A system for fastening to a flat surface slats having a rectangular or square plan shape predisposed to be arranged two by two side by side and spaced mutually apart to make a flooring, wall, or ceiling includes: a base integrally associated with a flat surface and configured for positioning above and/or laterally thereto at least two slats in a laying condition. The system includes a constraining component of this base to two of these slats positioned above and/or laterally thereto in the laying condition, and a supporting component of at least one of two of these slats positioned above and/or laterally to the base in the laying condition. The supporting component includes at least one bridge structure defined by two legs, connected by a crosspiece which defines, on the opposite side to the base, an abutment surface, to prevent or limit deformation of this portion towards the base.

A joist support and joist assembly for use in a decking structure, the joist support and joist being adapted to be fitted together in an assembled position, the joist support including a support body which includes a base wall having a bottom side and a top side, two spaced apart side walls extending from the base wall away from the top side thereof so as to provide a channel having an open top and opposed spaced apart open ends, the channel when in use being configured so as to at least partially receive a joist therein such that an outer side of a bottom wall of the joist lies adjacent the top side of the base wall of the joist support.

One illustrative embodiment of a tile & support structure may be configured to secure the position of a tile in a generally vertical configuration, such as the riser of a step, as a border around a portion of a deck, a building and/or wall façade, ventilated façade, interior or exterior wall covering, or other generally vertical surface. The support structure may be formed with a 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 deck system including hold-down devices for attaching deck boards to deck support structures and a siding system including attachment devices for mounting siding boards to wall structures. Hold-down devices are attached to deck support structures by horizontally-extending fasteners and attach the deck boards to the deck support structures without fasteners providing paths for water to pass through the deck boards into the support structures. Deck board engagement members of the hold-down device extend into slots in deck boards. Siding board attachment devices are mounted on upright surfaces of wall structures using horizontally extending fasteners. Siding boards are mounted with a standoff distance providing ventilation space behind and between siding boards.

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 extending from a portion of the spacer block. The board engagement elements can clamp the board, between an upper and/or lower surface of the board and a 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.

Resilient mounting clips, panel mount systems including the same, and associated methods. A resilient mounting clip includes a support structure engagement portion and a panel engagement portion with a plurality of edge extensions and a plurality of outboard panel supports. Each outboard panel support extends from a respective edge extension. Each outboard panel support is configured to move at least substantially parallel to a compression axis when the respective edge extension resiliently flexes with respect to the support structure engagement portion. A panel mount system includes at least one support structure, at least one resilient mounting clip, and at least two panels received by each mounting clip. A method of assembling a panel mount system includes positioning and securing a resilient mounting clip on a support structure and receiving each of a first panel and a second panel with the resilient mounting clip.

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. Each strip can be provided with a hand grip portion removably attached to a proximal-most hidden clip in the strip of 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.

A clamp (51) for connecting panels in a surface coating structure on a base frame comprises a fixable element (100) and a rotatable element (200) having an upper part (220), projecting after its rotation from the fixable element (100) and provided with end (21, 22) of engagement in lateral grooves of adjacent panels. The rotatable element (200) has an intermediate part (280) and a lower part (290) which are constituted by two coaxial discs, the disc of the intermediate part (280) having a smaller diameter than the disc of the lower part (290). The fixable element (100) has two communicating coaxial holes (10, 11) housing the intermediate part (280) and the lower part (290) with a wide coupling to allow rotation of the rotatable element (200) with respect to the fixable element (100). A manufacturing process of the clamp (51) is also described.

A clip for attaching decking. The clip includes a bottom and a removable top insert. The bottom is made of a first material. The top is made of a second material. The first material of the bottom is different than the second material of the top. The clip has a generally T shape in a side view with a central bore passing through the top member and the bottom member to receive a screw or other fastening member, and a plurality of apertures through the top surface of the bottom member that engage the top member. The body of the bottom member has a transverse planar upper member and at least one perpendicularly positioned planar lower member or keel. The deck board fastener can also have a lip that projects upward from the upper surface of the transverse planar member. The lip can be positioned about an exterior edge of the transverse planar member or along the upper surface.

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 extending from a portion of the spacer block. The board engagement elements can clamp the board, between an upper and/or lower surface of the board and a 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.