks. All redwood on the cali coast (home of the redwood forest)😊 makes for beautiful job and at overhanging areas we toe screw from underneath

[@Shawn-zt3gv]

How do you attach the board that over hangs with the camo system?

[@bobc.7740]

No one shows the hard part. How do you put the screws in the edge of the deck board next to the house?

[@kennystanton9516]

The way I usually do it is if you got your flat bar pry bar you get it between the house and you're bored and you got to push out a little bit to hold your board tight to the other one. And then you put your screw to the back of the board if it's not real wide that way when they put the trim or the siding j-track it should cover the screws

[@halfcaf1105]

In case anyone wonders why they recommend using a drill instead of an impact its because there have been hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of complaints about the driver bit twisting and snapping.

[@ahilbilyredneksopinion]

I would love ta see a torture test style video on the comparison of strength in side fasten vs top fasten.i feel like there is just not enough bite ta keep the boards in place long term without splitting....might be wrong,just how I feel....

[@First-Adhesive-Technologies]

I noticed you didn't add any joist tape to the joist to prevent rot.

[@nizarelhaj3954]

using this tool is a way practical when it comes to sanding the decks

[@rcandy4u]

Using the camo edge screws with redwood decking the softer wood sure does squeak a lot

[@mrsoccergod5001]

How does it hold up over time? Any warping with the no show fasteners?

[@decksbye3269]

I haven't had any complaints. The angle of the screw actually hold more of the board than face screws.

[@mrsoccergod5001]

@@decksbye3269 awesome thanks for the reply

[@michaelboykin9881]

Yes. As the deck expands and contracts, the fasteners often tear the edge and no longer hold.

[@jamieh4148]

@@michaelboykin9881 The face screwing from the top is more likely to split the board so stuff happens either way.

[@cognac8297]

I like the 5/4

[@sproknok]

is that gonna work on my 6 inch decking wood? Thanks!

[@dad1432]

Yes

[@bababooey1266]

I didn’t even see it when it was on the deck. Camo worked good

[@boatbuilder1954]

Would this work for Cedar boards since they are softer wood? I like this!

[@kaobi777]

Hey man. I'm also about to install some cedar decking. What did you end up using?

[@user-zy4cq6vo3q]

Great job. I'd hire you!

[@nigelwillson6096]

How do you deal with low points among the joists ? I've planed and belt sanded the high points, but there remain many joists below, in certain areas, the level top surface of the joist/frame ?

[@dad1432]

Epoxy wood filler.

[@Rebel1280]

Bout to do a deck myself but given the how much shrinkage i've seen over the years from my old deck that was 10+ years old and others i've seen, how well does a picture frame deck using real wood look after the wood has had time to shrink/expand?

[@decksbye3269]

I like to install the boards with a smaller gap, then once the boards shrink you will have the proper size gapping. Camo also makes a 1/8 gap. Picture frame mitre joints will open up. It is what it is.

[@MIZUNOMP60]

Can you change out the spacers for different sizes or do you need to buy another Camo with a different size spacer?

[@WorldsGoneInsane]

Each model camo comes with different spacers. I’m gonna use the pro X one. That’s the 16th inch gap for wet wood. Whenever everything dries should be about a quarter inch.

[@michaelboykin9881]

As a 50 year carpenter, ive used the camo system on trex decking..its a good product, but NEVER use it on wood decking. It leaves a space between the boards that looks nice at first. After the wood shrinks up from the exposure to the elements, the gaps will open uo to a half inch and sometimes more. The fasteners will also start splitting the edges if the deckboards as the wood shrinks. Do not make this costly mistake.

[@triedtofail]

Camo has a different jigs for wood and composite decking. The gap is much smaller on pressure treated wood. Of course there are associated risks if the wood gets delivered and installed fully wet.

[@nev8365]

How old are you 80 years old

[@steveslade3901]

I am actually wanting the spacing to help with the drainage which here is excessive.

[@scruffydog52]

I hear ya on that

[@HilariousJRE]

I use 1/16in camo spacer instead of 3/16 to accommodate for shrinkage, seems to work out to 3/16 after shrinking, and 2 3/8in deck screws. The smaller size seem to pull up easy

[@JeffSpencer-qu8ko]

How do you install the screws on the very first board with the 1-inch overhang?

[@decksbye3269]

Generally I face screw the first board. Not as pretty but stong and easy. You can attach the overhanging board with small angel brackets, attached to the rim joist. I haven't found it worth it, but it does give you a entirely clean decking.

[@1989rrichard]

What size deck board sir

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

Imagine building a deck that is $25k to stare at the side of your neighbors house thats 15 feet away…what a view

[@michellehawthorne2414]

Hello help?... We have 19mm Kwila, which specifies using 45mm camo screws. Can only find 60mm in stock, anyone had any issue using the larger screws on 19mm timber? Is the thread the same?

[@decksbye3269]

Threads the same it just takes longer to screw.

[@BoS-nn5dq]

I see you are using 1-7/8 in screws. What deck boards are you using, 1 x 6 or 5/4 x 6? I am planning to use 5/4 but I am unable to find consistent answer online of the screw length I should use.

[@porscheguy718]

1 7/8 is totally fine for trex or treated 1" boards the longer camo screws stand out from the tool and make it a bit harder to gide your drill in. either way the guy in the video is an amature. i do this for a living and i would have installed 4-5 boards in the time he took dicking around with one.

[@BoS-nn5dq]

@@porscheguy718 What about hardwood like ipe?

[@porscheguy718]

@@BoS-nn5dq Not sure ive never installed ipe just powerwashed and stained it. ive only seen it installed with stainless screws "Facescrewed" which im not a fan of. i would try the camo system before i would go any other way. trex is way different than ipe... in my opinion not worth the cost.

[@decksbye3269]

Thanks Kevin for the info.

[@51jahlove]

Please fire your cameraman 😂

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Looks like you salvaged used deck boards. That one looks like hell.

[@decksbye3269]

Yeah, I haven't been impressed the last few years with the quality of 5/4 decking being sold.

[@victoryak86]

I think the proper term is “rustic”😉. I put in a bunch of that knotty Cedar and the quality definitely varies. But the knots do help with accepting a certain amount of, well, imperfections 🫤

[@paulstradley9157]

Just finished my deck using Camo screws and the Pro. Many many many broken screws. Too many. And I had to pull a few boards back up and soooo many would not back out or were bent or once again broken. Not very satisfied with the product. Will not use it again.

[@dad1432]

I'm using it now. Roughly 800 screws so far, none broken. The only frustration is the tool loosening on its own, causing the screw to enter at the wrong angle.

[@kr5289]

I wonder if you can take the spacer completely off. Spacing deck boards is a mistake with even the best carpenters. The boards will shrink anyway. If you space them over time, you will have an ugly looking gap.

[@decksbye3269]

If installing "green/wet" boards a intialal smaller gap is helpful as you say the gap will grow. Camo does have a smaller gapping tool, but zero initall gapping requires face screwing.

[@justinrutledge6090]

Yup hes got a hurricane clip made for trusses out tying his joist to his girder.. oh this will work. 😂😂

[@I-sed-no]

Says the guy with 4 views on his videos 🤣🤣😂

[@justinrutledge6090]

​@No_914 you looked me up? Thanks, so flattered 😢.. what kinda idiot doesn't pressure block down the girder of any an all bearing points but uses a hurricane clip made to tie rafters to top plate in a house??? 😂😂

[@Matt-my7pz]

I've seen this done before. I think you might not know how the system works.

[@justinrutledge6090]

@Matt-my7pz just because you can use it, doesn't mean it's correct or right. I suggest you should try an tell another licensed contractor the proper way to do it? 🤔 maybe I should draw a deck detail out for you to submit to your local building department an ask for permitting? Maybe you should know the difference between a real professional? Pressure block all bearing points, leave the truss clips for trusses.

[@Matt-my7pz]

@@justinrutledge6090 oh I'm not a framer or arguing. I'm just saying I think it's acceptable in some situations and likely selective state code to us the clip for general purpose not solely for roof to wall connections in the idea of stopping lateral movement. I certainly could be wrong.

[@JR-xj2vr]

Hmmmm…..that’s a big gap when using Camo on wood. When the wood shrinks the gap will get bigger. For wood, I wouldn’t go more than like 1/16. Over time 1/16th will easily turn into 1/4 to 5/16ths or even 3/8ths…And for PVC material, no more than 3/16ths…

[@sethpotter9592]

Also need to state the 1st board must be absolutely straight.

[@billwatson9113]

Really time consuming !! I'll stick to face screwing

[@williamfall1262]

Face screwing looks really bad and now that there are many options for hidden fasteners there is no excuse to face screw.

[@williamwatson171]

@william fall No excuse you say. Its time consuming and cost more for customers. If you know how to lay a deck face screwing looks good and cheaper . You must be weekend warrior 🤣🤣

[@euanreid6682]

@@williamfall1262 Bruh that's a finishing head screw not much holding power.