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Hardware & Fastener Reviews & Buying Guides

When we review hardware and fasteners, we cover a lot of products. Hardware and fasteners include all types of screws, bolts, ledger or structural screws, nails, deck fastening clips, and other adhesives or products you find in the hardware aisle. We’ve covered everything from hidden deck fastening systems to construction screws, impact-ready bits, and more. On the more technical side fasteners, we ask a lot of questions. We want to know are impact-rated bits are worth the money? We also compare square, Phillips, and Torx deck screws. Understanding fasteners and what makes each stand out helps you choose the right one for decking, framing, and other jobsite tasks. We even have articles that cover the many screw bit types. Without the right fastener, your decking, framing, or carpentry project can literally fall apart. Fasteners make the project. Knowing which holds up in what materials is important. You don’t use the same construction fastener or adhesives with every material. Concrete, pressure-treated lumber, steel—all require different fasteners for a proper hold. This is another reason to also check out the Pro Tool Innovation Awards. They highlight the most innovative fasteners in the industry that help solve a problem or change the way we employ fastening in projects.

CAMO Marksman Pro Hidden Deck Fastener System Review
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CAMO Marksman Pro Hidden Deck Fastener System Review

by Clint DeBoer

We’re not easily impressed with hidden decking systems. While they offer a really excellent finished product, many of the systems require clips and extra work that causes the job to take longer, involve more training and generally increase your costs to deliver the finished product. With the CAMO Hidden Deck Fastening System, however, our concept of what was possible with hidden deck fastening systems was redefined. The CAMO system, which uses a Marksman or Marksman Pro installation tool, eliminates the need for clips and routing or cutting the edges of the board, and simplifies the method of deck board installation. In a nutshell, they devised a method to fasten the boards by driving screws at an angle along the board’s edge – directly into the joist. In this way, the boards are secured and the entire process is simplified. In short – it’s fast, and it’s impressive.

Prest-on Insta-backs Drywall Fasteners Review
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Prest-on Insta-backs Drywall Fasteners Review

by Clint DeBoer

We ran into Kirk Conville of Prest-on while walking around the International Builders Show. As soon as I saw their booth, where they were demoing (live) their Insta-back Drywall Fastener products, I was captured. Little did Kirk know that I had a project that perfectly matched his solution. You see, I had just installed a television mount overtop a fireplace – and I had done it incorrectly. As a result, I needed to make a drywall patch – and one that I had been dreading for some time. Looking at the Prest-on project, I was feeling a lot more confident, and downright excited to get started.

self-drilling plastic drywall anchors
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Using Self-Drilling Plastic Drywall Anchors

by Clint DeBoer

There are many times you need to hang a product on a wall, but can’t necessarily locate a stud. Instead of banging your head against the wall (this never works, only makes big holes), we’ll usually reach for a Buildex Twist-N-Lock E-Z Anchor. These drywall anchors are extremely versatile and come in many different configurations – from light duty to heavy duty. This makes them applicable for almost any use and they can carry from 30 to 85 pounds per fastener. The Buildex Twist-N-Lock fasteners themselves are made from either nylon or zinc and have a unique feature.

Grip Rite Galvanized Coil Roofing Nails
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Grip Rite Galvanized Roofing Nails

by Clint DeBoer

Grip-Rite’s Collated Coil Roofing Fas’ners are held together with wire and are perfect for use with nearly all coil-style roofing nailers. They are available in sizes ranging from 3/4″ to 2″ in galvanized (both smooth and ring shank), and from 1″ to 1-1/2″ in stainless steel. Each nail has a 3/8″ broad head. We used a box of 1-1/4″ galvanized to, among other things, roofa 400 square foot addition. The nails loaded easily and the coils retained their shape, thanks to the double wire weld collation method. This made loading easy and jams were infrequent, though the last nail in a coil would often fall away loose within several of our nailers.

EverMark EverJamb Exterior Door Frame Review
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EverMark Ever Jamb Exterior Door Frame Kit Review

by Thomas Gaige

We know the scenario all too well, the exterior door is fine but the lower parts of the jamb are rotted and falling apart. Once the rot is discovered, most of the time the wood is too far gone and sometimes the easiest solution is put in a new pre-hung door. With an EverMark replacement EverJamb, there now is a reasonable solution to repairing the jamb without replacing the door.

GE AccessPoint KeySafe Key Safes
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GE AccessPoint KeySafe

by Thomas Gaige

While strolling the floor at the 2009 IBS in Vegas, we almost walked right past the GE Security Booth and it was in a quick second look that we realized that these guys are into tools as well. They are in the business of protecting your tools and projects. Lock boxes and key safes are not just for the Realtors any more.

best nails for pressure treated lumber
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Best Nails for Pressure Treated Lumber

by Clint DeBoer

Depending on the type of pressure treating the wood was subject to will, in part, determine the type of fasteners that can be used. Never use common or bright finished nails. Never use sheet rock type screws or steel screws without any plating or coatings on them. For most applications use either hot dipped galvanized nails and bolts or for screws it is suggested to use ones that have a protective coating that is designed for use with pressure treated lumber.

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