HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SCREWS – There are many different types of screws, not only in sizes, but finishes and types, such as wood or metal screws. Screws are used an awful lot in many different types of DIY jobs around the home and garden and to get best results out of them it’s essential that you choose the right screws for the job you are doing. In this guide we explain the different types of screws and what they are suitable for.
Whenever you need to use screws your first job is to determine the material you want to screw into, for example, wood, plasterboard, plywood, plastic or metal. Screws are made for specific purposes so it’s important to use a screw that is suitable for the job at hand.
When buying screws in packets or boxes you will see all the information printed on the packaging. The information will include Screw Type, Length Size, Diameter and Quantity. As an example, if the packaging says 100 x 100mm x 6mm, this indicates that the packaging contains 100 screws, each being 100mm long and 6mm thick at the shank.
Poszidriv Screw Head – These are now very popular and can be found in most types of screws. The Pozidriv head is similar to the Philips Head however it has extra notches to allow for a far better grip when the Pozidrive Screwdriver is used.
Philips Screw Heads – These are recognizable by the crosshead that looks like (+). These are used with a Philip screw-driver.
Flat Head Screws – These are recognizable by the slot head that looks like (-). These are used with a Flat head screwdriver.
Raised and Roundhead Screws – Used when you want to sit the head above the surface. This is for when you want to use them in a decorative way.
Countersunk Screw – These, when screwed in will sit flush with the surface of the material.
Wood / Chipboard Screws – Available in a wide range of lengths and thickness and can be used in a vast range of DIY jobs around the house.
Brass Wood Screws – If you are looking to screw into timber decking, such as oak, or using for external doors, then the brass wood screw is useful in that is will not rust.
Zinc Plated Screw – Useful on any outdoor projects as the zinc coating prevents them from rusting.
Stainless Steel Screws – As with the zinc screw it can be used in a variety of outdoor projects and can be used in Oak as it does not rust.
Decking Screws – These are specifically designed for decking. They are made with a protective coating that makes them weather proof. These types of screws are also ideal for fencing and garden furniture.
Dry Lining / Plasterboard Screws – These are specifically designed for use in plasterboard and have a ‘bugle head’ which is designed to enter the plasterboard without damaging the plasterboards paper coating.
Mirror Screws – As the name suggests these can be used on mirrors but also on bath panels. This screw comes in two parts, the screw and the screw cap, which provides a decorative finish to the screw. Once these screws are inserted you simply take the cap and screw this into the head by hand. Again, it gives the screw head a nice decorative finish to your work.
Coach Screws – These are used for heavy duty work around the home and garden. Coach screws are used a lot when constructing fencing or decking. They do come is a variety of lengths and thickness. The head of the coach screw is also different in that you do not use a screwdriver to fasten these but instead use a spanner.
Self Tapping Screws – These are specifically designed for use with metal. To use these properly you will need to drill a small pilot hole, in the metal, that is smaller than the screw to help start off the screw.
Acknowledgements: Video – WoodiesDIY.com
