With so many different types of screws on the market it really can become confusing especially for the novice who is just beginning to do some work with wood. So what exactly are wood screws and why should you use them on your wood deck?
A wood deck is made up of many thin boards that have to stand up to the nastiest conditions that Mother Nature can throw their way. Deck screws are designed to stand up to that challenge. So your wood boards with the proper sealant combined with your deck screws will be able to stand up to what ever Mother Nature throws their way.
These screws are designed to drive easily into the wood and to lay smooth against the surface of the board which is called countersinking. They are also designed to resist corrosion because they are coated with a material that stops them from rusting.
Just like with other types of screws you can choose from all kinds of shanks, widths, and lengths so no matter what your project demands they can accommodate your needs. They are also available in a variety of drivers including slotted, Phillips, cross slot, and Robertson.
The screws that work best have a very sharp point which makes them easier to get started in the wood and reduces the chance of splitting. You also do not need to pre-drill for these screws.
Because of the unique shank these screws will force themselves into the correct place. You measure the thread of the screw in degrees. The more threads the shallower the screw and the less effort it takes to put the screw in because the force is spread out over a longer length.
You can even get deck screws that are lubricated so they slide into the wood with no effort at all. These are not required for the average job but are a certainly an asset for some jobs.
The most important element of these screws is their ability to resist corrosion. They are available in galvanized, stainless steel, ceramic coated, high copper content all designed for outdoor use.
If you are using composite deck you need to make sure you use the screws the manufacturer says to use otherwise you could land up with mushrooming which means the composite material forms a big ugly lump around the screw head. What a mess!
See deck screws werent that confusing after all now you know exactly why and how to use them.
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