What Screws Should You Use for a Stud Wall?

There’s a lot that goes into building a stud wall. By the time you’ve chosen your materials and plasterboard, it can be easy to overlook getting the right screws.

There are an unbelievable number of screws on the market in every size and material you can imagine. Just as stud walls are a simple job once you know what you’re doing, this guide will hopefully give you all the info you need to filter through the options and find the right screws for your job.

The Best Screws for Stud Walls Explained

The best screw for your stud wall depends on two main factors:

1. Is the stud wall timber or metal?
2. Are you constructing the stud wall or attaching something to it?

Knowing this, you can work out the best screw type for your situation.

For Constructing a Timber Stud: Use Structural Timber Screws

There are many different screws for wood on the market, all of them specifically designed to work with and protect the unique features of timber. They’ll usually come with coarse, pointed threads that allow for easier penetration into the wood without causing splitting, and are specially coated to minimise the risk of rot impacting the timber.

For timber stud wall construction, you’ll usually want a countersunk structural wood screw, which has been designed and tested for its ability to reinforce load-bearing structures and provides a flush finish. 5.0m diameters are popular for stud walls, while the length will depend on the thickness of the timber stud. Generally, the screws should be long enough to penetrate at least 2x the thickness of the timber being fixed.

For Constructing a Metal Stud: Use Metal Framing Screws

Metal stud walls are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a cheaper and more lightweight alternative to timber studs. Because of the unique nature of metal studs, specific metal framing screws are required.

Metal framing screws tend to be small and lightweight and are designed so they can be inserted without the need for pre-drilling. They come in a handful of styles, but the most common is wafer head screws, which have a large bearing surface to provide strong support while delivering a flush finish.

For Attaching Plasterboard to Studs: Use Drywall Screws

When attaching plasterboard (or drywall) to your stud, you’ll want to use specific drywall screws. These are specially designed with longer threads and corrosion resistance to ensure a long-term grip between the plasterboard and stud.

The main thing to be aware of when choosing a drywall screw is getting the right thread for your stud. Coarse threads are wider and thicker, and are designed to provide a secure fit when screwed into timber studs. Fine threads, on the other hand, are specifically designed to work with the thinner, lightweight metal studs.

Drywall screws come in various sizes, and which is right for you will depend on the materials being screwed into. Thicker plasterboard sheets, such as those with additional soundproofing, will require longer screws, for example.

Connecting Objects to Stud Walls: Choose Based on Load Strength

If you want to hang something on the stud wall, such as a shelf or TV mount, there are lots of different options available, but the main thing is always making sure you have enough load-bearing strength.

For timber stud walls, it tends to be a case of finding the right woodscrew. If you’re hanging something light, then most woodscrews should be fine so long as the length is enough to go through the plasterboard and into the centre of the timber stud. For heavier items, you might want to make sure you have a particularly strong woodscrew, such as the structural timber screws used to build the stud.

For metal stud walls, extra care must be taken to protect the thin metal studs. Light items can usually be attached with the correct length of drywall screw, but for heavier items, a plasterboard anchor, such as a snaptoggle, might be required for extra strength.

Here at Fastbuild, we stock a wide range of quality screws for all manner of applications. Browse our range today and get everything you need for your next job.