{"id":581,"date":"2021-10-23T00:03:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T03:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powertoolbase.com\/?p=581"},"modified":"2022-11-18T14:56:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-18T17:56:57","slug":"pilot-holes-for-deck-screws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/powertoolbase.com\/pilot-holes-for-deck-screws\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Drill Pilot Holes for Deck Screws? (Avoid Damage)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
You’ve probably noticed how often people drill directly into wood without first making a pilot hole. So is it really necessary to drill pilot holes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s recommended by professionals to drill pilot holes for deck screws. Pilot holes help to avoid putting pressure on the wood that surrounds the screws. Pressure can weaken the wood, causing it to split or crack. Pilot holes also enable you to drive the screws with greater accuracy for a more aesthetically pleasing finish.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, I will show you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s not absolutely essential that you drill pilot holes, but it is recommended by most professionals that you do. If you don’t pre-drill the wood, there is a much higher chance of the wood splitting when you try to put in the screw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is because you’re putting a lot more pressure on the wood around it, which causes it to weaken and crack. So pre-drilling the wood is worth doing as it greatly reduces the risk of splits and cracks in the wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re using a solid type of wood, then screws will hold better and for far longer if the wood has been pre-drilled with either a pilot or clearance hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clearance holes are holes that are drilled into the top of the wood to prevent jacking. The clearance hole needs to be large enough that the screw will fit through it without the thread biting into the wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When drilling pilot holes for wood screws, it’s important to do it properly. The steps below show you how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A clearance hole should be no smaller than the major diameter of the screw. If you don’t make a clearance hole, then there will be a gap between the pieces of wood.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Glue will be ineffective at filling as the gap would be too big. Glue should only be used to fill in small gaps, those that are no thicker than a sheet of paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Is it necessary to drill pilot holes for wood screws?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to drill pilot holes for wood screws<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Other important factors to consider:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How to install deck screws<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n