Decking Screws FAQs
What are decking screws?
Decking Screws are screws designed for attaching decking boards to decking base frames.
Decking Screws are available with enhanced corrosion protective coating or in Stainless Steel.
Decking Screws are generally flat countersunk but button head (cylinder Head) Decking Screws are available for composite decking.
Small Head Decking screws are also available. The Small Head sinks deeper in to the board and is less visible and helps avoid splitting when used close to the edge of the board.
Decking Screws have either Pozi or TX star recess and some also have Drill Points for use in harder timbers.
The most common colour for coated Decking Screws is Green but they are also available in Brown, Grey and Tan.
In addition Stainless Steel Decking Screws are available with colour matched powder coated heads.
The most common colours being Black, Grey and Brown.
What type of applications are decking screws suitable for?
Decking Screws are available for use in Timber or Composite Decking boards.
They can also be used in other external applications including Fencing, Cladding and Garden Furniture.
What size screws for decking are required?
The most common diameters for Decking Screws are 4.0mm and 4.5mm.
5.0mm and 6.0mm are also available for more heavy duty applications.
The length of Decking Screw depends on the application but the most common length is 60mm.
Decking Screws are available in lengths from 30mm to 100mm.
How many screws will I need per decking board?
The number of Decking Screws required per decking board depends on several factors, including size and spacing of the deck board and also joist spacing.
A general rule of thumb is to use 2 Decking Screws per board per joist.
For narrower boards (less than 150mm wide) 3 Decking Screws per board per joist might be required and for wider boards (greater than 150mm wide) its 4 per board per joist.
These are general guidelines and as every application is different it’s important to consult with the board manufacturer for their recommendations.
What’s the best way to screw deck boards?
When screwing down decking boards use at least 2 Decking Screws per joist and take care not to over tighten the screws.
Position the screws at least 15mm from the end of the deck board and 20mm from the edge of the board.
This will reduce the risk of splitting the board.
It is important to leave a gap of around about 6.5 mm between boards and at their ends to allow for expansion but this depends on the moisture content of the board and weather conditions at the time of installation.
If the boards are wet you might want to reduce the gap to 3.5 mm
It’s important to always consult with the board supplier as boards can expand or contract.