Can You Use Stainless Steel Screws In Pressure Treated Wood

Anyhoooo about the screws while hot dipped galvanised and stainless screws are both good choices they are not the only ones you can use.

Can you use stainless steel screws in pressure treated wood.

Because of the high chromium content in stainless steel which prevents corrosion it s also a good choice for any fasteners that you plan to use on pressure treated wood. Graphus mar 23 18 at 17 28. But stainless steel fasteners can cost five to 10 times more than similar galvanized fasteners. There are a couple things to keep in mind though.

Mechanically galvanized screws are generally suitable for decks and other outdoor projects made of pressure treated lumber. Grade 410 is designed more for hardness than for resistance to corrosion. See this on the wood magazine site for a little more. Nevertheless you should not use them with pt lumber in contact with the soil in high moisture areas or in areas with salt content in the air.

The coating weights for zinc coated fasteners shall be in accordance with astm a153. One of the best reasons for using hot dip galvanized steel is that it is remarkably resistant to corrosion whilst effectively resisting the chemicals that have been used to treat the lumber. 22 for 1 lb. And unlike other fasteners stainless steel screws nails or bolts cannot be used safely with galvanized structural connectors because of adverse chemical reactions.

Corrosion resistant stainless steel screws nails and bolts in grades 304 and 305 can be used for copper treated wood in most areas while grade 316 should be used in coastal areas. While stainless steel screws might be better suited to building projects with much heavier materials that require stronger tensile support. The 2006 international residential code states fasteners for pressure preservative and fire retardant treated wood shall be of hotdipped zinc coated galvanized steel stainless steel silicon bronze or copper. Although it s great for masonry screws fasteners made from it aren t sufficiently corrosion resistant and so shouldn t be used with pressure treated lumber.

Regarding code issues section r317 3 1 of the 2009 international residential code irc addresses fasteners for pressure preservative and fire retardant treated wood. Stainless steel is much more expensive than steel whether it be bare powder coated or hdg. There are only two recommended corrosion resistant systems which should be used with pressure treated wood. There are numerous multi coated screws available that are also fine to use with all treated woods.