What is deck screw?

Asked by: Carol Howard

Deck screws are threaded fasteners that are designed specifically for decks. They feature a tip, a shank and a head. Within the head is a recess for a particular type of bit, such as a Philips head bit. Regardless, deck screws are threaded fasteners that are used for building decks.

What is the difference between a wood screw and a deck screw?

Wood screws come in a variety of shapes and sizes that are suitable for different woodworking projects. Deck screws, on the other hand, are more suitable for outdoor use because they are usually made out of corrosion-resistant materials like copper or hardened steel.

What does deck screw mean?

Deck Screws are specific screws used to hold a deck together. While they are typically 305 Stainless steel there are also some other considerations to make when buying.

What is difference in deck screws?

Deck screws are designed to withstand tough outdoor conditions and are typically made from corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel or polymer-coated steel. Wood screws are built for creating strong joints between pieces of wood and are typically made from steel.

What type of screws should I use for a deck?

A good all-around choice is #10 decking screws—generally in 2 1/2- to 3 1/2-inch lengths. Decking screws are sharp, tapered, self-sinking, and coated for corrosion resistance. With a cordless drill/driver, you can drive them about as fast as nails.

What is the difference between a deck screw and a drywall screw?

Deck screws provide efficiency and effortless bonding. Drywall screws have coarse or fine threading. A coarse thread drywall screw has more space between threads and fewer threads than a fine thread drywall screw. Consequently, coarse threads are harder to pull out than fine thread screws.

Can deck screws hold weight?

In general, a screw can hold 80-100 pounds. Several factors can impact on the amount of weight the screw can hold. This includes the length of the screw, the type of thread, the quality of the screw, the way it was inserted, and the type of forces that will be acting on it.

What is special about decking screws?

Decking screws are weather resistant so they can stand up to the great outdoors. They come in either carbon steel or stainless steel that provides high resistance to corrosion. The deck screw has a countersunk head so they sit low giving you a level finish to the surface.

Is it OK to use deck screws for framing?

Our inspectors have seen a disturbing trend of late: people using wood or deck screws when building structural elements. This means ordinary wood screws cannot be used to attach rafters to top plates, or joists to beams.

Are deck screws stronger than nails?

Screws have a much higher tensile strength compared to nails. Screws are easier to remove, but nails are easier to drive in without the use of a power tool or drilling pilot holes first.

Are deck screws OK for pressure treated wood?

Deck Plus Wood Screws



The deck plus screws are one of the best deck screws for pressure treated wood and are ideal for different uses. It has an abrasive threaded construction that resists rust and stains, increasing its longevity. Furthermore, it is made of steel, which makes it quite durable.

What screws are best for outdoor use?

Some of the best screw materials include:

• Zinc Wood Screws. – More prone to rust unless coated or galvanized. – Different grades are available. …
• Stainless Steel Wood Screws. – Ideal for standard outdoor use for a variety of applications. …
• Silicon Bronze Screws. – Very resistant to water corrosion. …
• Decking Screws.

Are deck screws structural?

General purpose structural wood screws are great for wood-to-wood or metal-to-wood connections on your deck. Use structural screws for a strong, secure connection between your pressure treated wood or metal railing and your deck frame. Structural screws are easy to install and don’t require pre-drilling or pilot holes.

What is special about decking screws?

Decking screws are weather resistant so they can stand up to the great outdoors. They come in either carbon steel or stainless steel that provides high resistance to corrosion. The deck screw has a countersunk head so they sit low giving you a level finish to the surface.

Can you use deck screws to hang cabinets?

Hang the Upper Cabinets



If it is, drive four 2½-inch deck screws (with washers) through the back of the cabinet, top and bottom, and into the studs. If it’s not, slip shims between the cabinet back and the wall at the stud locations.

What screws are best for outdoor use?

Some of the best screw materials include:

• Zinc Wood Screws. – More prone to rust unless coated or galvanized. – Different grades are available. …
• Stainless Steel Wood Screws. – Ideal for standard outdoor use for a variety of applications. …
• Silicon Bronze Screws. – Very resistant to water corrosion. …
• Decking Screws.

Can I use deck screws for framing?

Our inspectors have seen a disturbing trend of late: people using wood or deck screws when building structural elements. This means ordinary wood screws cannot be used to attach rafters to top plates, or joists to beams.

Can you use deck screws for drywall?

Cost about the same. But I feel like they're much better. So what I've switched to is what some people call deck screws. They're also called torque screws. And if you look at the tip it's a star.

Are deck screws as strong as nails?

Screws have a much higher tensile strength compared to nails. Screws are easier to remove, but nails are easier to drive in without the use of a power tool or drilling pilot holes first.

Can deck screws be used for subfloor?

If you’d like to try another kind of screw that isn’t specifically designed as compatible with subfloor projects, you could try using deck screws. Whatever you do, don’t use drywall screws for the subfloor.

Can you use decking screws on plywood?

For construction outdoors, such as an exterior stairway, zinc coated nails or decking screws should be used to attach plywood. These are designed to prevent rusting, which destroys the fastener.

What screws to use on plywood floors?

Steel Screws



The proper steel screw sizes for securing 3/4-inch plywood to the floor joists are #8, #10 and #12 screws. The number refers to the thickness of the screw. Each is available in lengths from 1 1/4 to 3 inches. Typically, the 3-inch variety is used to secure plywood subfloors.

What is the best screw for plywood?

Conventional wisdom has always been that screws with fine threads are best for hardwoods — oak, cherry, maple, birch, etc. — while coarse-threaded screws drive and hold better in softwoods, plywood and composite sheet goods (particleboard, MDF, etc.).

What size screws do I need for 1/2 plywood?

Wood Screw: #6 x 1″



Another common type of construction I do in the shop is attaching a 1/2″ sheet of plywood to 1x boards. These materials work nice for building shop tables and workstations. Use a #6 countersink for the shank, and a 1/16″ bit for the pilot hole.

How long should screws be for 3/4 plywood?

Use 1-1/4 inch screws for basic tasks where strength is less of an issue or when attaching two 3/4-inch-thick boards across the grain. Keep some 2 1/2-inch deck screws for screwing into end grain, plus some stronger 3-inch screws for attaching into end-grained boards, or when a little extra added power is needed.

Can I use wood screws on plywood?

There are a number of different kinds of screws you can choose to use for plywood. Common wood screws are still in use, although many people have switched over to using drywall screws. Even those are rapidly being replaced by a new generation of wood screws, made especially for use with power tools and plywood.

Are longer screws stronger?

Structural screws (also called “construction” screws) are stronger than lags and make longer-lasting connections. You can just zip them in with any 18-volt drill (no pilot hole required).

What are gold screws used for?

The gold screws are just basic construction screws, they are stronger than drywall screws and great for indoor applications. You don’t want to use them for drywall though, as the black coating I believe helps stop the drywall screws from rusting or staining.

Which wood screws are the strongest?

A lag screw is the strongest in the family of wood screws. It is a sturdy and durable fastener often designed with an externally driven hex drive or square head. Lag screws feature a tapered point and coarse threads and are typically tougher and much heavier than conventional wood screws.

Are deck screws stronger than construction screws?

Deck screws are stronger than wood screws and are often made from copper or stainless steel. Their corrosion-resistant properties make them ideal for outdoor use. On the other hand, wood screws are mostly made from steel and have a flat head as well as an unthreaded shank that make strong joints.

Do wood screws need pilot holes?

When you drive screws into wood without drilling pilot holes, you’re essentially pushing wood out of the way to make room for the screw. That displaced wood puts more pressure on the wood surrounding the screw, which can lead to splitting and cracking, weakening the wood over time.