Frequently Asked Questions

Introducing a significant decking and home improvement innovation from Deck-Max™

• You do not simply measure and cut each piece of decking as YOU DO NOT have to join on a joist.
• It’s 50% Faster To Install than drilling and screwing or hand nailing, as we use Pre-Grooved Decking which is End Matched
• SAVE – About 80% Less Timber Waste as our contractors get 2 to 3% Waste instead of the standard 10 to 12%
• 400% Stronger than traditional decking protecting your investment
• 100% Australian owned and operated company

The Deck-Max™ pro biscuit system with end matching is perfect for any size job which complements any internal to external flooring look you want to achieve.

We have sold over 8 Million deck max biscuits with NO RETURNS!!! You know when you use deck max biscuits it’s a safe, secure and tested to over 700KG we also have a strong history of success.

You can buy Everything via email or phone. We deliver to your door. How do I get a quote on Deck-Max™? Click on this link QUICK QUOTE and all we need are the basic information like…

• Square metres if you know them (approx)
• Length by width of each area
• Then we can work out your total square metres
• DELIVERY ADDRESS – FOR FREIGHT CALCULATIONS
• Click send and we will send back A QUICK QUOTE – what we call a bill of quantities – that is an estimate of all the things you will require to do the job in Deck-Max™, but will exclude the posts and frame, because someone will need to physically see the site to determine those quantities.

Delivery will be calculated, quoted and provided as appropriate for your order. Delivery methods include:

• General freight
• Small package options
• Door to door delivery
• Decking deliveries

Simply ask the Deck-Max™ consultant by email to [email protected] or phone them +61 7 3103 2495.

Simply calculate the total square metres in the floor area OR lineal metres of board .

What Spacing are the floor joist centers, What size are the decking boards.

Then simply phone our distributors or head office and we will calculate the quantities for your job.

As a guide – we have TWO pack sizes Kit No. 5, & Kit No. 20 each number 5, & 20 represents close to square metre quantities – If you have 110 mm wide decking and you have 18m2 then a Kit number 20 will work.

OTE: please check to see if any steps are included and any other areas like seats OR RISER BOARD TO GO AROUND THE OUTSIDE DOWN TO GROUND.

Ready Reconner for Bill of Quantities

Coverage:
The estimates in the kits are approximate coverage only and all quantities are based on the design of the area and the shape – these will vary the coverage and estimates of cover. Coverage assumptions – are based on the joists set @ 450 mm centres and using from 90mm up to 140mm wide decking boards. Each pack of Deck-Max™ will show coverage per pack so you can estimate for your Bill of Quantities.

e.g. a Kit No. 20 will cover from 16 to 23 square metres in area.

Always check with Deck-Max™ to be sure your estimates are close to final quantities, if you are tendering as a contractor I would recommend you take the lower side of each coverage estimate to be sure of your budget.

e.g. if I had 35 sq.m. area I would allow for 2 x Kit No. 20.

If you are happy to buy base/minimum quantity and buy a few to finish it is ideal to buy close to estimate as you can always buy a Kit No. 5 to finish – this is the smallest Kit quantity you can buy.

Estimated m2 Area Kit or Kits required to suit the area by size. NOTE: Please see the coverage details below for each kit size and the variables in quantities that can be effected by different board sizes and deck

5m2 Area 1 x Kit No. 5
10m2 Area 2 x Kit No. 5
15m2 Area 3 x Kit No. 5
20m2 Area 1 x Kit No. 20
25m2 Area 1 x Kit No. 20 Plus 1 x Kit No. 5
30m2 Area 1 x Kit No. 20 Plus 2 x Kit No. 5
m2 Area over Just keep the increments in + 5m2

5 m2 Kit
Deck-Max™ Biscuits – Qty. 110
Deck-Max™ Screw – Qty. 110
Deck-Max™ Butt Joiners – Qty. 15
Ultra Set Adhesive – 1 x 300ml Cartridge
Square Drive Bit – 1 x 50mm #2
Drill Bit – 1 x 100mm x 3mm Long Shank

Install Instructions
Coverage:
3 to 6 square metres. Subject to board size, joist centres and design of deck. These are estimates only. Please contact your local supplier or Deck-Max™ head office for more accurate Bill of Quantities.?This No. 5 kit is the smallest quantity we package.

20m2 Kit
Deck-Max™ Pro Biscuits – Qty. 440
Deck-Max™ Wood Screw – Qty. 440
Deck-Max™ Butt Joiners – Qty. 30
Ultra Set Adhesive – 4 x 300 ml Cartridge
Square Drive Bit – 1 x 50 mm #2
Drill Bit – 1 x 100 mm x 3 mm Long Shank

Install Instructions
Coverage:
15 to 23 square metres. Subject to board size, joist centres and design of deck. These are estimates only. Please contact your local supplier or Deck-Max™ head office for more accurate Bill of Quantities.?This No. 20 kit is the most popular for Trade Contractors.

Why Choose Deck-Max™
Overall Finish
Some key topics come up when considering decking for a project:
Material
Choice
Appearance
Budget
Location

These are all important and each one deserves serious consideration.

We receive many compliments on our Deck-Max™ decking and the top of the list is the customer comment “Loves the Look and Loves the finish” – this is a simple clear and brilliant outcome for us to hear from our customers.

Choice of material is as simple – choose decking it has a few key points

Colour of material is the most important
Then the colour is simply determined by the material as follows

Grey / pink colour will be Spotted Gum or Iron bark and this is the most expensive
Red / brown will be Merbau this is mid range high quality

Light brown / honey colour will be Bamboo – excellent value for product
Composite – in 2 set colours this will be the best by price

As you can see the colour you choose will equal price / budget.

Your final decision is how big your deck area is – this then sets the budget by colour and size of the deck.

Once this is established you have further considerations:

When you order normal decking it will be often irregular in size by varying width, twisted and inconsistent moisture content and often not kiln dried.

You can fix with a nail gun – and you know the outcome of that – cracked and split boards and within a year the nails will be popping out.

Even if you screw through the surface it will still crack and split.

THE OUTCOME is if you use old fashioned nails or screws into the surface the total investment is damaged by the cracking and splitting.

Option:
For best possible protection of investment is use the Deck-Max™ grooved decking as the fixing method never penetrates the board and the surface of the deck has NO visible screws or nails.

EASY to refurbish and clean and re coat.
Often forgotten is the waste allowance that builders or DIY customer forget is they allow from 10% to 15% waste this is money down the drain. Say for an average 30 sq.m. deck it is over $500.00 wasted.
With the Patented end match decking by Deck-Max™ this is a mere 2% allowance or less.

LABOUR – labour is saved because you do not need to measure and cut every piece of timber to join on a joist.

OUTCOME – less waste, fast install. The Deck-Max™ system delivers a superior product for long life and similar price to the old screw or nailed deck.

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT by choosing this Deck-Max™ deck in these fantastic materials.

Choose the Deck-Max™ decking pre-grooved to suit the patented Deck-Max™ “Pro Biscuit”

Only use hardwood rated for outdoor timber decking class 1 & class 2

Only use hardwoods with specific local moisture content – get FOR MORE>>

Deck-Max™ accepts no liability for timber failure, no certificates, incorrect installation, failure to follow manufacturers specifications

Do not use soft wood or pine decking.

TIMBER DECKING

Do not use soft wood or pine decking

Only use hardwood rated for outdoor timber decking class 1 & class 2

Only use hardwoods with specific local moisture content – ASK FOR certificate of proof. You must register moisture content when decking is laid as proof.

Only use kiln dried timbers – get certificate of proof.

Only use timber species that has a proven track record suited to outdoor decking and to your geographic location.

Deck-Max™ accepts no liability for timber failure, no certificates, incorrect installation, failure to follow manufacturers specification

Choosing The Decking Material

The sub – structure of the deck is as per your engineer’s specification. Joists are normally set at between 300 mm to 500 mm centres, standard in most areas is 450 mm. When the deck exceeds 1200 mm off ground cross braces on posts are recommended – check building codes for confirmation.

Always use the BUILDING standards AND CODES for Construction, moisture content, tolerances and timber grades for outdoor decking guidelines.

Acclimatization of floor boards is advisable when installing in seasonal extremes of weather, experienced during summer or winter. The moisture content of the floor boards should always be checked with a moisture meter prior to purchase and prior to installation. Ambient Moisture content is the standard.

The specification for each biscuit [Original” OR The “Pro Biscuit”] will vary but the groove for each style of biscuit is the same for any board thicknesses.

[Meaning that the groove height off bottom of board is the same for a 19mm board as it is for a 25 mm board] The bottom is Datum point.

Suitable board sizes vary from 90 mm wide x 19 mm up to 140 mm wide x 25 mm t maximum thickness. Ideal size is 110 mm wide x 19 mm thick.

• Do not fit damaged boards
• Do not fit warped boards

You should be sure to choose only quality kiln dried hardwood boards and check timber specifications prior to any fixing. If the timber you choose is going to shrink or expand by more than the standard allowed then an alternative fixing should be chosen.

Check the recommended moisture content average for your geographic area.

It is recommended that you obtain…

• Certificate of moisture content from supplier
• Certificate of proof that the boards are kiln dried from supplier

You will have two options of board preparation to suit two different styles of Biscuits…

NO – the grooved cut in the side of the board does not retain water.

Deck-Max™ has followed up on this particular question and a quote from a Timber Queensland person “Lateral cuts inserted to the side of timber decking boards will not hold water nor will it create rot from water retention”. Infact the driest part of the board is the side as the air flow passes up between the gap as part of the natural air flow therefore dries fast.

Deck-Max™ developed a new patented cut profile “Pro” decking, to its new decking that offers you the 100% satisfaction that it is impossible to retain water with a 10 degree fall on the bottom lip. This is how Deck-Max™ continues to design and develop the best product for you the consumer and in particular eliminate perceptions of a new product.

Decking should not be installed too close to ground, meaning that if the natural ground is very moist this can affect the moisture content of the underside of the board. If you are building very close to the ground please contact us as we have specific datasheets for this.

Key Points – Ventilation – air flow under the deck, Space settings of boards, natural ground drainage or create drainage.

The moisture content of a floor must be assessed, because if the moisture content is outside allowable limits, there is a greater probability of cupping. crowning or twisting. Where possible, moisture readings should be checked and recorded on both the top and bottom surfaces and these readings should be checked and recorded on both the top and bottom surfaces and these readings should vary by less than 3%. Moisture readings should be taken and recorded in at least four places in each deck area and should include areas near walls as well as the centre of each deck. A variance of less than 1% between readings is desired and the mean of readings should correlate to the mean EMC for the situation.

Where the recent history of the boards or the acclimatisation practices are unknown, the moisture contents of the boards should be compared to that of other timber components used in the same building, eg: joists, bearers, skirting, door frames, etc. This procedure can also be used to aid in establishing the moisture content of timbers such as brushbox, for which moisture readings made with electrical resistance metres can be unreliable due to extractives contained in the timbers which can influence conductivity.

Many dwellings are bricked in underneath and a lack of sufficient ventilation can result in high humidities in the sub-deck space. This may result in excessive expansion and cupping of floor boards.

Cupping is minimized by using Deck-max as a fixing which retains the board on the outside and applying downward pressure to a spot that is not retained by surface fix screw or nail.

Full control of cupping is based on the selection of kiln dried timber to a local ambient moisture content – timbers of larger size should be allowed extra space in the gap to facilitate moisture uptake and timber drying out.

Use packers as in tiling to set your desired space between the decking boards.

Cupping is caused by the underside of the board having a higher moisture content than the surface – too close to ground, poor air flow, laid too close to clay type soils – too close to concrete with no drainage, incorrect preparation of ground under deck, failure to follow manufacturers specification.

Cupping may have occurred prior to installation – always check your decking before you lay.

This fixing system designed and manufactured by Deck-Max™ is simply the strongest fixing for standard decking in the market.

You will have two choices based simply on what material you choose to build the frame from:

Either – Steel Frame or Timber frame

You must use the manufacturers specified screws only. The screw is included in the purchase of the Deck-Max™ biscuit.

We have a several fixings available – all we need to know is what material are the joist;

Timber joists in either Hardwood OR Treated Pine – Stainless Steel self drilling Type 17 Screw with Black epoxy coated head.

Metal – self drilling metal screws.

The screw you choose will have its own specific fixing requirements, but most of all the selection we offer is part of the proprietary system designed to self drill;

Do not use any other screws for the fixing of Deck-Max™

YES, you can!

Deck-Max™ manufactures two (2) different biscuits for gaps:

• 3 mm
• 5 mm

Deck-Max™ biscuits can be set from 3 mm up to 7 mm wide gap

Does Deck-Max™ make a fire rated biscuit?

YES, we do!

The 5 mm biscuit is the standard building code for width of gap for fire rating It is also made from Fire Retardant material – rated higher than the hardwood.

Deck-Max™ as a fixing system and does not require any changes to the structure.

The sub-structure should be built as per the normal building code for your particular job.

The Deck-Max™ fixing simply allows you to fix the board in a secret fashion and have no nail heads or screw heads on the top surface of your deck.

It should be noted that you can start from the wall/house and work out verses some who work from the outside back, the deck layout and design often dictates this process. [when working from the wall / house out – You may choose if possible to leave the joists + 100 mm long and then trim back to a full board] OR trim a board in to the house or where the decking boards finish.

Yes – The composite boards and Bamboo can be fixed with the Deck-Max™ system. {check manufacturers specifications}. The lateral biscuit cut is prepared the same way and the screw remains the fixing into the floor joist.

Some Composite board has a groove already molded to the side of the boards, or you can have it grooved the same as hardwood profile.

The only difference between timber and composite is the manufacturer of each composite board company will have a set spacing for your butt joints. Just check manufacturers warranty on fixings methods and installation specifications.

It is ideal for this more expensive deck material to have no nails or screws damaging the surface of the deck, as it will draw moisture into the board and floor joist.

Deck-Max™ has test results proving the advantage of choosing Deck-Max™ over any other fixing in the market as seen below.

This is NOT Deck-Max™ and shows the poor fixing of some alternative secret fixes. This was put under very low load and just pulled off the substrate.

Deck-Max™ provide a 7 year builders warranty for the biscuit and by using Deck-Max™ fixing you will obtain a truly long life fixing. The most important question is have you chosen the best timber for the application and has the substructure being built to the building code of practice.

The biscuit is fixed with a proprietary screw designed and engineered by Deck-Max™ which is the best quality available. You will have a choice to choose a Marine Grade 316 Stainless Steel screw as this will be the most superior screw you can choose.

You will have a choice at the store as to which screw suits your needs best. The biscuit itself is made for UV stability and Chemical resistant.

Like all building issues the most important one is – NO MORE Call Backs for nails popping or replacing split boards from traditional fixings like nails or screws.

What warranty do you get with nails or screws? NONE

Timber is a living thing and will take up and expel moisture during the seasonal changes we have.

Do Not close in around a deck – this blocks air flow and will cause the decking boards to cup and

Do not build up your gardens to same level as the deck – this will block the air flow and cause damage to decking boards.

Gap settings for decking boards – Gap settings have always being decided by the installer / carpenter to suit the environment etc. when under 400 mm off ground we recommend the Deck-Max™ 5 mm biscuit.

If you are in a fire rated zone – Deck-Max™ has the 5mm biscuit to use as standard gap set and is also fire rated.

All Deck-Max™ Biscuits have the capacity to be set from 3 mm gap out to 6 or 7 mm wide.

A wider gap setting should be selected when installing close to ground. Deck-Max™ 5 mm is ideal.

Our standard range of screws are designed to self drill into three floor joist types

Timber Screw

Metal self drilling

The screw has a square drive recess for the most positive drive – you must retain pressure while driving so as to avoid any burring or bushing.

In some case self drilling screws may encounter extreme hardness of the joist material – if so run pilot holes as required; see photo

Special Stainless Steel Screw fix – A pilot hole [using a long series drill bit] the pilot hole should be drilled through the hole in the biscuit while holding the biscuit into position – Deck-Max™ part No. DM 106 must be drilled at a slight angle back toward the previous board [say 10 degrees] prior to fixing the screw in position. If you do not pre drill, the screw will be over stressed and can bend or break under heat and pressure. Pre-drilling also minimizes splitting of the sub-structure joists. Note: Follow the angle of the pre-drilled hole when fixing the screw.

Fixing into hardwood joists pre-drill with 3 mm long series drill bit Deck-Max™ Part No. DM 106 – run a test prior to commencing.

Fixing into treated pine joists pre drill with drill bit Deck-Max™ Part No. DM 106 long series drill bit –

Fixing into steel joist – some steel used in construction will exceed the normal tensile rating of a “C” section and or wall thickness over 3 mm.

Check with manufacturer of Deck-Max™ prior to choosing a compatible metal joist material.

All butt joints should have an exterior water proofing product glue wiped over each face prior to fixing. All joints must have an exterior construction adhesive inserted to each kerf / lateral cut, prior to inserting the butt joint biscuit [part ref. DM-J10] Butt joints should always be set on joists clean off excess glue as soon as the joint is closed up. Bostik do have a special wipe available for this. 304 Stainless Steel – Type 17 tip – class 4 corrosion rated. Self Drilling tip – class 3 corrosion rated – max wall thickness is 3 mm.

TEST RESULTS – Testing is an ongoing feature of the Deck-Max™ philosophy to ensure the product will meet all expectations and exceed them when it come to the choice of any of the Deck-Max™ products.

The industry has one only reference for the measure / performance in the decking industry and it is referred to as the “Withdrawal Test” meaning that when a certain amount of pressure – measure in K/n and Kg force the decking board will pull from the nominated sub structure.

Testing has been undertaken for this test and reports written to establish some bench marks that we will use as reference points.

Reference document – Deck Nail Withdrawal Test “FWPRDC project No. 02.1209 undertaken by the Australian government “ Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation and Queensland Government Department of Primary Industries and fisheries March 2005.

The test involved a series of nails and screws fastened into both treated pine and hardwood joists.

e.g. machine nail – screw dome SS 50 x 2.5 into pine achieved an average failure at 1.6 k/n.

Always ask your supplier or Competitor what was the “Withdrawal test results” for their product – we tested a competitor of secret fixing methoid and it failed at 0.8 k/n half that of the nail measure above.

TEST WERE RUN IN FACILITIES UNDER STRICT ISO GUIDELINES.

Batten material used was MGP 12 70 mm x 35 mm as a reference we did compare and used 50 mm x 125 mm hardwood the decking boards varied from 140 mm x 19 mm up to 140 mm x 25 mm Merbau and spotted gum.

Boards were fixed with a variety of our screws using 316 stainless steel & our standard class 3 wood screw.

Best performance achieved an amazing 8.12 k/n (812KG) and still we could not break the deck-max part.

It was an incredible sight to see when 100% of the time of failure was the decking board.

Not one test of 20 test run could we break the biscuit or the screw.

The biggest difference is that we do not nail through the board into the joist, by doing this it eliminates splitting and cracking of boards PLUS this allows for sanding after deck is fitted, as in most cases the hole preparation is not pre drilled hence the stress and over the years ahead.

Deck-Max™ biscuit fixing involves pre-grooved boards using the Deck-Max “Pro biscuit” OR using the “Original” Biscuit by inserting a biscuit cutting tool to prepare a lateral cut to the side of the board as preparation for the biscuit fixing and no nails are used.

The process is similar to a tongue and groove fit. Deck-Max™ actually clamps / pulls the deck to the floor joists and allows for expansion and contraction throughout the seasonal changes we experience because it is independent of the decking material.

• Deck-Max™ as a fixing system does not require any changes to the structure.
• The sub-structure should be built as per the normal building code for your particular job.
• The deck-Max fixing simply allows you to fix the board in a secret fashion and have no nail heads or screw heads on the top surface of your deck.
• It should be noted that you can start from the wall/house and work out verses some who work from the outside back, the deck layout and design often dictates this process. [You may choose if possible to leave the joists + 100mm and then trim back to a full board] OR trim a board in to the house or where the decking boards finish.

No as per your building code.

Make the decking selection before you build the frame so any variations to construction can be planned before hand.

Example – Composite requires joists to be closer than the standard 450 mm centres.

Yes – Then you can choose our “Original Biscuit” it is a little slower but the end result is fantastic.

The "Pro Biscuit"
The “Pro” Biscuit is FAST, COST EFFECTIVE and Superior in the long term performance allowing from 3 mm to 5 mm expansion movement and contraction on every gap setting.

This biscuit can only be used with pre-grooved decking.

The “Pro” Biscuit now has the end match biscuit as well that changes the whole world of installing decking – You DO NOT have to join on joists anymore.

This groove cannot be cut with a biscuit cutter.

This biscuit has become The No. 1 Choice of Trade Customers who can access this patented biscuit and special profile that can only be done by Deck-Max™ and its licensed dealers.

Unique to Deck-Max™ – the joiner biscuit DM J10

This joiner biscuit is unique to Deck-max and is simply the strongest joining mechanism that has being used for 30 odd years.

Prepared with a 4 mm biscuit cutter or Lamello cutter.

The “Original Biscuit”
Ideal for DIY option where you may buy cheap timber and allows you to get a secret fix look.

This was the first (hence the name “Original”) biscuit designed and made by Deck-Max™ and is Suitable for cutting groove with a standard biscuit cutting tool.

The Original Biscuit is perfect for decking boards that are not or cannot get pre-grooved – normally odd or different species of timber that is not produced by Deck-Max™.

The cut dimensions off the bottom of the board are the same for any thickness of decking.

Why choose different gap settings ;

3 mm Gap – suitable for decking that is:

over 600 mm above ground

Merbau Decking dimensions – from 70 mm wide up to 140 mm wide Always check for other species as they have different expansion and tangential movement which will have a major issue to choose between the 3 mm biscuit and the 5 mm biscuit.

5 mm Gap

Under 600 mm above ground

Different timber and composite materials

Fire zones are specific that the gap must be 5 mm (check with your local code)

Also ideal fro all decking laid on Metal Joists as the steel and the decking material move at different temperatures and the 5 mm biscuit allows for this.

Airflow

All decks close to ground require genuine consideration of choice of material, ground preparation

Stabilizing moisture content of decking is important prior to installation.

Preventative measures in your planning:

Height off-ground

Material choice

Gap setting

When determining the gap you require between the decking boards always think about the following:

What gap do I have under the deck for good air flow?

Is the timber Kiln Dried?

What is the moisture content of the decking?

What are the tolerances of the timber species you have chosen – how much will it move?

Am I in a fire rated zone that may have local council specifications for this setting?

How much will the Deck-Max™ biscuit take? – from a minimum of 3 mm up to 6mm?

The traditional standard was approx. 4 mm. to choose a 4 mm gap simple insert a 4 mm packer between the boards and set.

Let me give you an example – If I was to choose Merbau as a timber species and the moisture content of the decking was say 15% – then my decision would be easy e.g. In QLD, You can set Merbau at 3 mm to 4 mm as it will normally shrink over time but If I were to choose an Australian hardwood then the decision is based on moisture content, was the timber kiln Dried, Air flow under the deck – you would combine these questions and then determine the gap so any movement can be accommodated as some species will move more than others.

Remember timber will move throughout its life but you can control it with Deck-Max™ and the decisions you make when laying – It should be noted that most hi quality hardwood / kiln dried boards will shrink in width and have minimal expansion. Always check with your local timber merchant for advise.

Firstly, by choosing the Deck-max™ Secret fixing, you are so much better off because if the board does move then the decking will not crack or split.

Secondly, be sure to have all the answers from your contractor before starting the project to be sure that your large investment will give you the long life and lifestyle of beautiful timber decking.

The batch of boards may vary in width due to the milling size of the boards [This causes what is referred to as feathering] – you may need to vary this 3 mm spacing a little, say every few boards so the deck is set evenly.

Your best option is to ask Deck-Max™ for recommended suppliers that will have the most accurate decking specifications.

When fitting to metal joists set spacing wider to accommodate the expansion and contraction of metal. Go to the PDF file for fixing to metal joists.

Faster than pre-drilling and screwing a deck

Faster than pre-drilling and hand nailing

Not faster than a nail gun, but the damage done by the gun is terrible – boards get split and cracked, the wood gets water in and starts to rot.

Time is relevant to your choice of timber, fixings and in particular the skill level of the installer. Time lines also depend on the layout of the deck area, and more importantly how many men are on the job working and how good the team works together

By using the Deck-Max™ Pro biscuit and the End match connector our contractors are laying up to 45 square metres a day.

Two options – Fastest Option – Pre-Grooved – You can choose decking boards and have them pre-grooved to Deck-Max™ specifications – this is by far the fastest and actually the most cost efficient. This way simply lay the board and fix.

OR . . .

Biscuit cut preparation – You use a biscuit cutting tool to cut a [Kerf] lateral cut into the side of the board – This is done at intervals that match where the board will lay and intersect with the joist.

If your carpenter or decking company had traditionally pre-drilled and screwed the boards then time is around the same or faster as biscuit cutting.

If you choose the pre-grooved option then Deck-Max™ will be a lot faster than drilling and screwing – Or drilling and nailing.

If the company uses a nail gun then Deck-Max™ will take more time – however, you achieve the perfect finish by using Deck-Max™. TIME = QUALITY especially when you have spent all that money on the decking material to start with. This also provides longer life to your investment with the capacity to sand the deck at any time as you have no nail heads or screw heads to stop the full sand. Imagine after 5 years you finally decide to sell your house and the deck looks terrible because you have neglected it – DO NOT WORRY – simple floor sand the deck and re oil it and it is as good as the day you laid it – and becomes a selling feature of the home.

The Deck-Max™ system will end up being faster and less expensive for the trade person. By using the Deck-Max™ system you use a lot less fixings compared to nails or screws.

Like all changes – from the old way to the new way – it takes a little bit to adjust to a new system and to have all the right tools like the Deck-Max™ floor clamps and to be well-organised with good systems. Please just ask your contractor to do it and both of you will be happy in the end – be prepared that a lot of contractors will want to do it the old way. Please ask Deck-Max™ for recommended contractors who will happily use the Deck-Max™ system.

Yes – apply manufacturers specified quality adhesive [Bostik Ultra Set Polyurethane] this also serves as an acoustic membrane between the floor joist and the decking boards.

Specifically [a polyurethane adhesive] supplied under several brands. We recommend Bostik Ultra Set SF as the product comes with the manufacturers specification for this application.

This process is part of the Deck-Max™ proprietary system and is included in each kit – however we always recommend to buy some extra cartridges as we seem to use more than what is included. E.g. in a Kit No. 30 you will receive 4 x 300 ml cartridges – buy one extra.

Apply adhesive into the lateral cut and on the butt joints and mitred corners on final assembly.

When fixing over concrete be sure to run the hose over the surface to be sure the water runs away and does not pond anywhere on the slab.

Excavate the ground to be sure that any water will run away from under the deck and does not retain moisture.

Dig into ground some sock covered agi pipe to get water away from the underside of the deck.

Refer to Technical Data Sheet 13 by timber Queensland.

Refer to Data Sheet – Deck-Max™.

After excavation lay down geo-fabric or similar sheet then cover with course with rock or gravel over geo-fabric and around the post supports prior to laying the decking boards.

Choose the straightest long stick of timber and decide to start either at the wall / house or from the outside edge and work back – Once decided set a string line parallel to the finishing point and set your first board.

Clamp into position be sure it is set straight – then prepare a CounterBore hole using the Deck-Max™ DM 110 tool then fix with the screw from the Deck-Max™ wood plug and screw kit – DM 114. Fasten screw into the bottom of the hole then insert the wooden plug – it will sit a little proud then just shave off the top flush to the deck using a wide sharp chisel. Repeat this process on the last board.

This process is also used for steps, step risers etc.

Do not over tighten screw in the bottom of hole. This is a two step process (read installation instruction for details).

The most common item is decking on line purchase as we require further information and it is best directed to the Quick Quote Section then submit and one of our team will call you to confirm your details. From that call we will be able to provide final budgets and delivery schedules.

Please contact your local store to see if the item is part of our store range but not yet available online. Contact us.

We endeavour to make sure that stock levels on our website are updated regularly, but for some items, particularly those that are on promotion or are very popular, we can often sell out of stock quickly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The best way to secure decking specials is to pay a deposit directly to the store this will secure stock and pricing.

With the costs of warehousing and staffing today we have consolidated all orders from one location – in Queensland for efficient and low cost handling.

We also take huge pride in our quality of packaging so the goods arrive to your door in best possible conditions.

Simply type what you are looking for into the search bar at the top of each page and hit return (or click the magnifying glass icon). This will return a list of results for you with the closest matching items at the top of the page.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, try browsing using the navigation bar at the top of the page. If you’re searching for a product you’ve seen in your local store, it may not be available online at present, as not all products are currently stocked at https://www.deckmax.com.au/.

From time to time we may promote ‘online only offers’ which can vary from state to state.

Simply call our office to confirm a price and availability.

Note: The most common item is decking on line purchase as we require further information and it is best directed to the Quick Quote Section then submit and one of our team will call you to confirm your details. From that call we will be able to provide final budgets and delivery schedules.

All specials offered on the web site have terms and conditions which includes freight and other fees and charges when purchasing a special offer.

The discounts do not include any other discounts, and that includes the Free Freight offer and cannot be used in conjunction with any special offers.

All specials are subject to holding and only while stock last.

Special offers have terms and conditions applied to it. See Special offers and freight T & C.