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Hit 10,000 screws on one deck job and started arguing with myself about nail guns | Carpenters - Guest Forum

Hit 10,000 screws on one deck job and started arguing with myself about nail guns

I was counting my screws for a 800 square foot deck I built last spring in Tacoma. When I hit 10,000 I stopped and thought, should I have just rented a nail gun instead? I saved money on the screws because I bought a bulk box for 80 bucks, but my wrist was killing me for three weeks. Nail guns are faster but you get less holding power on treated lumber, especially if it warps later. So what do you prefer for decking, screws or nails, and has anyone hit a weird milestone that made you question your whole method?

2 comments

2 Comments

caleb_gibson3mo ago

Switched to coated deck screws after my first big deck job years ago and never looked back. Rented a framing nailer that weekend for the joists but used a regular drill for the deck boards. Yeah my wrist was sore but those screws held tight through a wet Seattle winter while my buddy's nail pop fest looked like a minefield by spring. Hit 12,000 on a wrap around porch once and started questioning life choices too lol but the peace of mind knowing nothing is gonna loosen up on me is worth the slow grind.

kai6023mo ago

12,000 screws on a porch would make anyone rethink everything. That's a full day of just spinning your wrist around. What people don't get is the difference between a nail that stays put for a season and a screw that's still locked in five years later. Saw a guy use galvanized nails on cedar decking once and by year two half the boards were cupping and the nails were sticking up like they were trying to escape. Coated screws don't just hold better in wet weather, they let you pull the boards tight so you don't get those gaps and squeaks later on. Your buddy learned the hard way but at least you had the good sense to suffer through the slow part upfront.