I cringe every time I see someone using drywall screws for deck boards

Was helping my buddy replace a rotted step on his porch last weekend and the previous owner had used regular drywall screws everywhere. They snapped off in like 3 seconds when we tried to remove them. Drywall screws are hardened steel and way too brittle for outdoor use, they get even worse with weather changes. Spend the extra $12 on a box of #9 deck screws with a coating on them. Your deck will last longer than one season. Has anyone else pulled apart a deck held together by the wrong fasteners?

2 comments

2 Comments

park.iris21d ago

Did you find any that actually held tight after a year?

nina_hall21d ago

Bet on it, @park.iris - that thing held tighter than my grip on a coffee cup during a Monday morning, but guess who's gluing it back on again this weekend?