Choosing Drywall Screws per Application
Drywall
Thickness
|
Framing
Material
|
Screw
Length
|
Screw Spacing
Walls
|
Screw Spacing
Ceiling
|
Threading
|
|
3/8", 1/2" or 5/8"
|
Wood
|
1 1/4"
|
16"
|
16"
|
Coarse
|
|
1/2" or 5/8"
|
Steel
|
1"
|
16"
|
12"
|
Fine
|
|
5/8"
|
Steel
|
1 1/8"
|
16"
|
12"
|
Fine
|
|
3/4"
|
Steel
|
1 1/4"
|
16"
|
12"
|
Fine
|
Drywall Screws
Description and Application
Drywall screws are specialty screws designed for use in drywall/gyprock
applications. The bugle head style, sharp point and threading of these
screws are made to attach drywall to wood or metal studs. They provide
the greatest holding power in drywall while not damaging the drywall
itself.
For jobs where drywall is attached to heavy gauge metal (20-14
gauge), or driving through a tougher cement board, a drywall screw
with a self drilling point often comes in very handy.
Trim Head drywall screws have a regular twin lead thread
profile, a sharp point and countersunk flat head of width
approximately 2/3 that of a regular bugle drywall screw head. Trim
head drywall screws are often used to attach wood trim to steel
studs of up to 20 gauge thick.
All drywall screws available at Aspen Fasteners are in bulk/carton
quantities and are made of hardened steel with a black phosphate
finish and with either phillips or square drives.
Coarse Threads, Fine Threads or Hi-Lo Threads
Using the wrong type of drywall screw can result in poorly finished
walls increasing the incidence of dimples, pops and/or visible seams.
Coarse thread drywall screws are preferred for applications where the substrate behind the drywall
is wood. The deep and coarse thread provides much greater holding
power. On the other hand, in commercial applications where drywall
screws are often being driven into steel studs, a fine thread drywall
screw offers better holding strength. The Hi-Lo variation is a
double-lead thread profile, consisting of a high and low thread and an
extra sharp point. This thread type needs less torque to drive into
the substrate than a regular drywall screw thread. It also offers
greater thread engagement and consistently provides more resistance to
vibrational loosening forces.
Phillips or Square Drive
Aspen Fasteners offers drywall screws with either
phillips or
square drives. Phillips drive screws are easier to load onto the
drive bit, but the phillips drive bit has a tendency to cam out of the
recess in the head of the screw. The square drive on the other hand
may be slightly more difficult to load onto the drive bit, it will
stay on better and not cam out as easily. The square drive is
preferable when greater torque is required during installation.
For additional information about the square drive recess
including dimensions and technical specifications, click
here.
