Drywall or deck screws

Drywall screws are made for drywall. I'd use deck screws. Drywall screws go in easier because they are thinner, but they also break easier.

I use drywall screws for a variety of reasons. Yes they do break easier then deck screws but they are chaeper. If ou don't torque on them you shouldn't have a problem. For your purpose I would use fine thread drywall screws.Remember they are drywall screws, they screw through the drywall and into WOOD studs. Deck screws are also made to resist the weather hence decking. If your fix is not affected by the weather then I wouldn't worry about it. I put an entire wooden two man tree stand together using drywall screws, that was about 12 years ago. Its still there and capable of holding two people.

Searcher

Thanks for the quick replies. I've also had drywall screws snap, and getting out the screw is problematic. And for what I'm going to do, the cost difference isn't all that much, considering I have some deck screws from another job.

According to :

Entirely aside from the issues about brittleness etc., deck screws come in square drive. Even in Canada you can't get square drive drywall screws. Driving hundreds of phillips screws? Ugh, gack, ptui.

Secondly, drywall screws are thinner and a bit more subject to stripout than #8s (or #10s if you really want to make sure).

Plywood subfloors refastened down in with standard 2 1/2" #8 deck square drive screws - _no_ squeaks, and a lot less hassle to drive.

Cheaper is a poor excuse for not using the proper fastener.

Hmmm, Drywall screw has lesser pitch which won't bite into wood well. Made for drywall not wood. When my house was built sub floor was glued to joists, and screwed down by myself. No squeaks what so ever.

You can get square drive drywall screws, you just have to order them:

According to James \\"Cubby\\" Culbertson :

Ordering square drive screws from the US? For a Canadian, where square drive (Robertson) was invented, that's about as unpatriotic as you can get