I am going to redo my deck with Trex and I will use the clips but I'm not going to buy the pregrooved planks. I can just see all the needles packing into the grooves making it hell to clean. I will use a bisquit cutter and just cut grooves at the joists.

I initially wanted to use clips on my deck. But it was gonna' cost about $1300 for them IIRC. A bucket of deck screws was way more agreeable. And now that it's done, I don't even notice the screws unless I start looking for them.

Sg

OW-the beam is treated and incised. when it was set into the ground it was surrounded by 5/8 minus crushed rock

You probally have access to a biscuit jointer at work, but if you don't I have one you can use.

Hate to tell ya, it's still gonna rot, it will just take it a bit longer hopefully . . . . Sorry.

You should be out wakin Kings, not worrying about yer deck ! !

Not too concerned about it in this lifetime

Thanks for the offer, we have 4 at work I think.