Choosing the correct drywall screw is a necessary part of installing drywall panels proper. Using the incorrect size drywall screw can cause the drywall to not remain attached to the framing or can damage the drywall panel. To ensure that drywall panels are properly attach to the framing, several factor regarding the drywall screw must be considered.
You must choose the length of the drywall screw according to the thickness of the drywall and the depth of the stud in which the drywall screw will be inserted. For thin drywall, it is necessary to use shorter drywall screw to ensure that the drywall screw does not punch through to the other side of the drywall panel. For thicker drywall panels or for installations where there are multiple layer of drywall panels, longer drywall screws should be used to ensure that the drywall screw penetrates the drywall to the stud.
How to Choose the Right Drywall Screws
Drywall screws should be at least one inch into the framing to provide enough strength to the drywall installation. If the drywall screw is too short, it may become pulled within the framing on flexing drywall panels. If it is too long, it may create dimples on the drywall panel surface.
Another factor to consider is the thickness of the drywall panel. Thin drywall panels is typically used for drywall repairs. For these application, short drywall screws are used so that the screw does not go through the drywall panel too far into the panel.
For fire-rated drywall panels that are five-eighths of an inch in thickness, longer drywall screws should be used to allow the drywall screw to penetrate the drywall to the framing. The worker must choose the type of thread on the drywall screw according to the material of the drywall studs. Coarse-thread drywall screws is meant to be driven into wood studs.
The wide spirals on these drywall screws allow them to effective grip wood studs. Fine-thread drywall screws are used for metal studs as they can effectively slice through the metal channels in which the studs are located. Using coarse-thread drywall screws on metal studs will cause the studs to strip.
Similarly, using fine-thread drywall screws on drywall studs will cause the screws to not effectively grip the studs. Another factor to consider when choosing drywall screws is the type of head. Most drywall screws have bugle head as they do not tear the paper faces of the drywall panels when they are placed flush against the drywall panel.
When the bugle head is flush against the drywall panel, it is easier for drywall installers to apply joint compound over the screw. Another factor to consider is the finish of the drywall screw as this will determine the screw resistance to rust. Screws for dry interior wall typically use black phosphate finishes.
For area that may become damp, such as kitchens and bathrooms, drywall screws use stainless steel or ceramic coating finishes to resist rust in these damp area. Drywall screws come in different type for specific applications. Type W drywall screws has sharp points to allow them to effectively penetrate wood studs.
Type S drywall screws are meant to drill into metal studs as they have a different point than type W drywall screws so that they will not damage the metal studs. For type S drywall screws, type W drywall screws will cause the screws to punch through the studs rather than effectively screw into the studs. Using the wrong type of drywall screw will cause problems during installation.
Additionally, drywall screws must also be placed at the appropriate distance from each other. Drywall screws should be placed into studs every sixteen inch along the wall. Furthermore, drywall screws should also be placed every eight inches from the edges of the drywall panels so that the perimeter of the drywall panel is secured.
The depth at which drywall screws are driven into studs is another crucial part of installing drywall. Drywall screws should be driven so that the heads of the drywall screws are just below the surface of the paper face of the drywall panels. If drywall screws are driven too deep into the studs, the paper face of the drywall panels may shred during installation.
If drywall screws are driven too shallow into the studs, the screw heads may create bumps on the drywall panels that may be visible once the drywall is painted. When installing drywall panels, avoid some common mistakes. One common mistake is using deck screw for drywall installations.
Deck screws are not designed for drywall as they do not have the proper taper for drywall screws. Additionally, dont overdrive the drywall screws as this will shred the paper face of the drywall panels. Avoid placing drywall screws too close to the edges of the drywall panel as this will cause the corners of the drywall panels to crack.
By ensuring that drywall screws have the appropriate length according to the thickness of the drywall panels and the appropriate type of threading for the studs into which the drywall screws will be inserted, drywall will remain attached to drywall studs for a long time.
