Got called out by a contractor in Rio Rancho for using drywall screws on my deck boards

I was building a new patio cover last month and this older guy walks by, takes one look at my screws and says 'Those are gonna snap in 6 months.' He was right about the brittle drywall screws vs outdoor rated deck screws. Has anyone else here learned the hard way about using the wrong fasteners for outdoor projects?

2 comments

2 Comments

wesley_adams10d ago

Huh, I've seen this before but with a different twist. Those drywall screws can also cause the wood to split if you drive them too close to the edge. They just don't have the same thread design as deck screws that pulls the boards tight.

amy97410d ago

Oh man, you're totally right lmao. I used to grab drywall screws for everything thinking they were good enough, but after splitting a board on a deck project I totally get why deck screws are different. The grip on those bad boys really does make a difference when you're trying to pull everything tight without cracking the wood lol.