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That neighbor who told me my deck screws were wrong size saved me a rebuild.
He said 'your 2x6 joists need 3.5 inch screws minimum for shear strength' and after checking the code I swapped all 500 of them out last weekend, anyone else had a know-it-all neighbor actually be right?
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stellam8921d ago
Respectfully, I see it differently. Code is a minimum standard, not a guarantee your deck won't collapse. Swapping 500 screws based on one guy's gut feeling about 'shear strength' without checking the actual span tables and load ratings for your specific hardware sounds like overkill. Those joist hangers and the type of screw matter way more than just the length. A 3.5 inch screw in a 2x6 is fine for basic attachment, but if you used the wrong head type or the wrong coating for treated lumber, you still might have a problem. It's great your neighbor caught a potential issue, but this isn't some universal rule for every deck build.
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jessel3521d ago
Yeah and sometimes the little details like that are what actually keep the thing standing.
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