Screws are not as simple as they seem to be. The wrong kind of screw, for example, would fail to penetrate wood or steel and would lead to it being unusable. At worst, it could damage whatever it is trying to secure.

Home improvement is not a simple task. It is a task that requires precision and forethought, one that needs the right tools to do properly. There are so many types out there that it can be incredibly confusing to try and find the right one. DIY tools just don’t cut it sometimes. Sometimes you need the right tools. Fortunately, if you know what you’re going to be using it for you’re going to have a better idea of what to purchase.

Wood Screw:

A wood screw is used for exactly what it sounds like – to put wooden objects together. These are commonly used in large wooden construction projects such as wooden sheds, gazebos. It is also used in smaller projects such as cabinets and doors. It is only partially threaded, as opposed to a screw that is built for sheet metal. It is generally made of steel.

Sheet Metal Screw:

These are often used in metal projects. Metal reacts differently from wood and concrete and thus requires a special screw. The screw itself is built with a threaded shank. The head of a screw can either be flat or rounded. It is fully threaded and the tip is extremely sharp to allow for greater ease of penetration. A blunt screw could deform the sheet metal and structurally compromise it. Some screws are made to go into pre-drilled sheet metal, while others are built so they can cut through metal without requiring any sort of pre-drilling.

Galvanized Screw:

A galvanize screw is made specifically for outdoor usage. Tools exposed to the weather are put under a lot more stress than a screw that is used for indoor tools. These include outdoor objects such as decks, gates and fences. Tents will also require the use of a galvanized screw for its construction. Standard iron nails would rust, corrode and break down, which could lead to catastrophic structural failure.

Concrete Screw:

Concrete is a tough material. Most home improvement projects, especially by first timers, will find themselves stymied by concrete. It’s tough to work with and tough to penetrate. The wrong kind of screw, for example, will either break or cause cracks in the concrete, ruining it aesthetically and structurally. Using them requires safety goggles as both drilling and screwing might send out shards of concrete that can cause light injuries.

The Length of the Screw:

A screw can be bought at a number of lengths. Fortunately it is simple to determine the length you will need. Simply measure the depth you’ll want the screw to go and make a record of it. Most of the time it is best to make sure that the screw is not long enough to go through the back of whatever you are securing.