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Trouble with Screws
Gents--
I've got a problem with the skirting around the edges of my deck. Skirting is made of Ever Grain (a Trex-like project) that is fastened to the treated lumber used to support the deck. Skirting was not installed IAW manufacturer's specs, and has expanded in the summer heat, warped, and snapped most, but not all, of the screws used to fasten the skirting to the treated lumber. Screws are stainless steel with square drive head. Skirting is now bowed out on most of the ends of the skirting pieces, and is held fast to the deck by the screws in the middle of the skirting. To repair, I must remove the skirting from the deck, remove about 1/8 inch from the end of each piece of skirting (per manufacture's specs), and re-fasten with three screws every 8 inches. Most pieces of skirting are about 6 feet long by 12 inches high, and about 3/4 inch thick.
My problem is that I cannot get the screws out of the skirting. For those screw heads that have not been buggered (about 2/3 of the screws), and all the heads that have been buggered, the screws merely turn in place when I attempt to unscrew them. It's like the Ever Grain material is so soft (even in today's relatively cool 50 degree weather) that the screw threads just won't bite to permit unscrewing. It is difficult to get any kind of tool behind the screws (that is, between the treated lumber and the back side of the skirting) to help in the extraction because the board is still held in place by some screws (usually in the center).
Any ideas? I an considering just prying the boards off and ripping the screws that are still in place through the skirting, hoping that I do not bugger the boards too badly, but that is not my preferred course of action.
Other than that, I'm having a good time, and I hope the Holidays have been good to you.
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Trouble with Screws
Gents--
Thanks for the suggestions. I should have explained that in most cases, the head of the screw is embedded in the skirting as much as 1/16 of an inch. This makes gripping the screw, or getting a pair of side cutters underneath the head, very difficult unless I dig out some of the material around the screw head--which I'm reluctant to do at this point. if I do that, it seems to me that the chances are good that I'll have a pretty ugly looking board when I get finished.
Sorry to make the problem more difficult, but . . .
b
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Trouble with Screws
Harvey--
Do not recall having run accross left handed drill bits before, but maybe that's becasue I was not looking for them.
Is that a specialty item from a catalog or a standard hardware store item?
b
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Trouble with Screws
Gents--
Thanks to all who contributed to these posts.
I got six pieces of skirting off by using a combination of techniques, including 1) bending the skirting out from the deck enough so that I could slip a saw blade between the skirting and the treated lumber, to saw the screw in the middle, and 2) inserting the square drive bit into the screw head and smacking the @#$% out of the screw to loosen it from the grip of the treated lumber, permitting me to back it out with a screwdriver.
The second technique was the most satisfying becasue it gave me a chance to vent my frustrations.
Am looking into use of ceramic coated screws for the re-install job. Existing screws should not have failed in the numbers they did.
Thanks again for all the help.
b
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Trouble with Screws
Murf--
Thanks for the tip on fastening strips--I'll see what's available, and may come back for your experienced advice.
My hope is that by shortening the boards each by 1/8 of an inch, I'll do away with the warping problem. The fastening strips may solve the screw breakage problem.
Tks again. Hope the winter is being good to you, and you are getting some kick-back time.
b
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