Abstract: A spacer and fixing apparatus for deck boards on supporting timber joists or metal tracks has a track member with a fixing portion secured to the top face of the joist or metal track and a web portion pivotally supporting a plurality of spaced fixing members. Each fixing member has a fixing head with a pair of opposed fixing teeth or spikes. One of the fixing teeth or spikes is driven into the side face of a deck board placed on the joist or metal track; and the side face of a second deck board is driven into fixing engagement with the other fixing tooth or spike on the fixing head, the fixing head spacing the deck boards apart. To omit the track member, the body of each fixing member has a fixing tongue driven into a side face of a respective joist.

Abstract: A fastener having an elongate base and a series of extensions proceeding outwards from the base at spaced intervals, each extension having a series of outwardly oriented claws formed by forcing the claws outwards from a main part of the extension to leave a corresponding space in the main part and then pressing or otherwise forcing the claws into a widened state so that they are too wide to return into spaces from which they came, the fastener formed so that when it is in use a wooden board can be arranged between two extensions such that edges of the board contact the two extensions so that a force applied to an outer face of the board will cause at least a substantial number of the claws to penetrate the edges to retain the board against the fastener.