Quick verdict
Twelve bright red ABS rings with a 1/4 inch spacing blade and a finger loop, so they drop between deck boards, hold the gap while you fasten and lift out with two fingers instead of falling through to the ground. Twelve means every joist on a long board can have one. Quarter inch suits dry lumber and most composite and PVC. They are the sensible evolution of the plain deck spacer.
Strengths
- Finger ring makes them easy to place and retrieve
- Twelve rings cover a whole board length at once
- Bright red is easy to spot in sawdust and under the deck
- Thick ABS does not compress or crack
- Quarter inch gap for wood, composite and PVC
Weaknesses
- Fixed 1/4 inch; check your composite specification
- Rings can get in the way of a board bender at the same joist
- Green treated lumber should be laid tighter
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Spacer That Does Not Fall Through
A plain deck spacer does its job and then drops between the boards onto the ground, where it stays until the deck is finished. A spacer with a ring on top stays in reach. DGQ’s rings are red ABS with a 1/4 inch blade and a finger loop, twelve to a pack, so a whole 16 foot board can be spaced at every joist and the rings lifted out one by one as you move on.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on standard deck building practice with board spacers. We have not used these rings ourselves.
Using Them
Lay a board loosely against the last one, drop a ring into the gap at each joist, push the board snug against all of them, fasten at every joist, then lift the rings out by their loops and move them to the next board. Spacing at every joist, rather than just the ends, is what keeps a slightly bowed board from closing the gap in the middle, and twelve rings make that practical.
Why Even Gaps Matter
A quarter inch between boards drains water, lets debris fall through and gives the boards room to swell in wet weather. Uneven gaps look amateur and trap leaves. Spacers at every joist give a deck the straight, uniform lines that mark a professional job.
Materials and Decking Types
Thick ABS does not compress under a board pushed hard against it, so the gap stays a true quarter inch, and the red colour shows up in sawdust. Quarter inch suits kiln-dried wood, hardwood, PVC and most composites. Green pressure-treated lumber shrinks, so lay it with a smaller gap and let it open. Check the composite maker’s guide, since a few specify other gaps.
With a Board Bender
A ring at the joist where the bender clamps can be in the way. Space the other joists, bend at the one you left, fasten and move on.
Who Should Buy It
- Anyone face-screwing a deck who wants gaps right at every joist.
- Solo builders who cannot keep retrieving dropped spacers.
- Composite and PVC installers working to a specified gap.
Common Owner Complaints
Composites that specify a different gap. Read the guide.
Technique Tips
Drop the rings in from the fastened side so the blade sits flat against the board already in place, then push the new board home against all twelve at once; pushing against a few leaves the gap wider between them. On long boards work from the centre joist outward so the bow is shared along the length rather than pushed to one end.
Alternatives to Consider
Hillman two-piece spacers are the simpler, cheaper version. Hidden clip systems set gaps automatically. A finish nail is the free, inconsistent option.
Verdict
Twelve retrievable spacers for a few dollars turn board spacing from a hunt under the deck into a rhythm. Use one at every joist and the gaps will run straight from end to end.
Full specifications
DGQ 12-Pack 1/4 Inch ABS Deck Board Spacer Rings for Wood, Composite and PVC Decking FAQs
Plain spacers fall between the boards and under the deck. The ring sits above the boards so you lift the spacer out with a finger and move it to the next board.
One at every joist along the board being fastened, so the gap is even along the whole length. Twelve covers a 16 foot board at 16 inch spacing.
Most composites specify 1/4 inch side gaps; some say 3/16 or 5/16. Check the installation guide.
Clip systems set their own gap. Rings suit face-screwed decks.
