Lifting deck boards?

[tvrolet]

I have some decking on a balcony and I want to lift a few of the boards to check some drainage underneath. I’ve decking on my own house that’s screwed down and I know can’t be lifted without damage as you can’t see the screw holes.

But I gather this stuff is clipped down in some way (I didn’t lay it). I can see some allen headed screws between some of the boards where they attach to battens. But I’m thinking they secure clips/fittings rather than the boards directly as some look totally inaccessible.

So just a case of trying to prize them up and hope for the best, or not possible? I’ve no spare boards and don’t know the make if they did get damaged, and since these are weathered there wouldn’t be a colour match.

[48k]

tvrolet said:

I have some decking on a balcony and I want to lift a few of the boards to check some drainage underneath. I’ve decking on my own house that’s screwed down and I know can’t be lifted without damage as you can’t see the screw holes.

But I gather this stuff is clipped down in some way (I didn’t lay it). I can see some allen headed screws between some of the boards where they attach to battens. But I’m thinking they secure clips/fittings rather than the boards directly as some look totally inaccessible.

So just a case of trying to prize them up and hope for the best, or not possible? I’ve no spare boards and don’t know the make if they did get damaged, and since these are weathered there wouldn’t be a colour match.

I have the same decking system, it's Trex Trascend. The black fixings have lugs on each side of them which sit in a groove along the middle of the board.



I also occasionally have to go through the same rigmarole of lifting boards to get access to drains underneath.

You need these "star" shaped drill bits.



Once you have removed the screws from the fasteners there is enough play in the boards to lever them up against each other and pop them up. Once you have the first one out in a row the next and subsequent rows are easier.

Putting them back is the fun bit.

Edited by 48k on Tuesday 3rd December 13:53

[Cow Corner]

It’ll be those fixings that you need to remove, but it depends on the system, as on some types you have to start with the last board laid (which is screwed down), whereas on some systems you can take up individual boards.

Hard to tell from a phone picture, but it looks like it might be a ceramic board - in the past I’ve specified MyDek Luxura, so maybe start with their installation instructions for inspiration…

Either way, trying to pry them up is unlikely to end well.

[ALPandy90]

48k said:

[snip]

You need these "star" shaped drill bits.

[snip]

Edited by 48k on Tuesday 3rd December 13:53

Those are Torx bits. Get a multipack on amazon and throw them in your drill/bit driver

[Retired_Mike]

To lift an individual deck board you remove all the torx fixing screws on both sides, then slide all the fixing clips along the gap until they have passed one of the end to end joints. Sometimes some gentle leverage is required to open the gap so the clips slide, but there is no need to risk damaging the boards by prying them up. In the words of Haynes - reassembly is the reverse process.....

[tvrolet]

Thanks guys. When the bloke that installed these said they were held on with clips, I kind of assumed the opposite of clip was un-clip. Not got round to lifting them yet; it’s a rental property between lets and other indoor stuff to remedy first. Hopefully it might be a bit drier next week and I can get down to it.

Loads of torx bits and sockets, but doesn’t look like much room between the boards; probably too narrow/deep for a regular torx socket and cordless drill, but I’ve a set of really long/thin torx screwdrivers so I guess it’ll be done by hand.

[miniman]

tvrolet said:

Loads of torx bits and sockets, but doesn’t look like much room between the boards; probably too narrow/deep for a regular torx socket and cordless drill, but I’ve a set of really long/thin torx screwdrivers so I guess it’ll be done by hand.

Or cut the handle off one, file a flat on the shaft and wang it into your drill.

[Fatboy]

miniman said:

tvrolet said:

Loads of torx bits and sockets, but doesn’t look like much room between the boards; probably too narrow/deep for a regular torx socket and cordless drill, but I’ve a set of really long/thin torx screwdrivers so I guess it’ll be done by hand.

Or cut the handle off one, file a flat on the shaft and wang it into your drill.

https://amzn.eu/d/bk4nBuN

Will probably do the job for you- look like a long narrower bit at the front, should fit past the edges of the boards ..

[48k]

tvrolet said:

Thanks guys. When the bloke that installed these said they were held on with clips, I kind of assumed the opposite of clip was un-clip. Not got round to lifting them yet; it’s a rental property between lets and other indoor stuff to remedy first. Hopefully it might be a bit drier next week and I can get down to it.

Loads of torx bits and sockets, but doesn’t look like much room between the boards; probably too narrow/deep for a regular torx socket and cordless drill, but I’ve a set of really long/thin torx screwdrivers so I guess it’ll be done by hand.

The long bits in my photo up there ^^^ are about 6 quid in Screwfix.

[tvrolet]

Retired_Mike said:

To lift an individual deck board you remove all the torx fixing screws on both sides, then slide all the fixing clips along the gap until they have passed one of the end to end joints. Sometimes some gentle leverage is required to open the gap so the clips slide, but there is no need to risk damaging the boards by prying them up. In the words of Haynes - reassembly is the reverse process.....

Genius. And once I got in to a rhythm it was fairly quick to lift, clean underneath and relay. A godsend the deck was long enough to have a join to the clips could be slid off onto the longer board to lift the smaller first. Not sure what the solution would have been of there was no join in the boards just to lift a single board. Anyway, done and dusted now and on a nice day too.

[48k]

tvrolet said:

Not sure what the solution would have been of there was no join in the boards just to lift a single board.

Described in my post up there ^^^ The pattern of deck boards on my deck means I don't have boards joined end-on where the manholes happen to be.

[IJWS15]

Retired_Mike said:

To lift an individual deck board you remove all the torx fixing screws on both sides, then slide all the fixing clips along the gap until they have passed one of the end to end joints. Sometimes some gentle leverage is required to open the gap so the clips slide, but there is no need to risk damaging the boards by prying them up. In the words of Haynes - reassembly is the reverse process.....

If you remove the screws from two boards you can lift the middle join and get the boards out that way. Getting them back is the challenge.