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DIY Decking 101: Choosing the Right CAMO Fasteners and Tools for Your Project

Building a deck yourself is a big project, and getting it right starts with the details you don’t always see once the boards are down. One of the most important is how those boards are fastened.

Most DIYers want the same end result the pros do: a fastener-free deck surface. No exposed screw heads. No patched holes. Just clean boards that stay tight.

CAMO offers two proven ways to get there. The right one depends on the profile of your decking boards.

A Fastener-Free Deck Surface

When a fastener-free surface is the goal, you’ve got a choice. How you get there comes down to the edge profile of the boards you’re installing.

Decking boards generally fall into one of two profiles:

  • Grooved boards, which are most common with composite and PVC decking. Certain exotic hardwoods are also pre-milled with grooves because their density makes face-screwing difficult and prone to cracking.
  • Square-edge boards, which are most often natural wood, though composite lines also include square-edge options for use as starter boards, fascia trim, or picture-frame borders.

Both profiles can deliver a clean, fastener-free surface. They just do it differently.

Grooved Deck Boards

If your decking boards have grooves along the edges, use CAMO Hidden Deck Clips for a fastener-free surface.

Secure the first and last grooved board with CAMO STARTER Clips. Just place clips on the outside of the joist, center with the cross-joist, and fasten with your drill.

Then, reach for CAMO EDGE Clips or WEDGECLIPs. The clips fit into the groove and fasten down to the joist below with a one-pass installation that keeps the fasteners completely out of sight. Spacing stays consistent, and the deck surface stays clean, edge to edge.

Use CAMO Hidden Deck Clips when:

  • Your decking boards are grooved
  • The groove is intended for clip installation
  • You want a fastener-free surface using clips

Square-Edge Deck Boards

If your decking boards have a square edge, hidden clips aren’t an option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get that pro finish you’re after.

CAMO EDGE Deck Screws have you covered. EDGE screws drive through the edge of the board at a precise angle, pulling it tight to the joist while keeping fasteners off your decking surface. No clips required.

To make that angled fastening accurate and repeatable, CAMO MARKSMAN® tools position each screw before you drive it. The tool sets the angle automatically, then you finish the job with your drill—no measuring, no guessing, no wrestling the screw into place by hand.

Use CAMO EDGE Deck Screws when:

  • Your decking boards are square-edged
  • Clips aren’t compatible with the board profile
  • You want a fastener-free surface using edge-driven screws

CAMO Fasteners for Long-Term Performance

A fastener-free surface only matters if the deck stays tight, flat, and secure over time. Quality results are what CAMO is all about.

CAMO deck screws and clips are engineered specifically for decking, not general construction. That means they’re designed to handle the movement, exposure, and load changes that decks see season after season.

Key performance advantages DIYers benefit from:

  • Corrosion-resistant coatings designed for pressure-treated lumber, composite, PVC, and hardwood decking
  • Threading that bites cleanly and holds fast, reducing loosening as boards expand and contract
  • Patented rake top to auger material out, reducing the potential for splitting and cracking
  • Fastening systems tested to work together for consistent spacing, grip, and alignment across the deck
  • Reduced lateral movement and superior in uplift holding power compared to competitors’ clips

The result is a deck that looks clean when you’re done and stays solid season after season.

Faster DIY Decking Installations Without the Strain

No sugar-coating: a DIY deck build is real work. Once you’ve matched the right CAMO fastener to your decking board profile, CAMO also has tools that make the install easier, especially when you’re tackling longer runs or a bigger project.

Installing deck boards usually means constant bending, kneeling, and resetting. CAMO DRIVE® and ClipDRIVE® are stand-up, drill-powered fastening tools designed to break that cycle, letting you work upright, keep steady pressure on your boards, and move continuously instead of starting and stopping.

  • CAMO DRIVE works with collated CAMO deck screws, feeding fasteners automatically as you go so every screw lands clean and consistent—no handling individual screws.
  • CAMO ClipDRIVE is built for clip-based installs, allowing you to set each hidden deck clip in place between boards, then drive the screw fast and accurately from above.

Set your boards in place, hold them tight with CAMO LEVER® where needed, and move straight down the deck, fastening one board after another without breaking stride. Do these tools really make installs that much faster? You bet they do. Two times faster.

But the benefit isn’t just speed. It’s a DIY install that stays consistent, under control, and doesn’t beat you up. The CAMO DRIVE and ClipDRIVE let you stay on your feet, keep steady pressure on your boards, and fasten continuously without punishing your knees.

CAMO Fasteners That Build Confidence

A deck isn’t just another weekend project. It’s where people gather, relax, and make memories. The fasteners holding it together should reflect that.

CAMO fasteners and tools are built to give DIYers confidence, control, and a finished result they’re proud to stand on. No shortcuts. No unnecessary complexity. Just a better way to build your deck.