Saw a crazy custom deck in Austin that used hidden lag bolts instead of visible fasteners.

The builder said he countersinks them from below and fills with epoxy, which seems like a solid trick for a cleaner look on cedar projects.

3 comments

3 Comments

lisa3311mo ago

Used to think hidden fasteners were just for looks... but that epoxy fill trick sounds like it actually locks everything down tight. Might have to try that on my next build.

the_andrew1mo ago

Read somewhere that epoxy can actually make the wood split over time if it doesn't flex with it.

jamie1301mo ago

Yeah, that bit about the epoxy making the wood split is what worries me too. I love the clean look, but wood moves so much with the seasons. If that epoxy plug is totally rigid, something's gotta give. It seems like it could put a ton of stress right around the bolt head over a few years. Maybe a more flexible filler would be a safer bet for the long haul.