Drywall screws have replaced self-tapping screws as the standard fastener for attaching full or partial sheets of drywall to wall studs or ceiling joists. Drywall screws’ sizes, gauges, and thread types might appear perplexing at first.
Within the realm of do-it-yourself home renovation, though, this wide range of alternatives narrows down to a few well-defined options that are suitable for most householders’ typical uses. According to ADA Fastfix, even understanding just the three most important characteristics of drywall screws (length, gauge, and thread) will come in handy.
Drywall Screw Lengths
1/2-inch drywall: Use 1 1/4-inch or 1 5/8-inch drywall screws. 1/4-inch drywall: Use 3″ to 2″ wood screws1/4 inch drywall: Use 6d common or 8d finish nails3/16-inch drywall: Use 7 9d common.
Screws for construction, on the other hand, are typically between 1 and 8 inches long. This is owing to the fact that building materials may have a wide range of thicknesses: from sheet metal to four-by-four posts and even thicker. Drywall, on the other hand, has a much more limited range of thicknesses.
The majority of drywall used in homes is 1/2 inch thick. The thickness of drywall may sometimes rise or decrease, but rarely by a large amount and not very frequently. Only when fire code or type-x drywall is required will do-it-your himself need to use thicker drywall, usually at 5/8 inch.
1/4-inch thick drywall is sometimes used as a facing on walls and ceilings. Because it is malleable, it may be bent to create curves. Nonetheless, the majority of drywall installed by do-it-yourselfers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms will be 1/2 inch thick.
Drywall Screw Threads
Drywall screws with coarse threads are ideal for most drywall and wood stud applications. The large threads are excellent at gripping into the timber and forcing the drywall against the studs.
The coarse-thread screws have one disadvantage: the metal burrs that might scratch your fingers. When using coarse-thread drywall screws, be sure to wear gloves.
Fine Thread Drywall Screws
Drywall screws with a fine thread are self-threading, making them ideal for metal studs.
Fine-thread drywall screws are the best choice for mounting drywall to metal studs. Coarse threads have a propensity to chew through the steel and never acquire adequate traction. Metal is easier to work with when fine threads are used because they are self-threading.
The drywall screws used in wood are smaller and finer-threaded than those used in masonry. Wood is more difficult to fasten with fine-thread screws because they don’t hold as strongly as coarse-thread ones.
Uses of Drywall Screw
Drywall screws are used to attach full sheets of drywall (usually 4’x8′) or small pieces of drywall to wood or metal studs for the purpose of creating a smooth, flat surface.
For nail pops, drywall screws are a good option. If you have an older home with strange circular bumps on the walls, it’s likely that you have nail pops.
Nailing drywall into place with short, wide-head nails was once the standard technique. While drywall nails are still available and can be used to fasten wallboard quickly, drywall screws have evolved as the standard method of mounting drywalls to studs since the nail-pop issue.
