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Screws vs nails

3K views 9 replies 9 participants last post by  C_Philhower 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am going to build a shop soon and have been told the going thing now is to use
impact driver and screws instead of nails.
On what parts of building can screws be used, floor joist, subfloor, wall studs, siding etc?
 
#4 ·
For the inside walls I have built and seen others build the walls with 1/2 plywood screwed in to accomodate upgrades and ease of installing the odd outlet and such. Turned on the side these come to 4×8. Above them 1/4 inch pegboard to accomodate all kinds of hanging hardware withoutn having to drill holes or look for studs because the holes allow you to see them. Using 5/8 screws for the pegboard also allows upgrades and such for future changes. Just an idea, but one I have used and that has worked well for me through the years.
 
#5 ·
+1 screws or ring shank for subfloor. Use subfloor adhesive with screws or ring shanks to prevent squeeks. Nails are cheaper than screws. And as Samurai said get yourself a framing nail gun for your framing If your using vinyl siding use roofing nails and a hammer to control how far you drive the nails. Never nail any piece tightly. Drive nails straight (in the center of the slot) and leave about 1/16" space between the head of the nail and the panel. You should be able to slide the panels back and forth when nailed.
 
#6 ·
Mike Holmes like to parade with the "screws only" theme on everything but it's unreasonable for the massive amount of extra time it would take. I use a Senco Duraspin or a QuikDrive for floor sheeting but everything else is air nails with the occasional hand nail here and there…lol. Of course the appropriate style and type of nail for the situation. There are codes pertaining what nails for what and at what spacing.
As said, screws for some aspects of remodeling sometimes makes more sense than nails.
 
#7 ·
I won't repeat what has already been recommended above, especially since I agree with them. But another point to add: check with your build codes department. Your local building code may prevent the "general use" of screws.

When folks talk about using screws for construction, they are normally considering the use of drywall screws, or at best "gold-coat deck screws" rather than true wood screws due to cost. Drywall screws, being of a significantly thinner cross section, as well as the type of style from which they are manufactured, have nary the shear strength of framing nails.

For this reason, they will often not meet the fastener requirements required by your local code. This is the argument in many jurisdictions between clip-head nails and full-head nails in pneumatic framing nail guns.

They simply will not withstand they wind shear forces and you will have potential if not catastrophic problems over time. Best of luck.

Cheers!
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
+1 on the nail gun. Expanding on Dave's comments; for framing, screws are great for pulling framing together, but they are not good in shear conditions; they'll snap off as they begin to bend. When using an impact driver, I can snap heads off easily with cheap screws. As for sheet goods, glue and screws all day long.

If you're building the shop yourself, make friends with the building department. They are there to make sure the building stays standing, not just give you a hard time. In the end you have to do what they say anyway to get a C.O. but it makes it less stressful staying on their good side.
 
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