How to Place Deck Screws

Deck screws hold deck boards down to the top of the deck's frame. These differ from regular screws in that they will be seen on the top of the deck, so they are manufactured to look more appealing. Deck screws can come in different colors and designs, in place of the standard silver metal from which regular screws are made. Although installing deck screws may seem straight forward, there are actually several factors that first need to be considered.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Place the first deck board on top of the deck's frame. Make a light pencil mark on top of the board to show where the framing boards underneath the deck board is. This will ensure that you drive the deck screw into the frame, instead of risking placing the deck screw into an open space between the frame boards.

2. Place each deck screw 1 inch inside the edge of the deck board. If you drill the screw too close to the edge of the deck board, you will splitter the edges of the boards. This will make the boards less structurally sound and have greater potential for them to crack completely later down the road.

3. Drive the screw down directly into the deck boards. Before you drill, you want to have your weight behind the drill so you can drive it straight down vertically, making sure the deck screw does not go in at an angle.

References

• Placing Deck Screws