Corrosion

When specifying screws for a project the issue of corrosion is often overlooked. Projects that will be exposed to the elements such as; cladding and decking need screws that can withstand the weathering they will be sure to endure. Often is the case that standard carbon steel screws are used which are not fit for the job. This can cause minimal damage - ugly brown rust stains tarnishing ironmongery and timber to more serious issues such as structural damage which can incur huge costs. Standard carbon steel screws are to be used on internal applications where they are not exposed to moisture and humidity.

Specifying the correct fasteners and fixings for projects is integral to the lifetime of an application. Unfortunately, it is very common to see the incorrect screws/nails used.

The Tite-Range has a number of products in the range that have been designed specifically for outdoor use:

· Clad-Tite – stainless steel removable nail

· Deck-Tite – decking screw with Net-Coat coating to protect the screw from the elements

· Deck-Tite Handrail Kit – decking screws and brackets with Net-Coat coating to protect the screw from the elements

· Deck-Tite Plus – stainless steel decking screw with Net-Coat coating. Designed for marine and polluted environments

· Deck-Tite Composite Plus – stainless steel composite decking screw. Designed for use with composite deck boards

· Exterior-Tite – features Net-Coat coating to protect the screw from the elements in outdoor ironmongery. Available in Net-Coat silver or black

· Tongue-Tite Plus – stainless steel T&G screw for use on cladding and flooring

· Timber-Tite - heavy duty landscaping screw with Net-Coat coating to protect the screw from the elements

All of the above products have been accredited by the Timber Decking & Cladding Association and have been awarded CladMark Plus or DeckMark Plus status.

Examples where fasteners with no corrosion resistance have been specified for the job:

Carbon steel nails without any protective coating were used for these fence panels. They had already began to corrode before the fence had even left the store.