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The Right Screw for the JobBy Jim Sulski Summary: Screws come in many different varieties, and choosing a screw is difficult if you don't know what to look for. This simple guide to screws makes it easier. A quick trip to the hardware store will confirm that there are a lot of choices when it comes to the simple screw.
This week, we'll talk about the different types of screws and what jobs they're best for. For example, a very common type of screw is a wood screw or flathead screw. This is an all-purpose screw that is usually driven down so it's flush to the surface. Or it is countersunk below the surface. There are a number of type of the wood screw, including oval-headed screw, which produces a decorative look, and the roundhead screw, which can be used to lock flat, thin surfaces - such as electrical box - to a wood surface such as a stud. The threads of a wood screw about three-quarters of the way up its body. The advantage of wood screws is the wide variety of sizes and shapes available, particularly for smaller sizes. They're also available in different colors such as bright brass for aesthetic purposes. Another type of common screw is the sheet metal screw, which are threaded their entire length. They have become a popular choice because of their versatility and their ability to grip well into the surface. Many do-it-yourselfers prefer the grip of a sheet metal screw, which is made for working with sheet metal, over a wood screw. Unlike a wood screw, the shank of the sheet metal screw is the same diameter its entire length, which gives it a good grip into whatever it's going into. In addition, they also hold better because they're threaded all the way down. Sheet metal screws come in a number of sizes and in lengths of one-quarter inch to three inches. The heads come in a number of shapes: Flat, pan, round and hex. What is becoming a popular choice is the drywall screw, which comes in a number of sizes and a number of lengths (from about an inch to about four inches). As it name states, the drywall screw was designed for adhering sheets of drywall to a wood stud. Because this bugle-shaped, flat head screw has tight threads that run the length of its body, it has become a sort of favorite all-purpose screw for do-it-yourselfers. The threads allow it to really lock into the wood well. It is also a strong screw and it can be driven in with a drill, which saves time. A deck screw is sort of an outdoor version of the drywall screw because it is also rustproof. Because of its good grip, people use the deck screw on a lot more than decks - such as reattaching siding or attaching a mailbox to a house. They can also be used indoors. Lag screws or bolts are designated for heavy-duty jobs, such as attaching stud framing to wood floors, securing a hinge to a wood gate, or reattaching posts to a deck. They are usually driven in with a crescent or socket wrench and have a hex or square shaped head. Size-wise, they start at about an inch and go as long as a foot. Diameters start at one-quarter inch and go up to three-quarters inch. Finally, masonry screws are designed to lock into masonry, such as brick, concrete or mortar, without a fastener or anchor. They usually come with a hex head and you have to predrill a pilot hole with a masonry drill bit. These are mostly used on the exterior of brick homes or in basements for hanging shelves or fixtures to the walls
© by Jim Sulski. All rights reserved. June 20, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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