Panel screw, with visible or invisible head

[Olaf3]

What do you choose, panel screw with a head like a wire nail or what is sometimes called an "invisible" head? I have never used screws for facade panels but am planning to do so for the upcoming build. Being used to nails, I want to believe that the model with a larger head works best to hold the panel in place. But it seems there are mostly "invisible" brands available.

 

[ricebridge]

Doesn't really matter.

 

[fribygg]

Why screws, isn't it both slower and more expensive installation, harder maintenance than with regular galvanized nails?

 

[ricebridge]

Why screws, isn't it both slower and more expensive to install, harder to maintain than with regular galvanized wire nails?

TS has my support anyway; I belong to those who are not fond of nails. They have a tendency to come loose over the years.

 

[Fiskarens_son]

TS has my support at least; I am among those who are not fond of nails. They tend to come loose over the years.

Strange, haven't they done something wrong during the installation or used the wrong type of nail then?

I think it feels a bit amateurish with screws on exterior paneling. But it's probably just a matter of taste/what you prefer. There aren't any huge differences in cost.

 

[fribygg]

TS has my support anyway; I am among those who are not fond of nails. They have a tendency to come loose over the years.

There may be good reasons for screws, I asked why.

Sure, nails can come loose, it's usually easy to knock the board back in place when repainting if that happens.

 

[ricebridge]

Strange, hasn't something gone wrong during installation then?

I think it feels a bit amateurish with screws on the outer panel. But it's probably just a matter of taste/what you prefer.
There aren't any significant cost differences.

My experience with nails outdoors is that they always start to creep out over the years, no matter what you nail and whoever did it.

As far as I know, nails can only be driven in one way, so how it could go wrong during installation is beyond my judgment.

On the other hand, screws should generally be more durable precisely because they are threaded and thereby have barbs. The contact surface against the material becomes much larger, and the friction holding them in place is much stronger.

 

[ricebridge]

Sure, nails can come loose, it's usually easy to tap the board back in during repainting if that happens.

With screws, you don't have to tap 😁😁

But maybe we shouldn't derail the thread. Back to the OP's question.

 

[fribygg]

Strange, didn't something go wrong during assembly or was the wrong type of nail used then?

It could be because the wood has moved, but it's usually easy to tap back in.

I wonder what to do with a screwed facade where a couple of boards are gapping because the wood has moved? If the screw heads are painted over with covering paint, it will probably be difficult, but if you use Falu paint, it might be possible to unscrew; on an untreated or vitriol-treated one, it may not be harder than with nails.

 

[fribygg]

@Olaf3 What kind of panel is it? Should it be mounted vertically or horizontally? Are you planning to surface-treat it, and if so, how?

 

[Olaf3]

Thank you for the different perspectives, even though the question of which screw head was more interesting to me than the question of why to screw. I am a traditional nail user but want to try screws, which also have their advantages. However, I'll leave the nail versus screw discussion to another thread.

 

[Dan_Johansson]

The panel screws I have used have had two different threads, that is, a coarser diameter and larger pitch closest to the head... it pulls in the panel and holds it... so instead of the head holding the panel, it is done by a ten-millimeter length of the screw...

I only use screws nowadays... the type with a small head...

 

[dof]

What does the manufacturer of the panel say? I replaced it myself in 2014 and used regular decking screws, as recommended by those who had cut the panel.