Where is the Best Place To Buy Deck Fasteners From?

You may be able to find deck screws or nails at the local building supply store, but the price and quality may not be what you need for a fantastic finish. It’s best to contact an industry professional and source out fasteners made from materials that the professionals would use. Check online or visit a local fastener distributor to price out all of the fasteners required for this job.

Are you thinking about stainless steel, but put off by the premium price? Although stainless steel fasteners do cost more initially, the quality and appearance of this material makes it well worth the investment. Especially wise if you are investing in maintenance free composite decking, stainless steel will never corrode or leave rusty red marks on your decking.

If the extra investment isn’t in the budget, hot dipped galvanized deck fasteners such as lag bolts, deck screws, joist hangers and joist hanger nails will all provide a decent amount of protection against corrosion.

What Can You Expect to Pay For Deck Fasteners?

The material list for a DIY deck can be extensive, depending on the size and design. Extra features such as pergolas, privacy screens and planter boxes will add to the standard materials needed.

In any case, the hardware for a pressure treated wood deck project – including all of the deck fasteners required – will run between 4 and 8 percent of the total cost. That means if you are spending around $2000 on the deck materials, fasteners will account for $80 to $160 of that total.

Although they are not a large portion of the cost, using quality deck fasteners ordered from industry leading fastener distributors will help you to build the deck of your dreams.

Why Buy From a Wholesaler?

The benefits of buying from a wholesaler are widespread. You’ll often get a bulk discount without the need to buy in bulk quantities. That’s because wholesalers put in large orders to the manufacturers, obtaining generous discounts, and then pass some of those savings onto your business.

Wholesalers don’t tend to have the storefronts and overhead costs that major retailers do. You could buy your building fasteners from the local big box building supply store, but remember that you are paying for their multimillion dollar advertising campaigns, massive staff and huge warehouse-type stores. Most often the wholesaler runs a more modest shop, possibly offering a retail location but working hard to keep their costs under control in order to supply you with the best discounts on fasteners and building materials.

How Much Money Can You Save?

Medium sized contracting firms have a wide variety of costs. Knocking 20 to 40 percent off of the price on all of the fasteners used in that company may not have a major impact. But if you run a small contracting business, possibly working on your own or with a small group of skilled laborers, the money saved from buying fasteners wholesale may represent a significant portion of your materials cost.

Maybe you charge out for time and materials. Buying fasteners wholesale will allow you to match the fastener prices charged by local retailers. This competitive edge could mean more business for your company and higher revenues generally lead to more profits and increased opportunities.

Just as you should keep an eye on the other costs associated with running your contracting company, you can reduce the total expenses incurred by purchasing fasteners wholesale. Find a reputable and established wholesaler that services your industry and work on building a relationship that will reap plenty of benefits for your business.

Deck Screws Vs Wood Screws

You could build a deck using wood screws instead of deck screws, but after the first year you will very likely be disappointed in the appearance. And after a few more years the structure itself may deteriorate past the point of being safe.

Why?

Deck screws are made with the conditions of a deck in mind. Treated to resist corrosion, deck screws are often coated in ceramic or painted to match the color of the deck materials. This is so that the surface of the structure will be attractive in any weather, even after years of sun, rain and snow beating down on it.

Wood screws, on the other hand, are formulated for use with wood framing and structures inside your home. Often made from bronze, they are not suited for exterior exposure. Although they will do the job and attach your wood deck boards securely to the framing, those screws will be rusted and unstable within a short period of time.

Besides the color, deck screws and wood screws look the same. Be sure of what you are purchasing from the fastener distributor and opt for deck fasteners that include corrosion resistance and coatings to match the decking.

What About Nails?

Nails are categorized in the same way. They can all be used with wood and many of the sizes and shapes you find on the hardware store shelves will work on a deck. But when those deck fasteners are not treated with rust resistance they simply will not last.

Nail heads are also vastly different. Those used to drive the fastener into wood are often flat with a wide diameter. They will be installed flush with the surface to provide a smooth look on your decking and framing. Decking nails are made to be strong enough and attractive enough for use on these projects. Anything else will likely ruin it.

Be sure that your material list includes the deck fasteners required to get the job done. Along with the tools and know you needed, these items will help you get the job done.

Wood Lag Bolts

Although some contractors use carriage bolts to attach beams to the posts on a deck frame, many opt for the simpler wood lag bolt. These deck fasteners are actually more like a screw, since they have a pointed tip and do not necessarily need a nut. You’ll still need a washer sandwiched between the hex head and the wood in order to distribute the load properly.

Joist Hangers

These brackets are generally made from zinc plated steel and are used to attach the joists in your deck framing. They work to distribute the weight of the wood and are a much safer, secure way to put together the perpendicular pieces of lumber that form deck framing. Often the lumber is simply nailed into a joist hanger, although in some cases screws may be used. All the joist hangers are covered by the deck board and can only be viewed from underneath once the deck is completed.

Spacers

When ACQ lumber is used to construct a deck and aluminum railing is installed on the same deck, certain levels of protection need to be applied. Due to the chemicals used in ACQ wood treatment it cannot have direct contact with aluminum. If it does, the aluminum will not last long. Spacers need to be installed between the two materials in order to allow both the longevity they are known for.

Most aluminum railing packages will include these elements, but ask at the local building supply store if you cannot find them or contact a fastener distributor to see what they would recommend. This can be a problem when wood posts are used in conjunction with aluminum railing or aluminum railing posts are bolted onto the surface of a pressure treated wood deck.

Be sure that you are fully stocked up on all of the deck fasteners required to construct your project. From deck screws to wood lag bolts, joist hangers and aluminum railing spacers, there are many different common and uncommon fasteners used during construction.

What Kind of Savings Are We Talking About?

Building materials stores tack an enormous mark up onto their fastener stock. Maybe they bank on the fact that contractors have no choice but to buy fasteners. Or it could be that because of the relative size of these components (often the smallest piece of the puzzle overall), most contractors don’t feel that any significant savings can be achieved by shopping around.

And that is where they are wrong.

Contacting a fastener distributor and buying fasteners wholesale will save big dollars over the course of a season. Consider the amount of fasteners that even a small business goes through. Boxes and boxes of screws, bolts, nails, washers, nuts and countless other custom fasteners are used in every corner of construction projects. If you saved even a few pennies on each of those fasteners the total savings would be enough to warrant a switch.

The good news is that you can save much more than only a few pennies. Price shopping between building supply stores will often result in that penny difference. But ordering your fasteners in bulk through a wholesaler will deliver major cost differences – it is not unusual to see them offer the products to you at 3/4 to 1/2 of the retailer’s price.

What Is the Catch?

First you need to source out a fasteners wholesaler that is reputable and has the items you need in stock on a regular basis. The ability to order online is key. With the schedule that most contractors keep they need to be able to place orders at any time of day from anywhere. Online ordering systems offer that capability.

They also need to have decent credit terms, since you will likely be ordering in larger quantities. Be sure you have a location to stock these boxes of fasteners, even if it’s only in the bed of a pickup. Shipping costs are important as well and need to be factored into the overall cost to realize the true savings.

Once you have found a distributor you can trust, saving money buying fasteners wholesale will be straightforward. You can look forward to being much more competitive while maintaining the same level of quality you always had.

Hanging the Drywall on Wood Framing

The type of framing used on the walls will determine the type of drywall screws used. With wood framing, which tends to be solid and therefore harder to drive into, you will need to use screws with a coarse thread and an acute point. All drywall screws will self-pilot or self-tap, meaning they are made to drive themselves into the material easily.

The head of a drywall screw is bugle-shaped to allow for gentle contact with the drywall paper. Since the screws are installed slightly recessed into the board, these fasteners need to be able to get there without tearing the paper to shreds.

Be careful that you do not torque a drywall screw too much, as the material is often brittle and the head can snap off easily. This will leave you with a problem that requires a lot of mud and patience to fix.

Hanging the Drywall of Steel Framing

Many homes are now framed with steel studs, which are in fact steel channels specially designed to support the wall structure. The steel is light gauge and screws with an acute point should still be used. Often those with a finer thread work best, as they will quickly tap into the steel with very little effort and less chance of breakage.

Drywall screws for both wood and steel framing are often coated with phosphate for corrosion protection. In bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where moisture may be a problem it’s a good idea to opt for stainless steel.

Adhesive Is an Option

In certain cases drywall can be hung using adhesive. Be sure that the product is formulated for use with drywall and applied according to the directions. Look for products with a lower environmental impact to ensure your home is healthy and friendly to the planet.

Drywall screws are the most common fasteners used in installation, although drywall adhesive has its place. The process of installation is straightforward and an ideal project for the DIY enthusiast. You may want to leave the mudding to a professional though.

Excellent Service

A local fasteners distributor has a leg up on the distributor from a foreign location. Not only do local firms know your working conditions, they are also familiar with the business climate and all of the ins and outs of running a company in your neck of the woods.

Are there certain state or provincial tax implications that are applicable to your business or project? Dealing with a local will eliminate the need to explain those in detail or waste time filling out paperwork to set up the business transactions properly.

Does your building or electrical code specify a particular fastener material or design due to climate or other issues? The fastener distributor that is established in your neighborhood will be familiar with those codes and will even help you to comply better with advice and suggestions.

Speed is of the Essence

A major factor to deal with when buying from a foreign distributor is the speed of delivery. Getting the fasteners you need from an overseas firm will take time. And even if you find those items for a cheaper price, getting them shipped to your location will take time and money. Are you willing (and able) to wait?

Not only will the speed of delivery make a difference, but the rapid service in terms of quoting and putting through orders will also be a plus. A local distributor will have similar hours of operation (being in the same time zones has its privileges) and when telephone service just won’t do, visiting local firms is possible.

Personal service by a local rep is likely to be more dependable from a nearby company or even one that is in your state (as opposed to those in another country). And that kind of service is what will help make your project smooth and successful.

There Are Differences

It may depend on your style of research, but many brick and mortar fastener distributors are sorely lacking in the information available on their websites. When you want facts and figures fast, a brick and mortar shop may be just a phone call away. But what about after hours or before they open? How can you get the data you need right away when the rep is unreachable and their site is unhelpful?

This is where online fastener distributors can shine. With product information and even ordering services on their websites these firms can offer quick, one stop shopping for the busy purchasing managers and contractors out there.

Face to Face For a Change

Yes, there is something to be said for a fastener rep who will visit your office, sell you on the virtues of each line and offer suggestions and solutions to upcoming price increases or supply problems. These relationships are extremely valuable for contractors and management staff alike, but the frequency of those visits can be detrimental when those people need information quick.

This is where the value of a fastener distribution company that does both shines. If they have a rep who can offer that personal service, as well as a website that’s both up to date and easy to navigate, you can have the best of both worlds. Help lines, chat features and toll free numbers are all added attractions to these firms that put customer service high on the priority list.

No matter what type of ordering and information services these companies offer, nothing beats experience in the industry. A fasteners distributor with poorly trained staff and an unproven track record is risky to deal with. Not only will their lack of knowledge make them less helpful to your staff but their pricing and service may also be unreliable.

Get on board with a fasteners distributor you can trust. Years of experience and the type of ordering systems that work for you are key. Local shops or online stores, get the fasteners you need fast with the top distributors.

Brief History of Phillips Head Screws

Phillips head screws have been around since the 1930’s when automobile assembly lines were popping across the country. This set up required a screw that could be tightened with the automated drivers on the line and the Phillips head screws designed by Henry Phillips fit the bill.

Robertson screws had been around for almost three decades and where commonly found on building sites. But with the need for a screw that would fasten tighter and take greater levels of torque, the cross-shaped head developed by Phillips took off after it had been introduced.

Benefits On Today’s Building Sites

Besides being able to provide the tight fit that businesses were looking for in the 30’s, Phillips head screws also provide advantages for standard applications on a building site.

Wood frames, drywall and many other locations where numerous screws are used are a great place to use a Phillips screw. This is because the cross-shaped grooves in the head provide a greater surface area for the screwdriver to contract the fastener, meaning the pressure is distributed better and tightening results in less wear and tear on the screw.

The mating surface (where the driver contacts the screw head to tighten and loosen) is subject to the most wear. When the pressure is on against this surface a stripped screw may be the result. This difficult and potentially costly situation is often avoided by using a Phillips screw. Because this style has a larger mating surface (thanks to the cross-shape and compared to the slot or Robertson style) there will be less pressure on each individual point and so less chance for stripping.

The crossed grooves also hold your driver or bit in tight and cut down on slipping, which can help the installation of these screws to go much faster. Hanging drywall, screwing in floor boards and many other applications on a building site will benefit from the speed and reliability offered by the Phillips head screw.

Flat Head and Trim Heads

These are what most people think of when they are asked to pick up deck screws. A flat head is common to both and they can both be countersunk into the wood or composite material. Alternatively, both flat head and trim head screws can be inserted into a predrilled hole and covered with a plug to ensure an ultra smooth finish. Generally a trim head screw is chosen when a surface mount is required, though.

Pan Head and Washer Heads

These are the opposite of flat head screws, in that they are designed to sit on top of the surface. For that reason they are most often seen on heavy plastics and metal applications where countersinking is not an option. But the main benefit of both the pan head and the washer head screws is that the shape of the head allows for better distribution of the load. You can use a washer head screw just like you would a screw and washer combo, except you don’t have the hassle of handling two fasteners.

Other Types of Screws

You may also come across oval head screws. Similar to a round head screw that has been flattened, this type of screw is used to provide a snag free surface that is relatively smooth. Nautical applications put the oval head screw to good use.

Truss head screws offer a very large head that provides more surface area to distribute the load. Often used with a nut on oversized holes, this type of screw is sometimes called a bolt as well.