3 Short Steps that Demonstrate Why You are Using the Wrong Fasteners

There are many articles detailing shortcuts and tips to contractors to save time and money, and many of them contain great sound advice (see our article “How to save money on your next fencing project,” for example).  However, you should be concerned on articles that detail shortcuts.  A shortcut usually means you will be cutting corners to save costs at the price of quality.  Sacrificing quality of work can damage your reputation, as well as increase the callbacks you receive once a project is done.

Here at Fasco America^®, we often provide some advice on how to save time and money by choosing the proper fasteners for the job.  However, we never suggest sacrificing quality for lower costs. Choosing the right fastener for your job should enhance your quality and save you costs in the long run. Here are three steps that contractors, and their clients, can take to figure out if the wrong fastener was chosen for a particular project:

1.    Step on your floor… does it squeak?

If so, take a look at the fasteners chosen for the subfloor.  It is not uncommon for shortcuts to be taken in the subfloor, since it is not a component of the job that the homeowner ever really sees.  But underneath that beautiful tile or hardwood can be the cause of the loud squeaking floors.  Choosing a fastener such as the revolutionary SubLoc^® PRO SCRAIL^®, which was developed to avoid subfloor squeaks that result from micro movement of the wood, can guarantee a quieter floor: With aggressive double threads for squeak-less subfloors, you don’t need to sacrifice time either as they are quickly driven in with a pneumatic nailer.

2.    How about your new deck outside… are there mounds of deck material around the fastener head?  

This effect is often referred to as "mushrooming" or "volcanoeing."  Choosing fasteners that automatically pull down this displaced composite material, such as BeckDeck^® or are installed below the deck surface, such as InvisiDeck^®, will make this a non-issue.

3.    Do you see rust stains “dripping” down the wood or metal from the point of the fastener?

Whether it’s on a deck, fence, or metal roof, when fasteners are installed on exterior applications, it is crucial they are designed to withstand the elements.  In areas exposed to extreme conditions, using a coating that can withstand without rusting may be necessary.  FasCoat^®, finish, for example, has been independently tested to withstand more than an amazing 2,000 hours of salt spray testing.

Another 3 steps explain the value of SCRAIL^®

Ready for 3 steps to confirm you are using the correct fastener?  Watch our video “The SCRAIL^® principle explained in just three short steps” to ensure quality in all of your work!