TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY
ANDY HENLEY & MIKE MITCHELL
THE ORIGINAL JOIST RUNNER GEN3 Gen3 Price: $499.00 Includes 1 Joist Runner, 10 joist clips, 2 cams deckscaffoldingsystems.com USE PROMO CODE: TNT10 for 10% off (exclusive offer for Deck Specialist readers)
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N THE WORLD of deck building, there’s been a lot of talk about Joist Runners–a cool new ergonomical scaffolding system that helps builders with putting in joists, blocking, and joist tape. HISTORY On October 20th, 2019, Ron Latterell of Dayton, MN., in response to employee discomfort working on their knees, embarked on creating ergonomic scaffolding. The first attempt fell short of ANSI standards, and while the second, designed by an engineer, met criteria, it was expensive and slow for mass production. Enter Gen 3 Joist Runner, a streamlined version by the same engineer, prioritizing manufacturing ease, efficient shipping, and ANSI compliance–a successful evolution towards a commercially viable and workerfriendly solution. They are 100% made in the USA with 319 aluminums. Manufactured by H&H Casting in York, PA. (Fourth-generation casting company), the runners are super solid but lightweight. Andy/Mike: First of all, they were easy to purchase online (direct), and they shipped quickly. Each runner came in a compact box and separated into two pieces. To assemble them, it only took two bolts that connect the arm to the body, and they were ready to go. The runners were pre-set for 2x10 joists, but with a few bolts, you can adjust them to fit on 2x12 joists. Each runner came with some suspension clips and cams.
44 | Deck Specialist | March/April 2024
Mike: One of the standout features is the ingenious design. The runners securely hook onto the deck joists, creating a reliable foundation. The arms extended below the joists, forming a plank holder approximately 2 ft. below the deck. This design placed me at an optimal height, providing comfort and ease during various tasks. Once the plank is in place, it created a convenient and safe working platform for myself and my team, eliminating the need for precarious balancing acts or working off ladders. Mike: A notable practice we utilized was attaching the suspension clips to all joists on the ground beforehand. Then we propped up a board for them to hang on like a ledger so we could organize and grade them before installation. After they were all in order, with the clips on, we would simply set them in place hanging on the clips. Since they were held in at the right height, we had a free hand to get the joist on the mark and install it much easier. This really helped to maintain a nice, flat deck frame. The scaffolding system addressed decking tightness with the inclusion of cams. These cams grab the joists and then have a spot to set clamps parallel to the joists, allowing us to push the decking tight. When we used everything together working on the deck as if it were ground level, it not only made installation quicker and safer, but also contributed to the precision and uniformity of the deck.