How to Decode Screws | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the uses and purposes of different types of screws. #ThisOldHouse #AskTOH SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Shopping List: [YT] Screws [https://amzn.to/31zSorW] Screw head gauge [https://amzn.to/35VXEcx] Steps: 1. Tom shared a few different tips about screws and which ones he uses for what projects. Here are a few of his tips below: a. Wood screws have a coarse thread for driving into material. They shouldn’t be confused with bolts, which have machine threads and require a nut to secure them. b. Drywall screws should be used for drywall. They aren’t strong enough to handle other types of connections. c. Screw heads come in a few different varieties. Flathead and Phillips head are common screws, but Tom prefers to use a star or torx head screw because they’re less likely to strip. d. Check each screw to determine if it’s rated for indoor or outdoor use. e. To determine the appropriate size screw to use for a project, take the thickness of the material being attached and pick a screw that’s roughly 2.5x that. 2. Screws all come with a labeling system. Here’s how it works: a. The diameter is indicated by a # sign. That’s how thick the screw is. The higher the number, the thicker the screw. b. The height of the screw is labeled in inches and usually is marked right next to the diameter. 3. They sell kits (and they’re also usually on display at hardware stores and home centers) that allow you to drop the screw into a hole to determine what it is. Resources: All the different screws Tom demonstrated can be found at home centers. The gauge Tom demonstrated to help determine the correct screw head size is called a bolt gauge [https://amzn.to/35VXEcx] and can be found at home centers as well. About Ask This Old House TV: Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr Keywords: Ask This Old House, Tom Silva, Kevin O'Connor, screws, woodworking Watch the full episode: https://ift.tt/2Pldvvz How to Decode Screws | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/