Coated Wood Screws: Benefits and Ideal Timber Applications

Coated wood screws come in so many colors, finishes, and coatings. You'll find them in tan, black, yellow, and a whole bunch of others, and it’s hard to figure out which one’s actually right for your project.

You might think that the color will tell you if the screw is meant for outdoor use or if it’ll hold up in treated lumber, but the truth is, colors don’t always mean much when it comes to resisting rust or whether it's best for your coastal deck.

Choose the wrong coated wood fastener, and all the time, effort, and money you've spent building that fence will go to waste.

We’ve been building decks for almost three decades, and we’ll help you figure out which types of coated screws are perfect for your timber construction. Here’s a pro tip in advance, though: with our decades of timber construction knowledge, we highly recommend using stainless steel wood screws for longer-lasting structures.

Why Use Coated Screws?

Some people use coated screws because they look good on their decks or furniture. However, the important role of coatings on wood screws is that they help prevent corrosion, which stops rust and wear over time.

Another reason for people to prefer coated screws is that the coating provides lubrication. The coating makes the screw easier to drive into the wood, so you can stop rubbing fancy soaps on your wood screws.

When you’re outside or in places where it rains heavily, using the right coating can really make a difference in how well your screws work and how long they last. There are several popular coatings like zinc, ceramic, and epoxy, and they each offer different levels of protection.

Tips on Choosing Coated Wood Screws: It’s important that you check the box they came in to know if the coating is suitable for outdoor and/or use in treated lumber (or ACQ compatible).

What Are the Different Types of Coatings on Wood Screws?

Here's an easy guide explaining the different types of coatings, how they are made, and when to and when not to use them. We’ll also give real-life examples so you know exactly what to expect.

Zinc-Coated Wood Screws

When you’re using them outdoors, zinc-coated screws can rust but are more resistant to rust compared to regular steel screws.

Zinc-coated wood screws come in two kinds: electroplated and hot-dipped galvanized. Electroplated means they put a thin layer of zinc using electricity. Yellow zinc is another form of electroplated zinc, where a yellow chromate layer is applied over the electroplated zinc, giving the screws a golden hue.

There are also hot-dipped galvanized screws. These outdoor fasteners get dipped into melted zinc, making a thicker, tougher coating. 

When to Use Zinc-Coated Screws:

• If you're building cabinets, furniture, or framing inside your house, zinc-plated screws work fine.
• Electroplated screws, including yellow zinc screws, are good for indoor woods like pine, spruce, plywood, MDF, particleboard, poplar, or alder.
• However, if you're working outdoors, especially for heavy-duty applications like fences, decks, pergolas, sheds, outdoor furniture, garden structures, or trellises, hot-dipped galvanized screws are a better choice.
• Hot-dipped galvanized screws can be used with pressure-treated lumber, pine, fir, and spruce well. Do not use galvanized screws on cedar, redwood, mahogany, teak, and other tropical hardwoods. The substances in hardwoods react badly with zinc.
• For outdoor use, yellow zinc-plated screws will rust faster than hot-dipped galvanized screws. Between choosing stainless steel wood screws and galvanized screws, most people who are looking to cut costs on their projects prefer galvanized screws. However, galvanized fasteners are only ideal if you need moderate corrosion resistance. 

When Not To Use Zinc Screws:

• When you’re building a cedar fence using yellow zinc screws, you might notice dark black streaks dripping down from the screws after weeks of heavy rain. That’s cedar reacting with the zinc coating.
• Maybe your kids move heavy toys or bikes across a wooden deck, and you see the zinc coating chip off. If the coating is chipped or damaged, rusting can begin almost immediately, and within a few months to a year, you'll notice further corrosion.
• You can’t use yellow zinc screws with pressure-treated wood. The chemicals in treated lumber, such as copper and other preservatives, can cause yellow zinc coatings to break down in as little as 1 to 2 years, leading to rust and deterioration.
• It’s not ideal to use galvanized screws in coastal areas. If you’re building a dock using galvanized screws, expect galvanized screws to rust in 2 to 3 years.

The Zinc-Coated Screws Our Experts Recommend:

• For non-structural coated wood screws: For coated screws, our experts prefer using Simpson DSV Wood Screws. These coated wood screws have a two-layer Quik Guard coating, consisting of an electroplated zinc base and an organic top coat. 
• For structural coated wood screws: When using galvanized screws for structural connections, choose Simpson’s SD Connector Screws. These are coated using a dual-layer method: first, a hot-dipped galvanized zinc base, then a second layer of corrosion-resistant polymer. This makes them excellent for pressure-treated lumber and long-term structural integrity in outdoor environments.
• For composite decking: Your best bet is Simpson’s Deck Drive DCSD Composite-to-Steel Screws. These are built for this exact job, with sharp, hardened tips that bite into metal and coatings that resist rust. They’re also available in multiple colors, so they’ll blend in nicely with your composite deck.

Simpson Strong-Tie’s zinc-coated screws are different than your regular zinc-coated screws. Their wood screws are coated with their proprietary Quik Guard® Coating. The resistance to corrosion is similar to hot-dip galvanization (ASTM A153, Class D) in certain conditions and in most non-marine settings, as outlined by ICC-ES, AC257 Exposures 1 and 3.

Black-Coated Wood Screws (Phosphate-Coated)

Black-coated screws are often coated with phosphate coating that gives them a sleek, non-reflective finish. The coating makes this coated fastener easier to drive into wood. The phosphate increases the screw’s grip, friction resistance, and corrosion protection in dry indoor environments.

When to Use Black-Coated Wood Screws:

• Black screws are great for inside jobs like framing walls, hanging drywall, assembling furniture, or shelving. Some DIY enthusiasts use black screws for decorative purposes, like making modern or industrial-style furniture.

When Not To Use Black-Coated Wood Screws:

• Use these screws only inside with dry woods like pine, spruce, plywood, drywall, MDF, or particleboard. Do not use these screws outdoors, especially in humid, wet, or sunny conditions.
• If you try to use these screws on a wooden playset outdoors, within weeks you'll see ugly rust spots and loose connections, making it unsafe to use.

Powder-Coated Wood Screws

These screws have a powdered coating sprayed on and then baked to make them tough and weather-resistant.

When to Use Powder-Coated Screws:

• Powder-coated screws are ideal for decks, fences, pergolas, gazebos, outdoor furniture, garden structures, trellises, and decorative woodworking projects.
• If you prefer using coated screws on cedar, you can use powder-coated screws. You can also use these coated fasteners with composite decking, pressure-treated lumber, redwood, mahogany, teak, or tropical hardwoods.
• These coated wood fasteners are ideal outdoors. You can use them in humid climates, even in sunny, hot, coastal areas.

When Not To Use Powder-Coated Screws:

• If you don’t have that much experience driving screws, you’re better off using stainless steel screws. When you drive your screw in, the powder coating might strip off. Once the coating is stripped off, rust spots can begin to appear within a few months after installation.

Ceramic-Coated Wood Screws

Ceramic-coated screws have a strong ceramic coating chemically bonded to the metal, making them highly resistant to rust, moisture, and UV rays. Out of all the coated wood screws, ceramic-coated screws are more durable when it comes to outdoor use.

When to Use Ceramic-Coated Wood Screws:

• Great for outdoor projects, especially decks, docks, fences, gazebos, pergolas, and structures in coastal or humid environments.
• Ideal for pressure-treated lumber, cedar, redwood, teak, mahogany, tropical hardwoods, and composite lumber. They're excellent in salty coastal air, high humidity, extreme heat, and direct sunlight.

When Not To Use Ceramic-Coated Wood Screws:

• These screws can last for up to 10 years when used in areas with mild exposure to moisture. However, for people building a seaside deck, the extreme temperatures and wind-blown sand could scratch away the ceramic coating. Eventually, you'll notice rust forming under those scratches in 2 to 5 years.

Epoxy-Coated Wood Screws

These screws have a thick epoxy resin coating, giving them high corrosion resistance from moisture, chemicals, and UV rays.

When to Use Epoxy-Coated Wood Screws:

• Ideal for outdoor decks, docks, fences, outdoor furniture, gazebos, and pergolas.
• Excellent for pressure-treated pine, cedar, tropical hardwoods like teak and mahogany, and composite decking. Epoxy-coated screws are used in wet, humid, coastal, hot, and sunny environments.

When Not To Use Epoxy-Coated Wood Screws:

If your deck has heavy furniture like BBQ grills or frequent foot traffic, epoxy coatings might chip, revealing metal underneath. If the coatings are stripped off due to friction or constant exposure like saltwater and heavy rain, the lifespan could shorten to around 3 to 5 years.

Where to Buy Quality Coated Wood Screws

There are many, many brands out there that make coated wood screws. However, with our years of experience using many different wood screws, Simpson Strong-Tie makes the best coated wood screws.

At ATC Construction Fasteners, we pride ourselves on selling tens of millions of our brand of stainless steel wood screws. But, if we were to recommend coated screws to our loyal customers, we would only give them Simpson Strong-Tie screws.

Check out our expert-approved coated wood screws on our website. Want a 5% discount on your entire order? Sign up here!

FAQs

What screws for outdoor wood?

For outdoor wood, the best screws are stainless steel screws, ceramic-coated screws, and hot-dipped galvanized screws. For mild climates, you can save money by using 304 stainless steel wood screws. For coastal and high-moisture environments, you’ll cut more costs in the long run using 316 stainless steel wood screws.

What is the most durable screw material?

The most durable screw material is stainless steel, particularly 316-grade stainless steel. This material is highly resistant to corrosion. If your property experiences heavy rains throughout the year or is 5 kilometers or 3 miles away from saltwater, 316 SS wood screws are your best chance to prevent corrosion for decades.

What type of fasteners need to be used when using treated wood?

When using treated wood, stainless steel screws, especially the 316-grade, are the best option for treated wood. When it comes to coated screws, ceramic-coated screws are your only choice.

What are the best screws for hardwood?

The best screws for hardwood are stainless steel screws, and ceramic-coated screws are the best options. Stainless steel offers superior strength and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for dense hardwoods like oak, maple, or hickory.

For builders who prefer coated screws, you can use ceramic-coated screws. They are also highly durable and resistant to corrosion, making them another great choice for hardwood decking or furniture projects.

What are the best screws to use with cedar?

When working with cedar, it’s essential to use screws that won’t react with the wood’s natural tannins and cause discoloration or corrosion. The best screws for cedar are stainless steel screws (especially 316 grade) and ceramic-coated screws. These screws are corrosion-resistant and won’t react with the tannins in cedar, keeping the wood looking clean and free of stains.

What screws to use for wood siding?

You should only use stainless steel screws or ceramic-coated screws for wood siding. These screws provide excellent corrosion resistance, which is important since siding is often exposed to moisture and weather.