Can we talk about people using regular drywall screws for outdoor projects

I watched my neighbor build a planter box with regular drywall screws last spring. By fall, the thing was rusting apart and the wood was splitting. Those screws are meant for indoor use and can't handle moisture. He had to rebuild the whole thing with coated deck screws after six months. What's the worst material mistake you've seen someone make on an outdoor build?

3 comments

3 Comments

walker.michael1mo ago

My uncle used regular screws on a fence gate and they rusted shut in under a year. I swapped them for galvanized ones and it's been fine for three seasons now.

angela401mo ago

Seen that exact thing happen with a deck someone built using untreated pine. It looked great for a few months, then the wood started to warp and rot because it wasn't pressure-treated or sealed. They ended up having to tear the whole thing out, what a waste of time and money. Always gotta check if the wood is rated for ground contact or outdoor use, otherwise it just falls apart.

evangarcia1mo ago

That story from @walker.michael about the gate is so common, it's wild how many people don't realize screws have different jobs! It's not just rust either, those drywall screws are brittle and can snap under real weight or weather changes. Honestly, seeing a project fail over a few dollars in the right fasteners is the worst kind of frustration. It makes you want to check everyone's shopping cart at the hardware store.