Types of screw: choose the right one for what you need

Screws constitute a fundamental part of any DIY or construction project, but there are a wide variety of types you need to be aware of in order to choose the right one. Depending on their size, thread, head or tip, different types of screw are effective for different purposes.

Types of screw according to their drive or head shape

When it comes to classifying the different types of screws available, we can start with a fundamental part of this element: the head and its drive. Together, they determine the strength and torque of the screw.

●     Phillips screws. This type of screw is one of the most used and has slots in the head in the shape of a cross. The heads are designed to avoid the screwdriver slipping, thus facilitating use. It doesn't usually require a lot of torque when installing and is very useful, for example, for work with wood. 

●     Torx® screws. Torx® screws have grooves in the shape of a star with six points and are very resistant. The tamper-resistant Torx® screw, especially designed to be extra secure, falls within this classification. It is characterised by its protruding pin in the middle of the six-point star that requires a special tool to turn. 

●     Slotted-head screws. Slotted-head screws have a slot in a vertical line and are perfect for joining together two pieces of wood. It is one of the most commonly-used types of screw and is recommended for medium torque jobs.

●      Socket screws. These screws have a cylindrical head with a hexagonal hole in the middle. To work with them, you need an allen key, a tool capable of exerting greater torque than a conventional screwdriver.

●     Pozidriv screws. Pozidriv screws are similar to Phillips screws but have greater torque as they have eight points of contact in the slots, which guarantees good fixing to the surface. They are ideal with work with materials that require a strong hold. 

●     Hexagonal head screws. These screws have a hexagonal head. Unlike the other screws, hexagonal head screws do not have any slots and are perfect for fastening metal parts together with the right tool. Also, screws with a hexagonal head that include a flange don't need to have a washer incorporated.

How are screws classified by use?

In addition to the different screw heads there are on the market, it is also fundamental to know about the different uses each one has according to the material you will be working with or the particular features that apply. Some of the most common types of screw are detailed below.

●     Wood screws. This classification includes various types, but coach screws are the most common. The distance between the thread lines is greater than with conventional screws, which facilitates a much stronger joint thanks to the fact that the screw fastens to the wood more securely. Bear in mind that, if they are going to be visible, there are different types of covering to make the installation more aesthetically-pleasing.

●     Self-drilling screws. Self-drilling screws are those that, as their name suggests, don't need prior drilling to install them as their tip acts as a drill. Within this classification you'll find screws for roofs and façades which are principally hex head self-drilling and favour the joining of metal elements. They have a washer or flange incorporated with EPDM rubber that seals the material you are working on.

●     Screws for laminated plasterboard. Most of these screws have a trumpet head, which allows easy insertion of the screw into the material and provides a gentle but strong torque. Depending on the thickness of the material to be drilled, the tip of the screws for plasterboard may be sharp, perforating or self-drilling. Additionally, the thread tends to be wide in most cases. This guarantees the perfect, long-lasting fastening of laminated plasterboard panels to each other or to wood.

●      Sheet metal screws. In this group of screws you'll find a large variety of types of screw, diameters and lengths depending on the flexibility of the material to be perforated. They are designed to fasten metal elements to each other or to other materials. In this case, they require prior drilling to guarantee the fixing. They have a fine thread which means they can be used at the edges of the material to be fixed.

●     Standardised screws. This classification includes all screws with a metric thread, which are those where the thread follows standard measurements used internationally. There is a large variety of types of head and they can be half thread with a neck or full thread covering the whole body. Another main characteristic is that metric threaded screws have no tip. They are mainly used in machinery with nuts or washers to achieve better fixing of the elements.

Types of screw according to the material

Another thing to bear in mind when choosing a screw for any project is the material it is made of. Taking this classification into account, different screws are suitable for different surfaces. The most common are steel screws with a bichromatic or zinc-coated finish, recommended for interiors as they have an average level of corrosion resistance. If work is to take place outdoors, stainless steel screws (A2 and A4) are the best option as they are highly corrosion-resistant in outdoor environments and/or in coastal areas. Additionally, as we have indicated before, bichromatic screws are suitable for projects with wood if they are going to be visible as they make the project more aesthetically-pleasing.

Within this same point, it is important to consider the different categories and levels of corrosion in order to make the right choice as shown in the following table: 

Therefore, in heated spaces with low humidity and dry or cold areas, we recommend opting for classification C1. However, for spaces with frequent condensation and warm, subtropical areas, the C5 corrosion category is perfect.

In short, the choice of the different types of screw will depend on the characteristics of each application. It is important to be aware of their differences to find the one that will perform best in each case. At INDEX we specialise in fixings that suit your needs and have a wide range of screws for all types of application.