Screws Buying Guide

Wood screws, as the name suggests, are made for use in hard and soft woods – as well as MDF and chipboard. They’re one of the most popular and inexpensive types of screw available. They’re stronger than nails because the threads bury themselves into the wood and create torque between the screw head and the wood.

They’re easier to install than other screws because of the very sharp tip, whether you’re driving into hardwood, softwood, or particle board.

If you’re drilling into hardwood, you may want to consider drilling a small pilot hole because most wood screws have a Phillips head which offers less torque – meaning you may struggle getting the screw into harder surfaces.

• Advantages

  • Versatile and inexpensive

  • Easy to install because of a very sharp tip

  • Threads create torque between wood pieces and screw head

• Things To Consider

  • For hardwood, a pre-drilled pilot hole can help installation

  • Most have Phillips screw heads, which offer less torque than other drill head types

Stainless steel screws are used for various situations such as building, construction, renovation and home improvement. They’re suitable for both hardwood and sheet metal, and ideal for outdoor use because they’re naturally rust proof and resistant to corrosion.

They can tolerate very high and low temperatures, and are suitable for boats and salty environments, making them very versatile.

Although stainless steel screws are versatile and strong, you should consider specialist screws for different purposes such as decking or roofing. These will be made especially for these environments, keeping the specifics of the surfaces and conditions in mind.

• Advantages

  • High corrosion and rust resistance

  • Suitable for high and low temperatures, and salty environments

• Things To Consider

  • Use specialist screws where possible

Self-drill roofing screws don’t need a pilot hole, thanks to the tip of the screw resembling a drill bit – essentially, they drill their own hole into the surface on the way in. They’re ideal for materials such as wood and metal, and are mainly used in roofing projects but can be used elsewhere if necessary.

As no pre-drilling is required, they make less mess and allow for a speedier installation. Self-drilling roofing screws are also corrosion and rust resistant, perfect for outdoor environments and harsh weather. Some self-drill roofing screws even come with a bolt-like head and a washer for easy tightening and loosening.

When removing self-drilling screws, the threads can strip – meaning you’ll need a new, larger screw to secure the surface if necessary. Be wary of the amount of force and RPM you’re applying when driving in self-drilling screws, as the tip is susceptible to melting, chipping or splitting if too much force is applied.

• Advantages

  • Mess-free installation

  • Speedy – no need to pre-drill holes

  • Corrosion and rust resistant

• Things To Consider

  • Threads can strip during removal – larger replacement screw needed

  • If too much force is applied, the drill tip can melt, split or chip

  • Over or under tightening could create leak points

Machine screws are a common type of fixing, often used on electronic devices, machinery and vehicles – whether you’re a tradesperson or DIYer, you’ll probably have come across them. They’re used in pre-drilled holes because they have a flat tip.

Machine screws are threaded along the entire shaft, making them very secure in the surface. They’re designed to be easily and quickly installed with a screwdriver, making them very DIY-friendly.

You’ll need to have a pilot hole drilled before driving the screw, which can be difficult in some surfaces. Some machine screws come with a nut for extra security, but you need to ensure the nut thread matches the screw or you’ll have trouble driving the screw in.

• Advantages

  • Fully threaded, making them very secure

  • Wide variety of sizes for different projects

  • Easily installed using a screwdriver

• Things To Consider

  • Pre-drilled hole is necessary because of flat screw tip

  • If using with a nut, the nut threads need to match to the screw threads

Self-tapping screws create the thread as it’s being driven into the material. They’re not to be confused with self-drilling screws, which create their own pilot hole. Self-tapping screws ensure a strong, tightly fitting thread and are a very secure type of fixing.

They’re compatible with a range of soft materials that could be susceptible to damage, such as soft and hard wood, metal, and plastic. There are a range of types of self-tapping screw, including zinc plated which can offer corrosion resistance for outdoor use.

Unlike self-drilling screws, self-tapping screws require a pilot hole before installation to avoid cracking or damaging the material you’re working with. This takes extra time, particularly if you’re needing to install a large number of screws. Self-tapping screws are also not suited to heavy-duty jobs, meaning their use is limited.

• Advantages

  • Strong, tightly fitted type of fixing

  • Compatible with a range of materials typically susceptible to damage

  • Zinc-plated options can offer corrosion resistance

• Things To Consider

  • Require a pilot hole before installation

  • Not suitable for heavy-duty jobs

Brass screws are generally used for putting furniture together and installing doors. Their natural rust resistance makes them more versatile and longer lasting than a generic steel screw – making them suitable for outdoor use.

Brass is also an aesthetically pleasing material for screws, as their natural colouring works well with wooden surfaces.

Brass screws often come at a higher cost than generic screws because of their natural rust resistance. For the eco-conscious, the material can be harder to recycle and may require extra effort to find a way to dispose of them correctly. Additionally, brass is a soft metal and should be avoided for use with heavy-duty materials.

• Advantages

  • Naturally rust resistant and anti-corrosive

  • Versatile and long-lasting

  • Aesthetically pleasing

• Things To Consider

  • Higher price tag compared to generic screws

  • More difficult to recycle

  • Soft metal – not recommended for heavy-duty materials

Slotted screw heads have a horizontal slot in the head and are driven by a flathead screwdriver. They’re suitable in cases where minimal torque is required, such as in carpentry or attaching faceplates on electrics.

They’re not suitable for use with power tools because the drill bit would slip out of the slot – causing damage to the screw and the material.

Phillips drive types are very common and well-known, recognised by a cross on the top of the screw head. They’re better for use with power tools than slotted heads, and have a lower ‘cam out’ potential – meaning the driver will be less likely to slip out of the slot – greater precision with alignment, and will cause less damage to the driver, fastener and surfaces than a slotted head.

If torque gets too high, Phillips drive types have the tendency to ‘cam out’. However, some people find this help as it means you can avoid over tightening the fasteners and damaging the material.

Torx drive types are recognised by their 6 point star-shaped head. They’re commonly found on vehicles, hard disk drives, computer systems, and electronics. Torx heads can transmit a high amount of torque compared to Phillips and Slotted drive types.

Torx heads are generally less available than other, more generic drive types such as Phillips. This means you may find that Torx heads are more expensive, because you’ll be limited to branded screws instead of unbranded.

Hex drive types, also known as Allen screws, are recognised by their 6-sided, hexagon-shaped heads and are operated with a hex key or allen key. In small spaces or where there are obstacles, smaller turns can rotate the screw compared to other types, and they offer a high level of torque for a secure fit.

With any screw, it’s important to use the right size driver. However, if you use the wrong size driver with a Hex screw, you could strip the screw head and make it circular – meaning you won’t be able to use it anymore and it’ll be hard to remove.