Natural Wood Deck Screws

Using the right screw to fasten the right material in deck building is crucial to the longevity of your deck.  If you or your contractor use the incorrect fasteners, you will end up with a poor-quality product that will give you years of disappointment...  Read More

Color Coated Decking Screws

ProMax Screws Prevent Board Jacking

Composite Material Screws

Composite Material Screws vs Wood Deck Screws

What's difference does it make to use the right one?

Deck Screws are like Wood Screws in looks and design yet function differently in several ways.

First, Deck Screws are usually a larger diameter shank so that it can take the driving forces of the longer required screws. The most common diameter for Deck screws are #8s and #10s. The longer the length the larger the diameter.

Second, most Deck Screws will have a Type 17 Point (Self Drilling Wood). The Type 17 point is not a thread style but can enhance the performance qualities of most thread styles used in the woodworking industry. A slot or notch is cut out at the point of the screw that acts like an auger or drilling tip. The slot carves away the material thus allowing it to self-drill itself into most types of wood.

Third, the Wood Deck Screw head style is primarily a Flat Head. This allows for the head to slightly countersink or sit just below the surface of the wood. Another variation to the Flat Head is the Flat Head with NIBS on the countersink surface. There are usually four or six ridges protruding from the surface that cut into the material as the screw head penetrates the wood. This is designed to eliminate pre-countersinking the screw hole. NIBS work very well in soft and hardwoods and can also reduce splintering of the wood around the head of the screw.

Then, there are the Deck Screws for Wood Composites. Like the Wood versions, they are larger diameter screws to stand up to the torque required to drive the longer length.

They can be made from various grades of Stainless Steel to meet code requirements or other steel material and then coated to provide a barrier to the elements and color match a particular manufactures composite material and color.

Most Composite Deck Screws, like Wood Deck Screws will have a Type 17 Point. The Type 17 point is not a thread style but can enhance the performance qualities of most thread styles used in the woodworking industry. A slot or notch is cut out at the point of the screw that acts like an auger or drilling tip. The slot carves away the material thus allowing it to self-drill itself into most types of materials.

Most composite deck screws are engineered with two to three different threads. The one on the lower section have coarse threads to pull it down through the composite material and into the sub-structure below. As the screw is pulled down in and the upper reverse thread section begins to engage the material, they pull the composite material shavings created by the lower thread section back into the hole. This reduces or eliminates the dimple that sometimes appears when using a standard Trim Head Screw. While the head of most Composite Screws are called "Trim Head" because to the low profile, it’s more like a "Cap Head" or "Fillister Head" that when pulled down below the surface, provides great holding power and minimal exposure on the surface.

McFeely's ProMax Screws

ProMax® screws are optimized Thread Length to prevent Board Jacking.  The screws normally used to install 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s for decking are 3 in. long and have 1 in. of unthreaded shank.  Since 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 deck material are 1-1/2 in. thick, the threads bridge the joint, resulting in either uneven and unsightly surface or screws that are over-driven trying to "pull" the board down.  ProMax screws are different.  Thread length is optimized to eliminate cross threading.  Plus, the 1/8 in. L system allows the use of the longest possible screw.

Natural Wood Screws

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  1. #7 x 1-5/8 in. Trim Head, 305 SS, Star SKU: 0715-TT5

    Starting at $34.86

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