In one aspect of a tile and support structure, a support structure may be engaged with a top portion of a pedestal. The support structure may be formed with a generally vertical spine having at least one rail extending outward from a distal end thereof. The spine and rail(s) may be configured to secure one or more tiles, which tiles may be formed with a groove on at least one edge thereof, and wherein one or more rails may be positioned within the groove.

A set of decking boards including a first and a second decking board and being provided with a connecting system including a connecting device. The first board is configured to be connected to a support element and the second board is configured to assume a vertically locked state with respect to the first board in which the connecting device cooperates with the first and second boards, there is a vertical gap between a portion of the second lip of the first decking board and a portion of the second lip of the second decking board, and there is a horizontal space between a first lip of the first board and the second lip of the second board. Also, other aspects of a set of decking boards and connecting devices as well as methods for demounting decking boards and replacing them with new decking boards.

A stringer for a decking support frame, the stringer including a structural body having a front side, a back side, a top side, and a bottom side. The structural body also includes a plurality of weld free mounting tabs integral with the structural body extending from the top side and away from the bottom side. A plurality of apertures extend evenly spaced along a longitudinal length of the structural body and each aperture extends completely through the front side to the back side.

In one embodiment of a tile and support structure, the tile and support structure may be configured to engage a tile such that the tile is oriented in a generally vertical plane. The support structure may include a riser tile engaged with both an upper riser support structure and a lower riser support structure.

A hidden fastener assembly facilitates the attachment of grooved deck members to a joist. A body has an upper platform and a lower reference surface and is traversed by a central opening. A pair of tongues project from the body and are positioned and configured for reception in the grooves of the deck members. A pair of legs straddle the joist to aid in positioning. A fastener received in the opening and driven into the joist secures the deck members to the joist at a desired spacing. The fastener assemblies may be collated for usage in automatic driving tools.

A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more board engagement elements. The board engagement elements can engage the groove of the board, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. Related methods of use also are provided.

A connecting system for boards, and a connecting device and a support element for boards are disclosed. The connecting system includes the support element configured to support at least one board and the connecting device configured to releasably fasten the at least one board to the support element. The support element includes at least one lateral surface with at least one locking member arranged on the lateral surface. The connecting device includes at least one arm with a locking member configured for engagement with the locking member of the support element. At least one of the locking member of the support element and the locking member of the connecting device includes a plurality of protrusions forming a plurality of locking positions of the connecting device relative the support element.

A fastener unit and related method for securing a board to a support is provided. The fastener unit includes a spacer block, a grip element extending from the spacer block and configured to fit in and engage a groove of the board, and one or more resilient compression elements extending from the spacer block. The one or more resilient compression elements can be a joist leg configured to engage a joist, or it can be vertically compressible toward a first plane that is transverse to a vertical axis of the spacer block so that portions of it can compress from an open mode to a compressed mode and fit within, then forcibly expand within the groove, thereby securing the spacer block in a position adjacent the groove to establish a gap between the board and another board. A related method of use also is provided.

A decking assembly comprising a first decking panel (202), a second decking panel (202) adjacent the first decking panel (202), a clip (100) comprising a base (102) and a retaining portion (104), wherein the retaining portion (104) cooperates with the first decking panel to affix the clip thereto, the base projects from the first decking panel to engage the second decking panel and, the base defines a fastener opening for receiving a fastener to secure the first and second decking panels to an underlying substrate.

A plurality of hidden clips can be included with a strip of clips and separated by a frangible section or tab located between adjacent clips. An aperture defined in each hidden clip can include an offset cylindrical section that causes a fastener to pivot from a vertical alignment when the fastener is driven into a joist. Each strip can be provided with a hand grip portion removably attached to a proximal-most hidden clip in the strip of clips.