The gutters are leaking, septic tank needs to be pumped, patio is cracking and sinking, the windows are sweating, the wood deck needs help…… So what is the good part about home ownership? Starting out on your first home can be a very daunting adventure, not for the weak-at-heart, especially if there is a lot of work to be done. It takes a driven person or persons to take on the task of home remodeling, especially if you are the ones doing the work and double that if you are living in the mess!

Probably the biggest advantage of owning your own home is the potential financial gain. History has shown that real estate will provide substantial gains over time. There have been dips in the market but over the long haul, the values will gain. Along with the value increasing, there is the advantage of tax deductions on the interest paid and no income tax on the profit made at the time the home is sold, in most cases.

Another incentive to own your own home is the freedom to do with it what you want. You can remodel at will, add a pool, build a deck, etc. Taking pride in your property is a very positive attribute in the adult world. You are free to have gatherings at your house, live out of town, choose the neighborhood that you want.

Doing the work yourself can save an enormous amount of money, if you have the skills to do the work in a way that increases the value and livability of your home. It is becoming more and more favorable to have at least some basic skills in your home maintenance arsenal. Those shop classes in high school can come in real handy on your property, as well as a seasoned relative or neighbor who has some knowledge. My best teacher was not a “teacher” in the certified sense, but still created a learning environment which I have built on ever since. In that line of thought, trade schools are becoming more and more prevalent, learning an in-demand trade can be financially rewarding. Also, one positive thing about the internet, a person can research just about any home project and get some great ideas and how-to knowledge.

So when you think you are ready to take the plunge, take a deep breath go for it! You will be glad you did.

One look at the fastener aisle in the big box stores will tell you that the selection has grown considerably in the last few years. You will see rows and rows of everything from staples, tacks, nails, bolts and yes, screws. It can be a daunting task to select the one that will suit your situation and give you the best performance. Since we specialize in screws, that is what we can talk about today. Here are some examples of the screws that you will find on our website store.

§ Structural wood screws for general indoor and outdoor projects such as framing, decking, fencing, siding and cabinetry.

§ Trim head wood screws for finish work, siding, exterior and interior trim, door and window installations, cabinetry and railings.

§ Finish head wood screws for interior and exterior detail work, trim, flooring, doors and windows.

§ Cabinet and more wood screws have a larger “mushroom” type head for extra holding power, particularly useful when installing cabinets. The smaller version is used with the popular Kreg style pocket-hole jigs.

§ Heavy duty structural lags screws are used for fastening large framing members such as rafters, ledgers, girders and posts. With the large head and aggressive thread design they provide excellent performance when used in these applications.

§ Hex head structural lag screws are used primarily large wood member applications, landscaping timbers, log homes and deck frame construction.

These screws highlight the bulk of our offerings, also available are wood-to- metal screws, self-drilling sheet metal screws, bits, brackets and other related items. Feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have, we are happy to help you at www.screwsolutions.com

Stainless steel fasteners are a very valuable item in the construction industry, in both durability and visual appeal. They are irreplaceable when dealing with wet environments, salt water, chemicals in pressure-treated wood and other harsh conditions. We recommend stainless fasteners when the project is within one mile of salt water.

The type of stainless steel is critical in the industry as well, especially when it relates to cost vs function. There are numerous compositions of materials available when manufacturing the fasteners. For instance, the more carbon that is added to the material, the harder the fastener, but less resistant to corrosion. Chromium is a popular component, as it supplies both corrosion resistance and strength, as well as the finish providing the visual appearance that is highly sought after.

Screwsolutions.com carries two types of stainless screws, 305 & 316. The 305 series is considered the best value in terms of a balance of cost and performance. The 316 cost is higher due to the superior corrosion resistance and a higher strength rating, which comes into play when using them in a structural situation that might require a high shear value. Both types of screws are identical in design and utilize the same star-drive system for installation. More on star-drive in another article. Here is an info sheet on the stainless steel screws.

https://www.screw-products.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/sheet-axis-stainless.pdf

Since stainless steel is a softer material, as compared to hardened steel, a long screw is not feasible because of the additional torque required to drive it into place. The screw shears off at the shank when too much force is applied. As such, the longest stainless steel screw that we carry is 4”. We are doing some research on longer sizes, hopefully we will be able to offer something in the future that we are comfortable with.