The Taming of the Screw
Learn the different types and uses of screws to pick the right kind for your next DIY or home improvement project
Screws are used today for many of the fastening tasks once performed by nails. If a nail is set on a job today, it's generally done with a nail gun. Nail guns are fast, but if you are doing a DIY project, you may not be able to justify the expense for specialty nail guns for framing, finish work, roofing and more.
Many home DIYers look to screws to satisfy fastening needs. One driver, a set of tips and a handful of different screws can solve many problems around the house. But which screw to use? Find out here.
Many home DIYers look to screws to satisfy fastening needs. One driver, a set of tips and a handful of different screws can solve many problems around the house. But which screw to use? Find out here.
What tools do you have? A cordless drill or driver is a useful tool. You can use it to drill pilot holes (a hole slightly smaller than the shaft of the screw that makes it easier to drive in the screw). Putting a magnetic drive guide and tip into the chuck (the part that bites onto the drill bit or drive guide) can help you screw in the fastener of your choice.
Even if you are driving the screw by hand with a screwdriver, it still helps to drill a pilot hole. If you're using a drill or driver, try not to spin it too fast — you may strip the screw head, and the tip of the driver won't grip. This is especially common with brass and stainless steel screws. Look for a setting on your driver that will keep the chuck from spinning when too much torque is needed, or get an impact driver.
Even if you are driving the screw by hand with a screwdriver, it still helps to drill a pilot hole. If you're using a drill or driver, try not to spin it too fast — you may strip the screw head, and the tip of the driver won't grip. This is especially common with brass and stainless steel screws. Look for a setting on your driver that will keep the chuck from spinning when too much torque is needed, or get an impact driver.
Types of Screws
Phillips screws. The most common and most useful screw is the flat-head Phillips exterior screw, shown here.
"Phillips" refers to the the cross-shaped indentation in the flat head. It's easier to keep the drill bit in a Phillips head than in a slotted head. The angled underside of the flat head means the screw will pull into the wood until the head is flush with the surface or slightly below (countersunk).
The gray color comes from a coating that makes it an exterior screw. If you are buying screws for many purposes, grab these. If you know the project is inside, try Phillips matte black drywall screws; they have the same shape but no coating for weather resistance.
Phillips screws. The most common and most useful screw is the flat-head Phillips exterior screw, shown here.
"Phillips" refers to the the cross-shaped indentation in the flat head. It's easier to keep the drill bit in a Phillips head than in a slotted head. The angled underside of the flat head means the screw will pull into the wood until the head is flush with the surface or slightly below (countersunk).
The gray color comes from a coating that makes it an exterior screw. If you are buying screws for many purposes, grab these. If you know the project is inside, try Phillips matte black drywall screws; they have the same shape but no coating for weather resistance.
Coated screws. Sometimes the color of the screw comes from the metal it is made of, like a brass screw (good for things like hinges, where the screws will be seen, but soft, so drive them in carefully). But sometimes the screw's color comes from a coating.
There are different screw coatings that should be used for different applications — as with most building materials, it pays to read the instructions. Screwing cement board to a shower wall? There's a coating for that. Attaching composite decking to pressure-treated joists? There's a coating for that. There are ceramic coatings, epoxy coatings and glorified paint coatings.
If you drive a screw with a cheap coating into wood and then draw it back out, you'll see the coating will have already worn off. This can lead to rust stains, like those shown in this picture. It doesn't hurt the rustic, unfinished vibe of this rain screen with untreated wood, but if the coating wore off on pressure-treated wood, the chemicals in the wood could cause the fastener to fail in a short time.
There are different screw coatings that should be used for different applications — as with most building materials, it pays to read the instructions. Screwing cement board to a shower wall? There's a coating for that. Attaching composite decking to pressure-treated joists? There's a coating for that. There are ceramic coatings, epoxy coatings and glorified paint coatings.
If you drive a screw with a cheap coating into wood and then draw it back out, you'll see the coating will have already worn off. This can lead to rust stains, like those shown in this picture. It doesn't hurt the rustic, unfinished vibe of this rain screen with untreated wood, but if the coating wore off on pressure-treated wood, the chemicals in the wood could cause the fastener to fail in a short time.
Square-drive and stainless screws. If you're afraid of failure from pressure-treated chemicals, play it safe and use stainless steel screws. Stainless screws are now readily available and worth the added expense for exterior projects that need to last. Many stainless screws have what's called a square drive instead of a Phillips head. This is what it sounds like: The hole the bit goes into is square shaped. To prevent stripping the screw, make sure the bit has a snug fit. Often there will be a bit in the box of screws, so dig around for it.
Pan-head screws. If you want to create a nice finished look with a visible screw, use a pan-head screw. The head of these screws is rounded on the top and flat on the underside, so it doesn't pull into the wood. You can also use a finishing washer with a flat-head screw, as shown in this image. The screw fits into the washer, which keeps the fastener above the material. If you're using stainless screws outside, make sure the washer is stainless too.
Trim-head screws. If you want your fastener to make a small impact in your finish work, use a trim head screw. These will be square drive and have a small head that's just a little wider than the screw itself. This allows it to pull farther into the wood and leave a small hole and dimple in the wood.
Trim-head screws. If you want your fastener to make a small impact in your finish work, use a trim head screw. These will be square drive and have a small head that's just a little wider than the screw itself. This allows it to pull farther into the wood and leave a small hole and dimple in the wood.
Blue screws. In the old days, when we wanted to attach something to masonry, we had to bang thick-cut masonry nails into the mortar or use a powder-actuated nail gun. These aren't like nail guns powered by air — a scary but relatively quiet experience. These are like real guns, with gunpowder.
But today there's another way: blue screws. These screws are hard enough to be driven into masonry without breaking. Be sure to use the included masonry bit to drill the pilot hole (you'll need a hammer drill to make the hole, which vibrates back and forth as it spins).
But today there's another way: blue screws. These screws are hard enough to be driven into masonry without breaking. Be sure to use the included masonry bit to drill the pilot hole (you'll need a hammer drill to make the hole, which vibrates back and forth as it spins).
You can do almost anything with a screw — even hang your coat on one! Keep in mind that driving a screw takes more time than hammering a nail, so if the project involves many screws, you may want to select a different fastening method for the job. But if you're looking for superior holding power, a screw can't be beat.
More: A Contractor's Secrets to Hanging Holiday Decor
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Take a stroll down the fastener aisle at the hardware store and you'll encounter a dizzying array of screws. Flat head and pan head, Robertson, Phillips and Torx. Black, gray, blue and green. Brassy and silver; #6, #8. What does it all mean? Start with the most basic questions:
What are you trying to connect? Wood to wood is a common task. What thickness is each piece of wood? If you want to fasten a 3/4-inch-thick piece of wood to a 1½-inch-thick piece, you'll need a screw that's at least 1½ inches long (long enough to go through the 3/4-inch piece and be embedded ¾ inch into the other piece). Use a screw longer than 2⅛ inches, though, and it may go right through both materials.
Screws can pull into the wood too, so a 2⅛-inch screw may actually pop out the other side of 2¼ inches of wood.