I have a wooden walkway that leads from my deck down to my pool. Some of the boards are rotten and I want to replace them. Is this a project for a Nail Gun (which is how everything is currently put down) or a Screw Gun? Reason I ask, is that while the current boards are put down with nails, I have to hammer in the nails probably once every 6 months in random spots? Would braiding on screws hold the wood down better and not have to be "re-screwed" every 6 months?
Wood – What type of fasteners should I use when replacing exterior deck boards
deckdeckingwood
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Best Answer
Decks have been built with screws for the last 30 years where I live. Nails are unheard of for the reason you mentioned. Your local hardware store will have a selection of epoxy-coated or galvanized screws in various colors that will serve you well. 2-1/2" is typical for 5/4 decking, and 3" for 2-by decking.
You can use a standard drill to drive deck screws. You don't need a screw gun, though the auto-depth feature they offer can save time on large projects.