Outdoor & Garden Ideas
Choosing The Right Screw For The Job
To the untrained eye, one screw is as good as another, but those with a little more awareness have a better chance of realising that choosing the right screw for a particular job can mean the difference between a project succeeding and failing.
The industrial and construction sectors have literally hundreds of different types of screws and fasteners to select from; each type suited for a particular usage e.g. lubricated timber decking screws for quicker driving into outdoor decking, self-drilling screws for the convenience of not having to drill pilot holes and even screws that work specifically with the mechanical properties of plastics.
Before you can choose the best screw for a job you should consider the characteristics you desire in a screw such as:
* Does it need to be waterproof to avoid corrosion from moisture?
* Does the screw head need to be flush with material once it's screwed into place?
* Does the screw need to be protected from vandalism or unauthorised removal?
* Is the screw to be used in wood, metal or perhaps plastic?
* What length of screw is required?
For different types of material there tends to be a different type of screw. Take the following as examples:
* Wood screws designed to perform best in all types of wood including hardwood, MDF and chipboard. Smaller screws have less chance of splitting wood, but if you're using larger screws and/or working near the end of a piece of wood then it's often safer to drill a pilot hole first.
* Floor screws these will cope with the issue of different expansion rates so are best used for securing timber or chipboard to steel supports. Made by a process that ensures a hard exterior whilst retaining a tough, flexible core.
* Self-drilling screws designed for convenience as only a screwdriver is required. These screws drill their own holes and form their own mating threads ensuring the best fit in a single attempt.
* Timber decking screws specially designed to deal with outdoor conditions with durable, protective coatings.
* Frame anchor screws designed for fixing window and door frames made from PVC-U, wood or aluminium directly to brickwork without the need for plugs or nylon anchors.
A general rule of thumb for determining an appropriate length of you should look for a screw length that will allow two-thirds of its length to be embedded into the material being fastened to. So, for example, if you're fastening a 1-inch thick piece of timber to a wooden post then you should be looking at embedding 2-inches of the screw into the post. That means you would require a screw length of 3-inches.
All good screw suppliers will be able to advise on the appropriate screws for your task. The important thing is to appreciate that not all screws are the same and that using the right screw can mean a secure installation, whilst the wrong screw can mean in an accident waiting to happen.
15 of 9 Review For Alexandria 10 X 6 Ft. Tongue And Groove Log Cabin
Anonymous ( 2020-Apr-25 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
My daughter and kids love these chairs. Now as kitchen chairs and they plan to use them shortly outside. Great value and styling.
Deborah ( 2020-Mar-21 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Excellent service! Delivery was well planned and kept constantly updated by www.boisecloggers.com. Item arrived well packaged and was easy to build.
Bianca ( 2020-Feb-12 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Does the job very well and looks the part! Cushion cover is vinyl - practical but fabric would be nicer. Good value for he money - the only real downside for me is that I have big feet and some the shoes have to lay sideways - but a pair of Timberland boots will still fit (just)!
Carolyn ( 2020-Sep-29 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Purchased the large and small for my Kitchen and added some small plants. I really like how it turned out. I also spray painted the metal holders black to tie in my pantry barn door that has black hardware.
Wilmary ( 2020-Jun-23 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
We absolutely love this styish addition to our garden, looks fabulous, real !ly comfortable and stacks up for easy storage. Highly recommended
Stephanie ( 2021-Jan-03 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Not even one negative about this at all. My feet are size 10.5.. I didn’t put the backboard piece on the product for this reason and it works perfectly as intended. Looks great and also a bench! 10/10
Kathleen ( 2021-Jan-21 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
This bench is beautiful! The color is as pictured but is even richer in actuality. The bench was super easy to put together. Just know that the last bit of hardware that looks like a screw is a tool to screw into the cams to hold them in place within the predrilled holes. This allows you to align and screw into the cams without guesswork. I withheld the fifth star in reservation regarding the bench's ability to remain outside and withstand weather. In Florida, we leave outdoor furniture out year-round. The directions with the bench advise you to wax the wood periodically and "cover the bench" when not in use. So, we'll see how it holds up! I WILL wax the wood and it'll be so worth it to visually enjoy seeing this bench in my courtyard outside year round!
Trevor ( 2020-Oct-14 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
These are very cute and exactly as pictured though they are TINY. I don't even have a plant that will fit in here. Just keep that in mind when buying them. Otherwise, they seem well made.
Surpreet ( 2020-Nov-22 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Not finished putting all together as yet, just stool and table to do. Was not expecting so much self assembley, if any. It was a challenge doing it by myself. I found some screw / connecting points too short too long verses length of screw to allow use of flat/rounds and then bolts. If screws were just 4-5mm longer then much easier.
Eryn ( 2020-Nov-05 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Great quality, even better in person than in the pictures. Shipping was easy and they are well wrapped in the boxes so as to not arrive with any damage. These chairs are adorable!!
Lynn ( 2020-Nov-29 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
EXCELLENT SEATING VERY COMFORTABLE AND FINISHES OFF MY DECKING BEAUTIFULLY
Lesley ( 2020-Feb-04 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Great quality bench seat. Looks good and is solid. Putting it together was a challenge as the long hex screws were hard to get in (forget about using the stupid allen Key provided). Used a torque wrench and that made simple work of it!
Deborah ( 2020-Aug-21 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Arrived swiftly and looks good but the quality is cheap. The table wobbles - disappointing as there’s only 3 items in the order! Is it worth £280? No! Wish I hadn’t purchased. Can’t return because it’s big, heavy and probably costly to do so.
Tracey ( 2020-Nov-15 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Enjoyed building the shoe bench, straight forward and sturdy. Fits perfectly; really pleased with it. More storage than my last shoe rack.
Julie ( 2020-May-28 )
VERIFIED BUYER
★★★★★
Instructive could be better! Not easy to readunderstand at times. took longer than the three hours it suggested it would take to errect. But once erected a really nice shed