Photo: Will Mu

What is a structural screw?

Structural screws or construction screws are thin, high-strength screws made of super strong, heat-treated, sometimes galvanized steel. They are a newer type of structural fastener that can be used in place of lag screws to cut down on the time and effort put into drilling.

copperstate.com - Structural Fasteners | Copper State Bolt and Nut Co.

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Jul 08, 2015

There are two main kinds of structural fasteners you will have to deal with for any project requiring heavy load connectors: structural screws and lag screws. These two kinds of structural fasteners are mostly interchangeable but have some big differences to consider before you choose one to use for a building project. Structural screws or construction screws are thin, high-strength screws made of super strong, heat-treated, sometimes galvanized steel. They are a newer type of structural fastener that can be used in place of lag screws to cut down on the time and effort put into drilling. The main differences of structural screws are:

Greater strength than most larger dimensioned screws

Tend to last longer as a stable connection with less shear

Designed to eliminate the need to drill pilot holes or lags in wood

Great tensile and torque strength

Maximum shear of usually between 250 and 400 pounds

May have either Torx-6 contact point or Spider-8 contact point drive heads as well as the hex head which helps spread out the driving torque

Some varieties have a drill bit tip

Designed to fit specific standards which are normally labeled on each type of screw

More expensive

Lag screws or lag bolts are used when a more stable connection is needed for heavier and larger materials than normal wood or metal screws. The main differences in lag screws are: Have a much larger dimension than structural screws usually starting at about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch thick Lag screws typically use nuts to add to the integrity and strength of the connection

Mainly available with hex shaped heads

Aren't always labeled with a specific stress rating and may need to be calculated Two holes have to be drilled for each lag screw to prevent the wood from splitting More lag screws may need to be used because they have less strength

More likely to shear

More cost effective

Copperstate has a large selection of the highest quality structural fasteners. Structural/construction screw selection includes:

Self-drilling

Self-tapping

Reamer screws

Wood grip w/Neo

Deck

Drywall

Roofing

Framing

Lath

Lag screw/bolt selection includes:

Hex head zinc 1 inch to 12 inches long and 1/4 inch to 3/4 inches in diameter Hex head plain from 1 1/2 inches to 20 inches long in the same diameter range

Acoustical lag screws for non-corrosive environments

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What should you do when water comes out of an air gap?

For softer clogs, pop the cap off of the air gap, and place a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels over the hole. Blow through the top with a good amount of force, and any material should come loose. If this doesn't work, though, you can use either a long bottle brush or a wet/dry vacuum to remedy the issue.

bakerbrothersplumbing.com - QUICK FIX: MY AIR GAP IS SPURTING WATER!

HOW AN AIR GAP WORKS

In a properly functioning air gap, the dishwasher hose attaches to an input on the air gap, and the water is expelled out the end. Gravity pulls it downward into the hose, which carries it to the garbage disposal. The gap where the water falls downward through the air instead of a hose functions to prevent siphoning, and thus prevent backup into the dishwasher. Over time, food can clog an air gap, preventing water from flowing. Alternatively, when a new garbage disposal is installed, the installer forgets to remove a knockout plug from the input to which the water line is attached. Either of these situations is quite easy to fix, and below we’ll show you how.

HOW TO FIX AN AIR GAP CLOG

One of the most common reasons for an air gap clog is failure to remove the knockout plug from the input where the water line enters the garbage disposal. This blocks the water from entering and causing a backup. To solve this, simply detach the water line from the garbage disposal, insert a screwdriver into the input and tap it with a hammer to pop the knockout plug out. Before using the disposal, be sure to reach into the garbage disposal and take the knockout plug out.

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