Who does this to a deck?

[Mrroo]

Ever since I bought my current house 3 years ago. I’ve been trying to figure out how and why someone would put boards down like this. Wtf. Makes my life a pain. Always pulling up nails. They are out to kill us. My whole deck, approximately 950 square feet is done like this. Nails and screws.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ray-CA]

Trying to keep it from cupping?

Ray

 

[The Cobbler]

That's a lot of fasteners

 

[kelpaso1]

Typical diy office geek who has no clue. Tape measure broken, can't put the nails in at 16" OC rows, 2 nails per row is good enough, a long straight board to mark lines so all the nails are even, and whats with the two rows of double nails Would love to see the structure underneath if the easy part was done like that

 

[The Cobbler]

or-
that low life POS contractor cheated and only used so and so many nails
I nailed it right so it will never come apart.

 

[Negen]

Probably someone just used a nail for each hammer they bought due to garage journal and realized they had ten cordless drills to try out and went to town.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[quattro_sinko]

I am going to guess it was originally nailed, and that as the nails have pulled up/risen/broken that the screws were added.

The nailing certainly is...thorough.

 

[jumbojak]

The original builder was as interested in asthetics as function. Think of your deck aa being studded like an armchair and it all becomes clear.

 

[Skiff Builder]

The boards shown in your picture appear straight, nicely gapped, lying flat, not split, not cupped.Look to be hand nailed.
How old is the install? more pictures?
A coat of stain might make the fasteners less noticable.
30 years ago, installed a 5/4x6 deck nailed 3 per joist, using 10d oval head galvies. Nothing has moved since install, although the boards are near end of service life.Every season I may need to knock a few nail heads down due to the joists shrinking and wet/dry cycling. If it bothers you enough rip it up and fasten the "right way"

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

He used shorter fasteners with only 1/2” of penetration so 3 fasteners gave him an 1 1/2” wouldn’t that work?

 

[quattro_sinko]

The boards shown in your picture appear straight, nicely gapped, lying flat, not split, not cupped.Look to be hand nailed.
How old is the install? more pictures?
A coat of stain might make the fasteners less noticable.
30 years ago, installed a 5/4x6 deck nailed 3 per joist, using 10d oval head galvies. Nothing has moved since install, although the boards are near end of service life.Every season I may need to knock a few nail heads down due to the joists shrinking and wet/dry cycling. If it bothers you enough rip it up and fasten the "right way"

I think you are on point with your assessment. I'd be interested in seeing shots of the underside too. I'm curious what the rationale was for the non-standard spacing. Possibly floor joists sandwiching support posts? Maybe pockets for railing posts? All in all it looks like the OB (original builder) was pretty conscientious, even if there's an element of overkill. All in all I think it beats the alternatives.

 

[flyingblind]

Trying to prevent or stop it from squeaking for the win

 

[southalabama]

An older friend said on the first job he was on where the roofer had just gotten a brand new nail gun the roofer got so happy nailing he walked off the end of the house.

Probably a homeowner that had problems with a prior deck cupping and he was damned and determined that wouldn't happen again.