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0 pointsjjeaff4y ago0 comments

In that project farm video, the screws came out stronger than nails in every test except the repeated bend test (even the drywall screws). I think it could be argued that since screws are much stronger and have better holding power, they are much less likely to get loose enough to the point that they are going to be repeatedly bending back and forth.

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rpnzl4y ago

I think this is valid -- I'm not a structural engineer so I can't speak to how an earthquake might behave differently than the tests in the Project Farm video, but I can imagine a scenario where a screw becoming a bit loose would create a situation that more closely resembles the repeated bend test.

The IBC still outlines nails as appropriate light frame fasteners [0], and where I am (on Maui) there's no local provision in the code to allow swapping in screws. The GRKs [1, 2] and Simpson [3] screws others have mentioned are seemingly valid alternatives to 16d nails, but ultimately it's going to come down to what you're comfortable with, the local code, the inspector, etc.

[0] https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2021P1/chapter-23-wood#...

[1] https://www.grkfasteners.com/structural/r4-multi-purpose-scr...

[2] https://www.grkfasteners.com/structural/rss-rugged-structura...

[3] https://www.strongtie.com/strongdrive_exteriorwoodscrews/sdw...

jjeaffOP4y ago

I definitely don't know for sure. But one thing I do know for sure, is that a lot of official building code is not necessarily based on careful scientific study but rather on "that's the way we've always done it".

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