holding strength of fine thread drywall screws with wood studs
Lyptus
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I just finished hanging 5/8″ thick firecode drywall in my garage. I have wooden studs and I mistakenly used fine thread screws instead of coarse thread (I should have researched the issue before hand). I did use 1 5/8 screws but after finally researching the issue, I’m concerned about the holding strength of the fine vs. coarse thread and whether or not I need to replace all the screws.
How bad did I “screw” up? Are fine thread screws “fine” to use but just not optimum?
Advice?
– Lyptus
Replies
When you ran the screws in.........
..........did they pull themselves into the drywall? If so, I'd have no problem leaving them. A quick test of adding some coarse thread next to them seeing if the board pulls in tighter, making the fine threads "loose" might be done.
Ceiling too?
The fine thread screws pulled the drywall close and in a few cases, even pulled 1/8" deep into the drywall. Ceiling was done by pros so I'm assuming that's ok. They used liquid nails in combination with drywall nails and screws.
- Lyptus
If concerned
Run some coarse threads in there-make your decision on how to proceed. Can't see it from my house applies here.
However, I think you'll be fine-if they pulled in a bit, then they are holding. In a pinch when I"ve run out of coarse, I've used the fine with no ill effects. Certainly beat running to the supply house.
Now, you know the screw gets down below the surface without breaking the paper, right? Makes a small indent in the board that you will fill with compound. If your drywall knife/trowel clicks when passing over you've not gone deep enough. If your paper broke, you went too far.
Drywall Screws
The only problem I've had with using the wrong screws is that they may strip out easier, if they do I just add another screw alongside.
I might be a little concerned on the ceiling, but not on the walls of a garage. You really only need about 2 screws per sheet for the drywall to stay up.
The main reason to not use fine-thread screws in wood is that it simply takes too long to drive them -- there is a difference in holding power, but either screw holds much better than a nail, and nails are perfectly sufficient.
Having salvaged a lot of 2x4 where I had to pull the screws or nails, my experience is that the fine thread ones pull with 1/2 the effort as the coarse threads and even slightly easier than nails .
I know this is a real old post, however I just made the same mistake as you,, I used fine thread instead of coarse thread drywall screws, I should of researched before I started.
I was wondering, did you ever have any issues with the drwall you put up with fine thread screws?
Thanks