Construction Fasteners

In the construction industry, fasteners are used to join two or more objects together in a non-permanent way. Construction fasteners come in a wide variety of materials for each, individual project and are the main components used in many sectors, including manufacturing, automation, and infrastructure.

Because each construction project will require a different kind of fastener, it’s important to know, not only what type of fastener you’ll need, but also what material, size, and finish in order to achieve a safe and strong final construction.

Let’s take an in-depth look at construction fasteners in order to determine what you’ll need!

The fastener you will need will be determined by a few factors, including:

• Material Weight
• Material Type
• Area Accessibility
• Fastener Reusability
• Environment (Temperature & Wind/Water Exposure)

Choosing a type of fastener is a crucial part of any construction project. After reviewing your determinates (above), it’s time to choose the correct fastener for your project. Here is a list of five basic construction fasteners that will work for your specific project needs.

Nuts

A nut is a type of construction fastener and, along with bolts, are used to fasten multiple parts together. Designed with a threaded hole, nuts operate to hold components together make them great for embeds and securing construction assemblies.

Bolts & Screws

Screws are an incredibly versatile construction fastener that don’t require an external hardware piece to hold them in place. They are also offered in a wide variety of types, including: concrete, cap, and drywall screws.

Bolts are another type of construction fastener that is placed in an already drilled hole and are typically paired with a nut in order to be tightened or adjusted as needed. Button heads, hex bolts, and carriage bolts are what you’ll typically use in construction projects.

Anchors

Anchors are a type of construction fastener that is used to connect a material to drywall or concrete. Anchors come in a variety of types, including drop-in, drywall, expansion shields, and hollow wall anchors.

Washers

In construction, washers are designed to distribute the weight of a threaded fastener. They are also used as wear pads, spacers, springs, and locking devices. These thin plates can be utilized in different ways and come in a variety of types, including flat washers, lock washers, finishing washers, and more.

The next important step in determining what construction fastener you’ll need is choosing a fastener material. The material of your fastener will not only affect how your project looks, but will also affect corrosion resistance, strength, thermal conductivity, and temperature control.

Let’s take a look at common construction fastener materials to determine which one will be right for you.

Steel

Steel is one of the most common materials for construction fasteners due to its tensile strength, durability, and maximum degree of formability. It’s also relatively inexpensive to create, compared to many other fastener materials.

Carbon Steel

When it comes to fastener production, carbon steel is the most common type of material for bolts and carbon-steel screws. Grades range from 2,5, and 8, and alloy steel – a higher end variation.

• Grade 2: Grade 2 is a relatively inexpensive and least durable type of steel, that is highly workable. This standard hardware grade steel has a low carbon category is used is a majority of steel grade fasteners.
• Grade 5: Grade 5 steels are most commonly used in automotive applications and require work-hardening in order to increase their strength.
• Grade 8: Grade 8 steels have a high degree of work hardening and are strong enough for handle the most straining applications.
• Alloy Steel: Alloy steel is a corrosion resistant category that is extremely strong, very brittle, and will typically benefit from additional coating.

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel is a great material when it comes to construction fasteners as it’s corrosive and heat resistant. This material is also incredibly strong making it a top choice for construction projects that require solid durability and low maintenance.

Aluminum

Aluminum’s weight to strength ratio is the reason it makes a great material for shipbuilding or underwater construction. It is also non-magnetic, thermal and electrically conductive, and hot and cold forged.

Brass

An alloy of copper and zinc, brass is generally an affordable option for copper-based alloys. It also tends to be stronger and more ductile than others, making it a great fastener material for decorative woodworking, as it maintains its strength under demanding conditions.