DIY Home Improvement Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

A Mike Holmes question

16K views 75 replies 30 participants last post by  Gary in WA 
#1 ·
I notice that in just about every episode when Mike's crew does a reconstruction they use screws instead of say a nail gun.

Does anyone have any ideas why, is it code in Canada?
 
#23 ·
I suspect it is a code requirement there. Why else would he use exclusively use something so more expensive than nails??
Mike has explained many times that you are allowed to do things better than minimum code. Code is not normally the best way to build. Code simply defines that anything less is so bad that it is illegal. I never noticed that screws is all he uses, but I would tend to agree that they will hold better than nails
 
#12 ·
dvdswan said:
I think its his philosophy, "do it right the 1st time". he likes to do things better so they last longer too. that would be my guess, if you have a squeaky floor because nails have come loose, you screw it down. just my .02.:whistling2:
Using nails is the right way to do it when framing. Who says using screws is the right way and lasts longer....Mike Holmes? Yes screwing decks down is a better job ...but not for framing.
 
#14 ·
Using nails is the right way to do it when framing. Who says using screws is the right way and lasts longer....Mike Holmes? Yes screwing decks down is a better job ...but not for framing.
well I am by no means an expert in construction, did it 20 yrs ago to get through school. I would think a screw would hold better, but what do I know. lol

and Joe, I would guess from your knowledge you have done this a few yrs so you certainly know better than I do.
 
#20 ·
Mike was a guest speaker at our local home show a couple yrs back and I asked him this specific question. His reply was that he isn't using deck screws but higher tensile strength screws that have higher shear levels. He agrees deck screws would never last. He also said that the show doesn't always show us how much construction adhesive he actually uses. But using higher strength screws will hold better than nails and have the same shear strength. He knows the cost is more than nails but like always, he overbuilds the things he does.
 
#24 ·
bbo said:
I wonder if mh screws shingles on?
Bwahahaha. I have seen him nail them on. Well not him, but the people working for him whom he takes credit for.

I love all of the Holmes shows and have one of his books so I was very curious where this thread was going to go.
I will say, I don't take his word as the end all be all and recognize a show edits out a ton of important info. I don't necessarily follow what he says brand wise (I prefer research specific to my area and situation) but I do love his whole "do it right the 1st time philosophy.

Although he would hate this forum. His book has very little how to do it yourself information. It is all how to choose a contractor and picking materials. :D
 
#25 ·
I wish I could find it again, but I recently read an article that said the companies that write the code books use a safety factor, (roughly), about 4 times the minimum really needed. Seeing many old New England houses built with smaller and longer material, that have stood for hundreds of years, I may agree somewhat. I have never seen wind, even hurricanes blow the studs off the shoe, only laying flat still attached. Maybe it's the rafters that should be screwed on. Ask Mike.
 
#26 ·
If we look at traditional framing.....I'm hard pressed to see where shear strength of the fastner (screw or nail) is a major concern. I would estimate that 90% of the fastning is intended to stick one item to another.....i.e., we nail roof sheathing down against the rafters (little to no shear here)....we nail jack studs to king studs (no shear there).....we nail top plates to studs...(very little shear there....

In fact....if I have a stud that is in the wrong place...it's not very hard to bang it out....the nails just bend and pull out....but to do the same thing with screws? It's going to be carnaige on that stud.

Based on my experience with wood working (as in cabinets and furnature), yea, screws are much better than nails. Nails are just a lot cheaper and quicker.
 
#28 ·
I like Holmes, but if you listen carefully not everything he says is 100% accurate.
Also i must say im not impressed withhis gutter installers.
As a pro in the field for over 18 yrs, some of what they claim is BS.
However, i suppose most of what they say is for the show.

His motto is #1 tho. "Do it right the first time". Cant disagree with that;)
 
#30 · (Edited)
I've been in 2 identical homes, both built at the same time, one used screws for framing members and the other used nails. After 4 years of wind loads, settlement, diurnal swings, humidity, etc., the home with nails had numerous nail pops, some minor drywall cracks, creaking/squeaking and popping in floors. The home that used screws has none of these issues.

In high winds the nail home racks and you can actually hear the framing members pop. The screw home does not have these issues except in really high winds, you will hear the trusses pop.

The point is that screws are way better when it comes to attachments as they are less prone to pull out over time. I've seen nails pull out over 2" in a few years.

My friend is in the attachment industry (mostly auto related but also commercial buildings). Threaded attachments are way better than any non-threaded/nail attachment. You would be surprised on how much a nail will move.

With screws you will have less call backs and chances that something will pull out or move. Screws make it that much stronger. It's pretty easy to pull out a nail with the hammers claw but next to impossible to remove a screw with a claw.
 
#31 ·
They literally used screws for EVERY connection point? Joists to plate? Joist hangers? Sheathing to joists? Studs to plate? Plate to floor? Sheathing to wall? Trusses to plates? Sheathing to trusses? Drywall (duh, that's typical, at least here)? Trim to wall (I doubt this, but it's not really relevant)? I wonder how long that added to the build time?

Screws are ok for many uses, I'm not saying that they're not, but they are not BETTER than nails nor are nails BETTER than screws, they each have their uses, they each have their strengths and weaknesses.
 
#33 ·
dpach said:
Mike was a guest speaker at our local home show a couple yrs back and I asked him this specific question. His reply was that he isn't using deck screws but higher tensile strength screws that have higher shear levels. He agrees deck screws would never last. He also said that the show doesn't always show us how much construction adhesive he actually uses. But using higher strength screws will hold better than nails and have the same shear strength. He knows the cost is more than nails but like always, he overbuilds the things he does.
Mike isn't reinventing the wheel here. If screws would hold better and he thinks he's over building....then how come every single house and additions are built (except for the ones Mike and other homeowners build)with nails and are still standing.

Mike and his screws for framing being stronger and over building is all BS....case closed!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top