Few product categories have seen more dramatic changes than decking and railing. Many of those changes have involved making you notice the installation less and the outdoors more. After years in which composites and nonwood items got the headlines, this year the railing news is about cable’s growing popularity. Meanwhile, we’re seeing new ways to install decks more quickly and with better hidden fasteners.
Rod and Rail
Minimalist and modern, Trex’s new Signature Rod Rail brings sleek commercial design to the backyard. The line offers the view-optimizing aspects of cable railing with the strength of aluminum. While Trex Signature Rod Rail is intended for residential applications, its commercially inspired design was facilitated by the company’s recent acquisition of SC Railing. Rod Rail spans long lengths and is available in three color combinations: black/platinum, bronze/platinum, and black/black. trex.com
Hidden Qualities
AZEK Building Products announces a new development in FUSIONLoc, a hidden fastening system designed for both AZEK and TimberTech grooved decking. FUSIONLoc’s collated clips offer both fast installation and a strong connection, the company says. And now the clips don’t need a pneumatic tool to install them. AZEK.com
Wood Look, PVC Benefits
Fairway Architectural Railing Systems unveils its P300 Cellular PVC Railing. The white railing looks like wood but is twice as strong as composite wood rails, the company says. Aluminum inserts at the tops and bottoms of the rails add durability. The system is available in 6-, 8-, and 10-foot widths and in heights of 36 and 42 inches. The railing works with cable, glass, and both square and round balusters. fairwayrailing.com
Set Up for Sections
Thermory introduces two thermally modified exterior wood products: Herringbone decking (pictured) and Drift decking and cladding. Thermory’s Herringbone ash decking comes in six-piece, pre-assembled sections with an interlocking plastic undercarriage. It can easily be installed on traditional, 16-inch on-center joist systems. Both products have a Class 1 durability rating, resisting rot for 25-plus years. thermoryusa.com
The Whole Kit and Caboodle
Feeney is offering DesignRail kits that enable pros or robust DIYers to put together their own deck rail. The kits are made of aluminum and come 36 and 42 inches high. Customers configure the shape and length of the deck they want and then buy all the kits needed, from corner posts to newel posts to stairs. The units come predrilled with all required attachment hardware. feeneyinc.com
A Varied Look
MoistureShield’s new Vision deck and trim composite boards offer a modern, variegated appearance. The deck boards come in 12-, 16-, and 20-foot lengths; the trim boards, in 12-foot lengths. The deck boards are available with or without grooves for hidden fasteners and the option of MoistureShield’s CoolDeck technology, which deflects heat to absorb 35% less than conventional capped composites. Vision decking has a transferable lifetime warranty. moistureshield.com
No Need to Lag Behind
Mitek has debuted the MiTek ProSeries fasteners. The Washer Head is suitable for deck ledger attachments, multi-ply EWP, and dimensional wood connections. The Hex Head and general-purpose Bugle Head screws offer a high-strength alternative to traditional lag screws. All include a “cut point” to eliminate the need for pre-drilling and reduce installation torque and splitting. uspconnectors.com
