Drywall Screws

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What are Drywall Screws?

Drywall screws are unique screws that are designed specifically for use in drywall installation applications. The bugle head style, sharp point and threading of these screws are made to attach drywall to wood or metal studs and provide the greatest holding power for sheetrock with rapid application speed. Drywall anchor screws provide even more holding power, especially for hanging picture frames. 

A few important tips to choose the right Drywall Screw for your application:

  1. The most common style drywall screws have a Phillips drive and can be used in any application. Square drive drywall screws are also universal, but they are especially useful for ceilings or strange angle applications because the screw will hold tight on the bit.
  2. Fine thread screws for drywall are designed to attach drywall to 25 to 20 gauge metal thick studs. The drill point version is for 14 gauge studs.
  3. Coarse thread screws are designed to install drywall to wood studs.
  4. A Hi-Lo thread drywall screw is for attaching drywall to wood or metal. Some benefits of these screws are less torque, reduced vibration and reduced breakage.
  5. Pan framing screws are used to attach metal studs to metal floor and ceiling tracks in preparation for hanging drywall. Sharp points are intended for thick steel up to 0.036", and self-drill points are for steel up to 0.105" thick.  

Choosing Drywall Screws per applications:

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

 

Types and Applications of Drywall Screws

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 screws for drywall 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.

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. 

All drywall screws available at Aspen Fasteners are in bulk quantities and are made of hardened steel with a black phosphate finish and with either Phillips or square drives.

 

First published 2018-06-21 by Aspen Fasteners Inc., updated 2021-01-24

 

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