Thread: Decking - nails or screws?

Screw is the only way to go and that is after laying approx hundreds of thousands Lm during my building career
Macsim 10G-10 x 50mm 304 Stainless Steel Torx Decking Screws - 1000 Pack - Bunnings Australia
P&N 10G Quickbit TCT Cut Smart Countersink Drill Bit - Bunnings Australia

I second Rays opinion.
Nail it if you want the cheap, quick short term solution but screws are the way to go. It has been a long long time since we last nailed a deck and even then it was a SS spiral shank raised head decking nail with a coil gun

I used phillips drive SS screws....thousands of them. I recently removed a deck no longer needed and recovered a lot which is another advantage and using screws made the removal a lot easier as well.

I recently tore down a gazebo that was built by the previous owners, it had a 6x6m deck put together with nails. Took me less than a day to reduce a fully assembled gazebo down to a pile of sticks and sheet metal.

My point is i fully appreciated the fact that it was assembled with nails as it made my life significantly easier, but if you're building something that you plan on having it stay assembled for years to come go with screws. Plus depending on whether you have access to a nail gun it doesn't actually take that much more time to screw vs nail. Make sure you do pilot holes particularly towards the end of the boards.

In my opinion the only reason Decks are build with nails is Speed(Cost savings).
If its wet a lot of the time, get some decent Square drive stainless screws.

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

In my opinion the only reason Decks are build with nails is Speed(Cost savings).
If its wet a lot of the time, get some decent Square drive stainless screws.

Cheers Matt.

I have decks done using both square drive and phillips and I hate the look of the square drive but they are most probably easier to drive in. Using phillips on SS screws requires sharp good quality drivers such as Wehra because they cam out very easily but I still prefer the look.

Screws. I have frequently seen raised heads on nailed decks.
Bruce

My thoughts exactly if in the weather nails are a no no stainless screws will last a long time.

Thanks all for your input. A resounding victory for screws. I will go with the Torx head variety based on recent experience with posi drive screws. There was no problem with the screws but they certainly chewed through quite a few driver bits. The Torx head screws that I also used on the same job only needed the one bit.

Our house has decks with nails and decks with screws. I think the main argument for nails was they didn't create a hollow for water to sit in, but I think if screws are properly installed, they don't either. In any case, after endlessly banging nails back down for years, hurting my bare feet on popped up nail heads and catching and tearing the cuff on more than one pair of jeans, I am gradually pulling them out and replacing them with screws. Screws also let you sand the boards a lot more easily down the track.

If you can afford them, Wurth's proprietary Assy4 drive is really good. They do a range of decking screws - Decking Screws - Premium Quality, Stainless Steel - Wurth Australia

We've just replaced an old timber/treated pine nailed deck. We couldn't walk on it barefoot thanks to all the nail heads poking out. We've gone for recycled/composite modwood boards with klevaclip concealed fixing, so not a screw or nail in sight. It looks very nice.

front deck.jpg

+1 for square drive, have never had one fail, but have had plenty of Phillips heads fail. Mostly when done in a hurry and they have not engaged with the head properly.
Tip i was shown years ago is to rub the screw in your hair or oily rag before you drive it home, significantly reduces the likelihood of damaging the screw head.

Originally Posted by Bernmc

If you can afford them

Thanks Bernmc, I checked out their prices and now understand your comment.

Originally Posted by Bernmc

... We've just replaced an old timber/treated pine nailed deck. We couldn't walk on it barefoot thanks to all the nail heads poking out. ...

Twenty five years ago, we nailed a small treated pine deck because it was cheaper and faster. After 10 years the nails started to pop - some lifted out like Bern's, other pulled through the timber. So we replaced all the nails with screws.

Moral: Do it right first time!