Structural Screws Vs Lag Bolts: Which To Use?

Structural screws and lag bolts are in use for household projects. People also use them for construction work. You may not know their exact uses. Both have been used for specific purposes. In this article, we will describe them one by one. Then, we will see where to use them. At the end of the article, you will have a good idea about them. Let’s now compare Structural Screws vs Lag Bolts for different aspects.

Contents

Structural Screws Vs Lag Bolts: Comparison

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Before choosing the Bolt and screw, consider these three factors:

1. Application

The use of bolts or screws depends on your project. Bolts provide a huge amount of holding strength. But, screws provide medium holding power. Light or medium construction projects are best for screws. They may include projects like fencing or framing. Heavy-duty projects are best for bolts. Bolts are also suitable when your project needs assembly and dis-assembly with ease.

2. Material

The material you use for your project is also essential. The use of bolts or screws depends on the material.

Materials that need screws:

Plywood
Pressboard
Drywall
Sheet metal
Deck planks

Materials that are best for bolts:

Concrete
Studs
Beams

Load on the fastener and the material you use are both important. Take into account both these factors before choosing between bolts and screws.

3. Cost

Consider price if you need a large number of the fastener. Bolts are more expensive than screws. But using a correct fastener will save money in the long run. You may need repairs on the project if you use the wrong fastener. So, you are not saving money by going the cheaper way.

Structural Screws Vs Lag Bolts: Table

Screws	Bolts
They have medium holding power.	They have high holding power.
Professionals use them for light-duty work.	Professionals use them for heavy-duty work.
You can use screws on plywood, pressboard, drywall, sheet metal, deck planks.	You can use bolts on: concrete, studs, beams.
They are cheaper than bolts.	Bolts are much more expensive.

Structural Screws vs Lag Bolts: Overview

Screws

Screws are versatile fasteners. This makes them a favorite choice. They provide a secure grip due to their threads. They meet the needs of many do-it-yourself projects. Screws come in a variety of sizes and types. You can use them on wood, metal, drywall, and concrete applications. Manufacturers design screws to be self-tapping. But, you may still want to drill a pilot hole. You should drill all the pilot points at once. This can be less time-consuming.

Bolts

Bolts provide more holding strength than screws and other fasteners. Bolts can provide a high level of holding power due to their threads. They need a nut and a washer for their installation. It helps to spread the load. This reduces wear and tear as well as the loosening of the Bolt over time. The nut secures the Bolt in place.

Like screws, bolts are available in many sizes and types. They are also usable with several materials like metal, wood, and concrete. To remove or install a bolt, you need a handheld or power wrench. The use advantage of power wrench is that it has more torque. The handheld wrench does not have as much torque as the power wrench.

Structural Screws

Structural screws are screws thin, high-strength screws. Manufacturers make them super strong, heat-treated, sometimes galvanized steel. They are a newer type of structural fastener. You can use them in place of lag screws. Doing this will cut downtime and effort put into drilling.

They have more strength than most larger dimension screws. They tend to last longer as a stable connection with less shear. Manufacturers design them to cut the need to drill pilot holes or lags. Structural screws have great tensile strength and torque strength. They have shear between 125-200 kilograms. They may have Torx-6 contact point or Spider-8 contact point drive heads. They may also have a hex head which helps to spread out driving torque. Some varieties can also have a drill bit tip.

Manufacturers design them to fit specific standards. Companies label these standards on each type of screw. They are more expensive than other screws.

Lag Bolt

Professionals use lag bolts when they need a stable connection in projects like treehouse. It is in use for heavier and larger materials than normal wood or metal screws. Manufacturers make it from a carbon steel substrate with a zinc coat. This zinc coat is for corrosion resistance. Companies carry out electroplating or hot-dip galvanization for zinc coating.

Lag bolts have a much larger dimension than structural screws. Their dimensions start from about 1-inch long and ¼ inch thick. They use nuts to add to the integrity and strength of the connection. They are available with hex-shaped heads. They are not labeled with specific stress ratings. You may need to calculate its stress rating. They are more cost-effective.

There are some drawbacks to these bolts. You have to drill two holes for each lag screw. Doing this will prevent the wood from splitting. You need to use many lag screws because they have less strength. There is more risk of shearing.

Structural Screws Vs Lag Bolts: Safety Tips

Screws and bolts can rust due to saltwater. Don’t use stainless steel screws and bolts in or near the saltwater environment.
Always use hot-dip galvanized components to avoid compatibility issues.
Always use fastener lubricant to extend the life of a fastener.
Always choose the right size screwdriver for a given fastener; otherwise, stripping will increase.
Never use steel and aluminum components together. Professionals use them together for particular cases. If you inappropriately use them, there will be a transfer of electrons, which reduces the integrity of the structure. And also lead to galvanic corrosion.
The use of safety gear is important. Safety glasses are necessary to prevent metal shavings from flying into the eyes.

Frequently-Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between Bolt and screw?

Bolts and screws both provide secure hold in fastening. But there are some differences. A screw features a helical groove wrapping around the shaft. The threads of the screw hold it in place. A bolt is not self-tapping and needs a nut to stay secure. Screws and bolts also differ in cost and shape. Screws have tapered ends, while bolts do not have tapering ends. Bolts cost more than screw.

2. Is Bolt stronger than screw?

Yes, bolts are stronger than screws. They provide greater holding strength than screws. This is due to the presence of the washer. So, bolts work well for heavy-duty load-bearing applications.

3. What are a nut, Bolt, and a screw?

A nut is a component that fits over the end of a bolt. It helps the Bolt to hold objects in place. A bolt is a non-tapering fastener that uses a washer and a nut. A screw is a tapering fastener. It does not use a washer or nut to holds objects together.

4. What is a lag bolt?

A lag bolt is a large screw with partial threading. It has a hex head that has excellent retention in wood.

5. How do I use lag bolt?

Install a lag bolt by drilling a hole into the wood. Then, drive the screw in with a socket or wrench.

6. Can screw split wood?

Wood screws can split wood. This happens when you do not drill a pilot hole.

7. Can we hammer screws?

You should not hammer screws. They need to rotate for the threads to grip.

8. What do you call a screw without the head?

Professionals call it a blind screw. There are two types of blind screw. They are Dowel screws and Set screws. They have threads at both ends. Set screws have threading on the whole body.

9. What do you call a bolt without a head?

There are many types of bolts that lack head found on typical designs. A hanger bolt has two threaded ends. The shape of its one end is like a wood screw. You can use one of them to secure something overhead. They are also in use to fasten metal to wood. There is another bolt without a head; professionals call it a stud bolt. There is a thread on the whole body of this fastener. It creates flange connections with nuts on both sides of the Bolt.

10. What is the difference between Bolt and hex head cap screw?

Both objects look similar. The significant difference is the process of installing them. A bolt works with a nut to secure objects or materials together. You need to turn the screw inside the tapping hole to install the cap screw.

Conclusion

after looking at the comparison of structural screws Vs lag bolts we understood that both are both critical. They are both in use for different tasks. Using the correct object at the correct place can help you avoid accidents. So, follow the safety rules and enjoy your work!