Deck screws these days are pure garbage

[dishstaller]

Now first, I'll mention that the area of FL I live in has extremely high humidity and not a lot of wind so things don't dry out very well for extended periods of time.
I'm in the process of tearing down and rebuilding a pergola with a surrounding deck that I built 9 yrs ago. 90% of the deck screws are just sheering off at the head because the screws rusted out. These are the deck screws you buy in the 25 lb box at your lumber yard. Very annoying. So I just ordered some 316L stainless steel screws to use for when I go to rebuild it.

 

[AZ.]

Now first, I'll mention that the area of FL I live in has extremely high humidity and not a lot of wind so things don't dry out very well for extended periods of time.
I'm in the process of tearing down and rebuilding a pergola with a surrounding deck that I built 9 yrs ago. 90% of the deck screws are just sheering off at the head because the screws rusted out. These are the deck screws you buy in the 25 lb box at your lumber yard. Very annoying. So I just ordered some 316L stainless steel screws to use for when I go to rebuild it.

Screws are all crap, soft and useless! Sick of going through 3 to get one not to break, strip or shear! I aint that strong in my old age!

 

[telstar_1]

Well, isn't removal of screws intrinsically much tougher than drive-in, simply because over time they become more adhered to the wood, whether or not they actively rust? Possibly there could be less of that effect with stainless.

 

[dishstaller]

Well, isn't removal of screws intrinsically much tougher than drive-in, simply because over time they become more adhered to the wood, whether or not they actively rust?

I have seen that happen that not in this case. I had also used some screws from an old box I had that I needed to use up....didn't think much of it at the time. ALL of THOSE screws came out perfectly and had virtually no rust on them. The ones that you find at your lumber yard....those with the orange snap on lids were mostly rust. The problem with the heads sheering off was that I had to get my crowbar and pry each board up one joist at the time. Took a simple job and made it 1000% harder.

As for adhering to the wood...true story. Back when hurricane Michael hit, it almost took the weather vane off of the old milk barn behind my parent's house. I climbed up on the roof and only one nail was still holding it. Grabbed my hammer and tried to pull it out...wasn't budging. Grabbed a short crowbar (all I had access to) wouldn't budge. Ended up cutting the stupid nail so I could get the weather vane. Barn was built in the late 40s, I guess the nail had become one with the pine lumber used to build the barn.