Installation Guide
23
HOW TO INSTALL DECKING
22
HOW TO INSTALL DECKING
HOW TO INSTALL TREX HIDEAWAY
®
 STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS
PARTS
T
OOLS NEEDED
NOTE: Maximum spacing of deck boards using the 
Hideaway system is 16" (40.6 cm) on center. Fasteners 
provide 1/4" (0.6 cm) gap when installed correctly.
Installing Start Clips and First Board 
1. 
I
nstall start clips on edge of ledger board, centered 
  on each joist. Secure clips with screws. 
2. 
P
ush grooved edge of deck board into start clips. 
  Important: First deck board MUST be straight 
a
nd well secured.
Installing Stainless Steel Connector Clips
3.  Insert connector clip into grooved edge of deck 
b
oard.  
4.  Center connector clip on joist and secure with 
s
crew (provided) at 45° angle while standing on 
  board and applying pressure to clip. Install one 
c
onnector clip on each joist. Connector clips 
  MUST be vertical to deck boards with screws 
s
ecuring clips in board’s grooved edge. 
Installing Second Board
5.  With next deck board in position and 2" (5.1 cm) 
f
rom connector clips, push the boards with enough 
  force to fully seat the clips in its grooved edge. 
Ch
eck gaps between boards. Fully engaged, the 
  connector clip’s bump stop tab provides a   
c
onsistent 1/4" (0.6 cm) gap. 
Installing the Last Board  
Option 1:  
Using a Fascia Board  
6a. Pre-drill pilot holes   
a
t an angle through  
  grooved edge of   
d
eck board into   
  ledger board. Install  
  2
-1/2" (6.4 cm) 
  decking screw using 
  p
ilot holes to secure. 
  Attach a fascia board flush with deck surface. 
Option 2: 
With Deck Board 
Overhang
6b. 
P
re-drill pilot holes at 
  45° angle from below 
d
eck surface through 
  rim joist. Seat last   
b
oard into fasteners 
  overhanging rim joist. 
  S
ecure last board with 
  2-1/2" (6.4 cm) decking screws using pilot holes. 
  P
osition fascia board below overhanging deck 
  board.
1
2
2
3
1
1
1
2
4
Bump stop tab
5
1/4" (0.6 cm)
2
2
6a
1
6b
2
3
4
Start clip Connector clip
Installing Angled Deck Boards in Corners
ALWAYS start in corner with a small triangular 
piece of decking at 45° and work outwards. Install 
Trex Hideaway fasteners 1/2" (1.3 cm) off center 
to keep fastener screws in middle of joists.
How to Butt Seams
1. 
I
nstall 10" - 12" (25.4 cm - 30.5 cm) framing   
  boards along joists where seams will butt. 
2.
  P
lace additional fasteners on the adjacent board 
  over the joist and framing boards where the 
  s
eam will be. 
3.  Put the first board of the seam in place and   
s
ecure with fastener. 
4.  Butt end of second board to first and secure   
w
ith fastener. 
N
O
TE: Follow end-to-end gapping specifications on 
page 20. 
5.  Place second set of fasteners on each side of 
  b
utt 
s
eam for next board. 
Routing Grooves for Trex Hideaway 
Fasteners
Using a Trex router bit/groove cutter available at 
your local Trex dealer: 
1.  Rout from bottom side of board. 
2. 
R
out the entire length of the board, or at every 
  intersection where the board is over support  
joi
sts.
TIPS FOR INSTALLING A TREX
®
 HIDEAWAY HIDDEN FASTENER SYSTEM 
For Universal 
and Stainless 
Steel (Universal 
shown here)
DECKING
BOARD
Shift 1/2"
(1.3 cm)
Universal
Stainless Steel
Decking 
board
Decking 
board
Stainless Steel 
Fastener
Universal Fastener










