How to Fasten Sheet Metal to Wood

Sheet metal is any metal that is thinner than 3/16 of an inch. Sheet metal is fairly easy to work with and has many uses around the house, although the home do-it-yourselfer may not be used to working with the material. Here are some tips to help you fasten sheet metal to wood, which will open a whole new world of home improvement to you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know your materials. Just knowing you're working with sheet metal and wood may get you by, but to make the most informed decisions it helps to know more than just the basics. Make sure you know what gauge the sheet metal you're working with is, and know what type of wood you will be fastening the metal to.

2. Prepare your materials. Make sure that your sheet metal is cut to size. You can use aviation snips or electric shears to cut the sheet metal. Use clamps to bend the metal, and consider a propane torch to make shaping larger gauge metals easier.

3. Use nails. Simple roofing nails are sufficient for fastening lighter gauge sheet metal to wood for applications like flashings. Be sure that the nails are long enough to fasten securely into the wood.

4. Try self-tapping screws. Self-tapping screws are a good compromise between nails and drilling individual holes. With self-tapping screws, the screws will drill their own holes and fasten themselves securely. When working with light or medium gauge sheet metal, self-tapping screws are a great way to easily fasten the sheet metal to the wood and give you a secure connection.

5. Drill holes and fasten the sheet metal to the wood with screws or bolts. This is the most tedious and time-consuming method, but you will end with a tight connection. With thick gauge sheet metal, pre-drilling holes is probably the only option.

Tips & Warnings

• Sheet metal can be very sharp. Be sure to wear gloves and protective gear when working with sheet metal.