Self-tapping screw with drill - instructions from a pro on selecting self-tapping screws for metal and roofing fasteners (with and without a press washer)


Features of self-tapping screws with drill

Self-tapping screws with drills are often used as fixing parts for metal structures. They make it more durable and as strong as possible. Thanks to them, the metal sheets are tightly fastened together.

During the manufacturing process, a special protective coating is applied to the screws. Because of this, the process of corrosion formation is prevented. Most often this is a galvanized version.

The quality requirements for these products are set out in GOST 11650-80.

The design of each such self-tapping screw has three main parts:

  • Pointed tip;
  • Full length thread;
  • The cap is a support that prevents the part from going too deep into the material.

Self-tapping screws for fasteners and strips

Fasteners are metal structures that are attached to external doors, gates and shutters and act as hinges. They are supported by hinges that can be screwed into the wall or screwed.

  • To fasten the planks, self-tapping screws are used, selected depending on the material of the supports (wood, aluminum, PVC) and the color of the metal parts.
  • Generally speaking, the aesthetic criterion is taken into account when determining the shape of the head. You will find flared heads, large round heads, round heads.
  • Their threads have a large pitch, and the tip is adapted to the support material.

The most famous self-tapping screws are those with a semicircular head and a square head.

What types are there?

With a press washer. High-quality self-tapping screws with a drill and a press washer are distinguished by a trapezoid-shaped head and a wide shoulder. Due to its volume, the cap presses the material quite tightly and firmly. The deep lug prevents the bat from slipping off. The diameter of this product is 4.2 mm.

There are two types of self-tapping screws with a drill:

  • Pointed. Sheets of metal, 0.9 mm thick, are fastened together. No additional drilling required.
  • Drill-tip. Can fasten sheets up to 5 mm thick. Excellent for interior installation work.

Cheaper options are usually used for domestic purposes. They differ in the flatness of the surface and the rounding of the head. A thin zinc coating does not protect the self-tapping screw from rust.


The shallow depth of the pin and the slipping of a screwdriver or bit can cause chips or scratches on the surface of the materials. In addition, among the cheap options there are often defects.

Self-tapping screws for the bugs profile. Option 2 - self-tapping screws with a press washer

Such self-tapping screws for drywall profiles are used in the same way as bugs. But this type of product has a number of differences:

IllustrationDescription
They have a wide cap. It is much lower than that of the first type of product and has a larger width - 10 mm or more. Thanks to this, the element is pressed tightly against the surface and creates less interference when installing sheets.
They can have a length from 13 to 80 mm. But if you use them as self-tapping screws for a drywall profile, then there is no point in screwing in long elements; 13-16 mm is quite enough.
They can have either a sharp or a drill tip. As in the first case, I recommend using sharp fasteners as they are more convenient and provide high strength. In addition, products with a drill are more expensive, so you will incur extra costs.
They can have a galvanized or oxidized coating. Most often, shiny elements are found, but if you come across black fasteners, it’s okay, the quality does not deteriorate from this.

It’s up to you to decide which screws to use to attach the drywall profile. I will only note that products with a press washer are much more expensive than bedbugs, and there is not much difference in connection reliability.

Below is a table of the ratio of weight and quantity; it contains both options for self-tapping screws for the frame. It will help you make accurate calculations, since fasteners can be sold both by weight and by quantity.

Roofing screws with drill bit with EPDM gasket

This type is intended for outdoor work. These are fastening materials to metal structures, as well as to wooden sheathing.

Compressing the washer when screwing in leads to sealing of the recess. The head may have a paint coating to remain protected from corrosive processes. The washer is pressed against it during installation.

Roofing self-tapping screws - a drill with a pointed end - are necessary for securing the soft roof to the base. The reduced drill involves the use of corrugated sheeting to the surface of the wooden sheathing during installation work. An enlarged drill is used to firmly secure the decking to the metal base.

Varieties by area of ​​use:

  • For different types of wood and plastic. The difference from others is the rarity of the step in the carving. For a tree, they look like a trunk with very sparse carvings. The hat is easily hidden in the material without interfering with further work. A rare step is necessary to avoid the wood from crumbling.

Black parts are used to attach drywall and fasten wood elements together without additional drilling.


Models in yellow and white colors are suitable for fastening material with drilling. Do not rust, suitable for fittings.
  • For sandwich panels. Fastening to metal occurs. Such elements are capable of independently drilling a sheet of metal with a thickness of 12-14 mm. Hex head, turnkey. The kit includes a washer along with a rubber gasket. This helps ensure the holes are waterproofed. The thickness of the materials varies from 1.5 to 12 mm.
  • For drywall;
  • For metal;
  • For window profiles.

Types of carving

  • Large. It runs along the entire trunk of the product, there is a rare step. Suitable for working with soft materials: wood, plaster, plastic.
  • Average. Characteristic of universal self-tapping screws. They fix most materials.
  • Asymmetrical. Typically applicable in the production process. In everyday life it is useful for assembling furniture.
  • Notched variable. Acts as a fastening when working with brick or concrete surfaces, without using dowels.

Advantages and disadvantages of special fasteners

Like any other fasteners, special self-tapping screws for profiled sheet metal have certain pros and cons. Thanks to the presence of a drill tip in their design, the installation process is simplified. Indeed, in most cases there is no need to first create holes in the parts to be joined.

The hex head allows you to secure the hardware directly to the power tool. This could be a screwdriver or a drill. The use of electric tools also simplifies installation and reduces the time of planned work.

In addition, manufacturers use alloy steel to make special fasteners. Due to this, the hardware has high strength. They rarely break during installation of structures.

High-strength self-tapping screw made of alloy steel Source vellmart.net

Most fasteners have a galvanic layer. To create it, white or yellow zinc is used. Thanks to this coating, high corrosion resistance of hardware is ensured.

On a note! If the fastener is black, this means that it is covered with a special film, whose characteristics are worse than those of galvanic coating.

When self-tapping screws for corrugated sheets on a fence are twisted and unscrewed several times, they wear out the threads and the drill tip. Therefore, each time it is possible to achieve a strong connection.

In addition, the installation of profiled sheet metal should be trusted to experienced craftsmen. Otherwise, a non-professional may cause distortion of both the hardware and the entire structure being created. As a result, the work will have to be redone, which will increase costs.

Professional installation of corrugated sheets on the fence frame Source mega-zabor.ru

Tips for choosing

Before you go shopping at a hardware store, you need to know a few rules for choosing.

  • First, you need to accurately determine the material for which the screws are selected.
  • Secondly, pay attention to the size of the parts.
  • For materials with a small thickness, you should not purchase long and large-diameter models.
  • They are more suitable for wood or thin metal sheets.

If you need to install a roof, choose only from roofing varieties. They can provide the required level of sealing of the holes.

Before purchasing, you must carefully inspect the screws. The surface must be smooth, without any curvature. You should not find even small irregularities on the thread. This can both ruin the material and cause a large amount of debris in the work process.

Products must be coated with special coatings. Protective coatings prevent corrosion. Most often these are galvanized or phosphated coatings. The tips can also be equipped with black sharp parts with a phosphated coating or with zinc plated ends in a light shade.

Scope of application of self-tapping screws for profiled sheets

One of the main areas of application of profiled sheets is the construction of fences. A fence is erected on almost all plots with private houses to mark the boundaries of the territory. At the same time, homeowners are trying to build a fence that will emphasize their well-being. For this purpose, one of the suitable materials is precisely profiled sheet.

The modern design of sheet metal allows the construction of attractive fencing. After all, the material can have any color. Its fastening is carried out on the purlins between the pillars. In this case, fixation is carried out with special hardware.

Self-tapping screws for corrugated sheets on the fence allow you to securely fasten the sheet material. With their help, a strong enclosing structure of a private territory is created. This is important, because every homeowner strives to eliminate the possibility of unwanted persons entering the site.

Special hardware is also used when it is necessary to secure profiled sheets on the roofs of various buildings. After all, the material is often used as a roofing covering.


Special fasteners are used during installation of corrugated sheets on the roof Source 26357.ru

Self-tapping screws for metal profiles are also used when fixing sheet metal on the facades of buildings and during the construction of temporary or permanent partitions, for example, in utility blocks. Profiled sheets are used to create the walls of gazebos and other small architectural forms.

Important! Despite the possibility of using corrugated sheets as roofing, on facades and for the construction of partitions, more often such rolled metal is still used in the construction of fencing for private areas.

What affects quality

There are many factors that, to one degree or another, influence the quality of construction parts. However, the main ones are the following:

  • The material from which the elements are made;
  • Manufacturing technology and accuracy of its adherence.

In addition, it is better to purchase self-tapping screws, as well as other working materials, from trusted companies that have managed to establish themselves in the market. Now there is a big risk of falling for cheap, low-quality fakes.


It is usually better to opt for well-known brands and specialty stores. In addition to confidence in quality, you will receive professional advice from the staff.

Calculation of the number of special screws

Profiled sheets are mounted with an overlap. It is made by capturing one or two waves of material. A single sheet is fastened in the middle and around the perimeter. However, the number of hardware may vary in each specific situation. Their number is significantly influenced by the wind load.

On a note! If the fastening of sheet metal is carried out on the roof, then the snow cover and the slope of the roof are also taken into account. These factors influence the number of fasteners that must be used to secure the material.

The consumption of self-tapping screws increases with the increase in wind load and roof inclination angle. Usually the calculation of the number of hardware is carried out per 1 m². Their number per square area of ​​profiled material is most often 4-8 pieces.


Approximately 4-8 self-tapping screws are required for 1 m² of corrugated sheet Source vsmete.ru

In the place where two sheets overlap, hardware is installed in each wave used to connect the rolled metal. When installing profiled material at an inclined angle, the pitch between fasteners is usually reduced. Therefore, the number of hardware used is increasing. The number of fasteners also increases at the corners of fences and other structures.

To determine the number of fixing elements, the step with which they will be placed in a specific location of the fence is first calculated. Only after this is their total number calculated.

On a note! When calculating, the number of screws for one sheet is multiplied by the total number of profiled material that will be used in the construction of the fence. After calculation, the resulting value is increased by approximately 10%.

Preparing more screws than the calculated number will allow you not to stop work if low-quality hardware is discovered. Additional fasteners may also be needed to more securely fix the sheets in certain places on the fence or any other structure being created.


Before installation, self-tapping screws are always prepared with a reserve Source distroy.ru

On a note! When deciding what screws are needed for corrugated sheeting on the fence, do not forget that hardware may be needed to secure other elements of the fence being built, for example, protective and decorative caps or a metal casting over the gate.

Features of use

Equally important is knowledge about the correct use of self-tapping screws. The options used in the process of working with metal can withstand heavy loads.

To ensure their maximum service life, the elements must be screwed into the material in a certain step.

High-quality screws for metal have a sharp tip, so there is no need to drill additional holes for them.

However, if the sheet thickness is more than 2 mm, you will still need to prepare a recess, but of a smaller diameter than the self-tapping screw. This will make the screwing process easier.

Design of self-tapping screws for metal

The main difference between self-tapping screws for metal is the frequent low thread, which enhances adhesion to a dense solid base. Self-tapping screws for wood and other soft materials, on the contrary, have a high thread ridge with a wide pitch. Self-tapping screws for fastening materials of different densities, for example, gypsum fiber and metal profiles, are produced with double-start threads - alternating high and low turns.

Another fundamental difference between self-tapping screws for metal is the greater thickness of the body and high surface hardness, which protects the product from deformation when screwed into metal.

Photo of self-tapping screws with drill

Dimensions of hardware for profiled sheets

To indicate the size of the screws with which profiled sheets are attached, only two numbers are used. The first of them allows you to find out the diameter of the hardware by the outer edge of the thread. The second number indicates the length of the fastener.

For example, threaded hardware 4.8×35 has a diameter of 4.8 mm. Moreover, its length is 35 mm. The second size does not take into account the height of the screw head. In addition, the net length of the hardware to the head is indicated. In other words, the thickness of the rubber gasket and metal washer is not taken into account. This must be taken into account when selecting fasteners. After all, the gasket and washer reduce the length of the screw by about 4 mm.


Diameter and length of special fasteners Source kreptech.com

Important! The actual working length of the hardware is calculated by subtracting the longitudinal size of the tip, the thickness of the washer and the rubber sealing material.

When determining which screws are needed for a fence made of corrugated sheets, then they must take into account the characteristics of the specific place where they will be twisted. To be honest, take into account the thickness of the sheet material and the walls of the pipes from which the fencing purlins are made.

Now manufacturers produce fasteners with lengths from 19 to 250 mm. Moreover, their diameter can range from 4.8 to 6.3 mm.

Where are self-tapping screws used?

Fasteners are used in the construction industry, during major and current repairs, installation of household appliances and industrial equipment, during the assembly of various structures, in the instrument, automobile, and mechanical engineering industries. A specific type is intended for certain operations:

  • fastening metal elements - sheets, profiles;
  • joining metal with other materials - plastic, wood, plasterboard, soft tiles, plywood;
  • creating light metal or combined structures;
  • assembling various instruments, machines and equipment.

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Signs of high-quality self-tapping screws

One of the main signs of high-quality fasteners is the high hardness of the hardware. That is why they are made from low alloy steels. At the same time, the strength of the self-tapping screws must exceed the similar characteristics of rolled metal, which is used in the construction of the fence frame. After all, the hardware must provide the ability to drill a hole in the metal.

Fasteners for corrugated sheets are high-hard hardware Source vashdom-kras.ru

Fasteners for profiled sheets must be purchased in neat packaging. The manufacturer indicates its contact information on it. Product information is also indicated on the packaging. From it you can always find out the batch number and series, as well as when the fastener was manufactured. In this case, each of the hardware must have a marking on the end of the head. The mark is placed directly by the fastener manufacturer.

Self-tapping screws must be equipped with more than just a rubber gasket. For its manufacture, a responsible manufacturer uses EPDM. Such sealing material in high-quality products is glued to the washer. EPDM rubber has plasticity and allows you to compensate for the linear expansion of the sheet material.

On a note! If the self-tapping screw is dismantled, then the rubber seal is replaced with a new gasket. To check its quality, I use pliers. They press on the seal. If it is of high quality, then cracks will not form on it. After pressing, the rubber should also quickly return to its original shape.

Defects do not appear on rubber gaskets after squeezing with pliers Source dinmark.com.ua
Another sign of high-quality hardware is the presence of a zinc layer, the minimum thickness of which should be 12 microns. In this case, paint can be applied to the fastening element. However, it is used by manufacturers exclusively as an additional decorative coating. Paint is never used to create a basic protective layer.

Briefly about the main thing

Special self-tapping screws for fastening profiled sheets are used not only during the construction of fences, but also when covering roofs, finishing facades, and constructing partitions. Such hardware is made mainly with a hexagonal head. Their design also includes a sharp drill tip and a washer with a high-quality rubber gasket.

Fastening elements are durable self-tapping screws made of alloy steel. They simplify the installation process; they can be tightened with a power tool or a wrench. The fasteners are made with galvanic coating. Only experienced craftsmen can screw it in quickly and correctly.

To secure 1 m² of corrugated sheeting, approximately 4 to 8 hardware are required. It is recommended to use only fasteners with markings and an EPDM gasket no thinner than 2 mm.

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