Can You Use Stainless Steel Screws In Pressure Treated Wood

But stainless steel fasteners can cost five to 10 times more than similar galvanized fasteners.

Can you use stainless steel screws in pressure treated wood.

Grade 410 is designed more for hardness than for resistance to corrosion. Mechanically galvanized screws are generally suitable for decks and other outdoor projects made of pressure treated lumber. While stainless steel screws might be better suited to building projects with much heavier materials that require stronger tensile support. Hot dip galvanized steel and stainless steel fasteners and industrial consumables.

There are only two recommended corrosion resistant systems which should be used with 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. See this on the wood magazine site for a little more. Regarding code issues section r317 3 1 of the 2009 international residential code irc addresses fasteners for pressure preservative and fire retardant treated wood.

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. There are numerous multi coated screws available that are also fine to use with all treated woods. Stainless steel is much more expensive than steel whether it be bare powder coated or hdg. 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.

The coating weights for zinc coated fasteners shall be in accordance with astm a153. Anyhoooo about the screws while hot dipped galvanised and stainless screws are both good choices they are not the only ones you can use. 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. 22 for 1 lb.

That said the corrosion resistant nature of zinc makes it a better option if using pressure treated wood or using it for a building project in moister climates. Graphus mar 23 18 at 17 28. Bolts of and greater do not need to be hot dip galvanized steel stainless steel silicon bronze or copper. And unlike other fasteners stainless steel screws nails or bolts cannot be used safely with galvanized structural connectors because of adverse chemical reactions.