It’s often the smallest things that cause the biggest problems around your McLean home. Who would ever have guessed that something as little as picking the wrong type of screw to use in your new deck could cause such a big issue as causing the lumber to deteriorate over time? If you’re planning to use pressure-treated lumber to build your brand new deck in McLean this fall season, make sure you’re picking a coated screw to use in its construction. Galvanized screws and some types of lumber just don’t mix. Keep reading to find out how to make the right choice when choosing screws to use in your McLean deck.
Choosing the Right Decking Screws
You obviously want your new deck in McLean to hold up to the elements and last you for years to come. But you may not have realized that something as minuscule as what type of screws you choose to use can have a major impact on your deck’s appearance and longevity. The new pressure treated lumber most new decks are built with requires a coated screw, as the galvanized will deteriorate when the chemicals interact. This chemical reaction can lead to huge, unsightly black blotches all over your deck.
These blotches are the result of the resins in the wood interacting with the iron in the screws. The powdered galvanized coating used in more inexpensive screws and nails will likely chip when being hammered or driven into your lumber, allowing the wood’s resin to reach the iron. For a project as big as building a deck, you will need to choose a stainless steel or bronze screw to keep unsightly blotches from cropping up. Once the blotches are there, there’s no turning back. Typically, they cannot be stained or sealed out.
Keep your fall decking project looking like it belongs on a magazine cover – not like an unsightly nightmare! Stop by Fisher Lumber today and pick up your coated screws for your fall decking project today.
Fisher Lumber and Hardware
Since 1894, Fisher Lumber and Hardware has been serving homeowners and professional contractors in the Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia areas with top quality lumber, building materials, tools, and accessories. Operating under the same ownership since 1947, our business has been built on our reputation with our customers. Get in touch with us today by calling 301-424-6500 or by visiting our website. Stay in touch via Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+ too!