EVA-LAST Single Level Square Decks Installation Guide
- June 7, 2024
- EVA-LAST
Table of Contents
All enclosed information is current as of the date of production. Please consult www.eva-last.com for further assistance or for continually updated information before installing any Eva-Last® product.
The all-new I-Series™ board
Thank you for choosing Eva-Last® I-Series™ decking. These guidelines are designed to assist you with I-Series™ installation and advise you on the unique installation requirements for this board.
Please note the limitations of this guide:
• This guide is intended only for Eva-Last® I-Series™ single-level square
decks.
• The person using these guidelines should already have a basic understanding
of deck-building practices.
• Decks must be built in accordance with all relevant bylaws and building
codes.
For the full installation guide, or for installation queries, please visit
www.eva-last.com before beginning installation.
The I-Series™ board offers installation, durability, cost, and low-maintenance
advantages over many other decking products. However, the specialized shape of
the profiles requires certain installation considerations. Please read this
guide in its entirety before beginning installation.
Benefits of I-Series™
| Quicker installation
The I-Series™ board has one of the greatest joist span capacities in the
composite industry, and a lighter weight. This translates into a simpler
substructure that is quicker to construct, and decking boards which are easier
to carry and position than many other composite or timber decking options.
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| Less substructure material
The impressive joist span and light weight of the I-Series™ board saves you
time and money when it comes to installation. A greater joist span means
I-Series™ boards require less substructure material than many other decking
options.
| Fewer fixings and fasteners
Once again, the industry-leading joist span of the I-Series™ boards saves you
money, this time by requiring fewer fixings and other fasteners. I-Series™
boards are designed with side grooves to allow the use of HULK hidden fastener
clips, which create a screw-free finish.
Top fixing screws are recommended for perimeter boards and fascia boards where
necessary.
| Reduced transportation costs
The I-Series™ board is a lighter weight decking profile than many other
composite or timber options on the market. This helps reduce the cost and
environmental burden of transportation. Furthermore, by reducing the amount of
substructure required for installation, choosing I-Series™ boards lessens the
total amount of material requiring any transportation at all.
| Does not trap moisture
The unique arched design of I-Series™ releases any water or moisture which
comes into contact with the board, unlike hollow composite boards or
traditional timber. This shape also gives the board excellent ventilation to
further offset any moisture-related issues.
| A cleaner rip
I-Series™ boards are engineered to bow and warp less than traditional timber
profiles, particularly when ripped – or cut lengthwise. This is especially
helpful for most installations which require partial boards to fit the exact
installation size and specifications.
Installation points
I-Series™ profiles are designed to make installation efficient and straightforward. Please adhere to all guidelines to ensure the long-lasting integrity of your deck. Top fixing may be used in conjunction with the HULK fasteners™ hidden clip system (S9 & S6 clips).
- Joist Spacing for I-Series™ Infinity profiles can be up to 500 mm (400 mm for Eva-tech™ profile) in most residential applications. Exceeding this length can jeopardise the performance of your deck.
- Double joists should be used at all butt joins. Ensure that hidden fasteners are installed within 25 mm of the end of the I-Series™ decking board.
- Breaker-boards running perpendicular to other decking planks should be used at butt joins to assist with controlling the expansion and contraction of I-Series™ decking. Top-fixed boards should be fastened at exactly 30 mm from any edge of the board.
- Cover angles create a clean finish for your deck and provide safety from sharp edges. These should be firmly secured onto your I-Series™ decking. Fix, or screw, them every 300 mm. Ensure these screws are 30 mm from the outer edge of the I-Series™ decking board to which the cover angle is attached.
Expansion gaps are needed at both ends of each board to allow for the material to naturally expand and contract without any issue. Composite decking will thermally expand and contract at a rate of 1 mm per linear metre of decking material under normal circumstances. The size of the expansion gap will depend on:
• The linear thermal expansion coefficient of the decking material.
• The length of the board.
• The expected temperature range of the site.
• The ambient temperature at the time of installation.
Typical expansion (or contraction) per meter of board per degree of temperature change is: For Infinity™ products, equal to 0.040 m-1°C-1, For Eva-tech™ products, equal to 0.045 m-1°C-1.’ Please contact an I-Series™ decking representative ahead of installation for specific expansion gap queries.
Accounting for expansion and contraction during installation
One must consider the ambient temperature of the site at the time of
installation. The homogeneous movement of the composite is easily accounted
for during installation. The anticipated change in length can be accommodated
for using expansion gaps at either end, or at both ends depending on the
intended design, by employing the intelligent HULK fasteners™ system.
Site temperatures example
In cooler climates, some composite boards expand at approximately 0.75 mm/m of
a composite deck board. When leaving an expansion gap for each board, compare
the current installation temperature (ambient) to what is common maximum or
minimum temperature for that site. If you are installing in the early morning
in the middle of winter, it will be closest to the minimum temperature and the
board will be closer to its ‘shortest’ length. As the temperature rises the
board will expand. When it gets to the peak temperature in the middle of
summer the board will be at its ‘longest’ length.
Acclimatisation
Installation can take place over a few days, resulting in varying installation
temperatures. Depending on the project site, the boards may experience
differing heating and cooling rates. Therefore, the boards may expand and
contract at varying rates. Allow boards to acclimatise onsite for 24 hours
before beginning installation. Once the installation is complete, wait to cut
the ends of the installed boards to the desired length in order to allow the
boards to fully acclimatise to the site.
Summarised expansion and contraction points
– For best practice, allow boards to acclimatise on site for at least 24 hours
before beginning installation.
– Try to avoid installing boards at temperature extremes, like the hottest or
coldest time of day.
– If you must install boards at peak temperatures, allow for smaller
installation gaps as boards will shrink when temperature drops.
– If you must install boards at coolest temperature, allow for larger
installation gaps as boards will expand when temperature increases.
Fastening points
**A** Top-fixing screws should be located at exactly 30 mm from any edge of
the I-Series™ decking. This ensures the screws conveniently line up with a
cavity of the I-Series™ profile, and are an adequate distance away from the
end of the board so as to prevent cracking.
**B** HULK hidden fasteners Infinity™ uses S9 clip | Eva-tech™ uses S6
clip
C Use HULK S9 and S6 hidden decking fasteners to create sufficient
expansion gaps of approximately 5 to 6 mm. These screws are specifically
designed to
work with the expansion and contraction of I-Series™ decking. Be sure to use
the correct hidden clip as Infinity™ (S9) and Eva-tech™ (S6) I-Series™ have
different clip groove heights.
Fastening points using a single groove edge board
A The I-Series™ edge profile can be used to frame your deck. It is only
grooved on one side and eliminates the need for cover angles. This perimeter
board should be top-fixed using colour matching HULK composite deck screws.
The screws should be located 30 mm away from any edge of the I-Series™
profile. This ensures the screws conveniently line up with a cavity of the
I-Series™ profile, and are an adequate distance away from the end of the board
so as to prevent cracking.
**B** HULK hidden fasteners Infinity™ uses S9 clip | Eva-tech™ uses S6
clip
Use HULK S9 and S6 hidden fasteners between decking profiles. This creates
sufficient expansion gaps of approximately 5 to 6 mm. These clips are
specifically designed to work with the expansion and contraction of I-Series™
decking.
Note: Do not overdrive the screw.
Be careful not to overdrive the screw into the decking surface.I-Series™ decking is not solid and has cavities that can be compromised if your drill torque setting is too high. Always try to achieve a flat and neat surface finish.
Board ripping guidelines
Ideally your deck installation area will perfectly accommodate full sized I-Series™ boards and their expansion gaps. However, oftentimes it is necessary to rip, or cut lengthwise, the last deck board to fit the size of the installation area. If this is the case, avoid cutting any I-Series™ board too thin, or to less than half of its original width. It is better to rip both the first and last I-Series™ boards to fit your installation space than to rip either board too thin. Plan ahead for this.
If it is absolutely necessary to rip an I-Series™ board to less than half of its original width, the integrity of the material may be compromised. At minimum, the board must be wide enough to allow for top-fixing 30 mm from each edge. Please note that the board must be fixed on both sides using HULK (S9 or S6) clips to ensure an adequately stable fixing to the substructure; a single, longitudinal line of fasteners is susceptible to pivoting and may become a hazard.
Ripping guides:
I-Series™ boards can be ripped. However, these rips or lengthwise cuts should
avoid the web or “feet” of the board. The diagram below illustrates various
ways a board can be ripped and securely fastened so as to preserve the
integrity of your deck.
Wherever possible, if an I-Series™ board has been ripped, face the ripped edge inwards towards the other decking boards and allow the non-ripped edge to act as the end of the deck.
*Never fasten through the web or “feet” of the I-Series™ profile in order to avoid cracking the I-Series™ board.
Top fixing guidelines for ripped boards
I-Series™ boards can be fastened using top fixing in certain circumstances, particularly if the board has been ripped. However, all boards require fixing on both sides, rather than a single row of screws, and all top fixing screws should be positioned 30 mm from the edge of the board. HULK fasteners™ are best suited for securing I-Series™ boards wherever possible to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of the decking material.
Alternating zig-zag top fixing
In certain situations, using zig-zag top fixing may allow you to rip an
I-Series™ board to a thinner width than possible when using traditional
straight-line top fixing. By using zig-zag top fixing, an I-Series™ board can
be ripped to a width of 60 mm, but only if absolutely necessary, and if
adequate assessment of the over-
all stability of the deck is first conducted. In this case, substructure
modifications may need to be made to accommodate the thin board.
Alternating zig-zag top-flixing
The diagram below illustrates various top fixing methods for I-Series™ boards which have been ripped to different widths.
Thank you, again, for choosing I-Series™ decking. Please contact an I-Series™ professional at www.eva-last.com with any questions you have before beginning your installation.
Email: customer-service@sca.com
www.eva-last.co.uk
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>