How to Select and Use Adhesives, Screws and Nails

Adhesives, screws, or nails: Which one do you choose? If you're working with wood studs, you may need all three. With steel studs, you may combine adhesive with screws.

Adhesive has several excellent properties that justify its modest cost. When you use panel adhesive, you'll reduce the number of fasteners required. That means you'll have fewer fastener heads to mud and sand, reducing materials and work while producing a smoother surface. In addition, adhesive keeps the panel solidly bonded to the framing, so you won't need to contend with drywall that rattles against the studs.

But there are some cases where you can't use adhesive. One example is when you cover exterior walls with plastic sheeting for a vapor barrier.

Even if you plan to use screws for your project, you should have a few nails on hand. They work great for quickly tacking a panel to the wall or ceiling so you can release your grip.

For professional drywallers, screws are the fastener of choice because they're fast and resist popping. You can equip your driver/drill with an inexpensive dimpler that automatically countersinks the head without breaking the surface of the paper. For even finer control of depth, buy or rent a drywall screw gun. (It's also handy for assembling wood projects.) For the ultimate in speed and one-handed operation, purchase a driver that accepts screws collated on plastic strips. It makes driving screws incredibly fast and easy.

You can get excellent results on a nail-only project if you follow some easy guidelines: Choose ringshank nails in the correct length, use a drywall hammer that produces a shallow crater, resist the urge to drive the nails too deeply, and remove all nails that miss the framing.