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🔩Tek screws drill and fasten in one action, which makes them a go-to for metal work and sheeting. Choose the right point and coating and they hold for the long haul. Here is what to know.
Tek screws, also called self-drilling screws, are a mainstay of metal fixing because they bore their own hole and tap the thread in one hit. No pre-drilling, no pilot hole, just drive and fasten. The catch is matching the drill point to the metal and choosing a coating that survives the conditions, especially near the coast.
This guide covers how tek screws work, the common types and tek screw sizes, and how to pick a coating that lasts.
📌Quick summary
A tek screw has a point shaped like a drill bit. It bores through the metal, then the thread takes over and fastens, all in one drive. That is what saves the pre-drilling step and makes them so quick on metal work.
Drill points are numbered by capacity, so check the number against the metal thickness. Too small a point for thick steel and the screw struggles or burns out, while a heavy point on thin sheet can tear it. Match the point to the job and the screw drills cleanly every time.
Roofing and cladding tek screws often come with a sealing washer to keep water out of the fixing, which is essential on a roof. They are sized to suit common sheet profiles and battens, and a hex head is standard so they drive fast with a nut driver.
Hex head screws are the workhorse for roofing and structural sheet, driven with a socket for speed and grip. Wafer or low-profile heads suit cladding and situations where you want the head to sit flatter. Match the head to the sheet and the finish you need.
💬Not sure which tek screw and point suit your metal? The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae can point you the right way. Give them a call on (02) 4020 7951.
A roof or cladding job sits out in the weather, so the coating on the screw decides how long the fixing lasts. Around Port Stephens and Newcastle, salt air is hard on underspecified screws, and rust streaks from failed fixings are a common and avoidable eyesore. Choose a coated or stainless screw rated for the exposure.
Match the screw to the sheet material where you can. Pairing the wrong metals, such as a plain screw with certain sheet coatings, can trigger accelerated corrosion at the fixing. When in doubt, ask which screw suits your sheeting.
Select Fasteners carries tek and self-drilling screws for metal, roofing and cladding, from trusted brands including Bremick and Hobson, in a range of points, heads and coatings. The trade specialist team at the Heatherbrae store has decades of experience matching screws to the metal and the conditions.
You will find the rest of the fasteners a metal job needs in the same shop, so you can sort it all in one trip.
Tek screws are self-drilling screws with a drill-bit style point that bores its own hole and taps the thread in one action. They are widely used for fixing metal, roofing and cladding without pre-drilling.
No. That is the whole point. The drill tip creates the hole as it drives, provided the point is matched to the metal thickness. Very thick steel can still be a challenge, so match the point to the job.
Match the drill point to the metal thickness and the screw length to the combined material you are fixing through. Drill points are numbered by capacity, so heavier steel needs a larger point. Our team can match the size to your job.
Use roofing tek screws with a sealing washer, sized for your sheet profile, and choose a coating or grade rated for the exposure. Near the coast, step up the corrosion protection to avoid rust streaks.
An underspecified screw will, especially near salt air. Choose a coated or stainless tek screw rated for the conditions, and match the screw metal to the sheet to avoid mixed-metal corrosion.
Hex head screws are standard for roofing and structural sheet as they drive fast with a socket. Wafer or low-profile heads suit cladding and situations where you want the head to sit flatter.
The right tek screw drills clean, seals well and lasts in the weather. The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae will match the right screw, point and coating to your metal.
Give the team a call on (02) 4020 7951, drop by the store at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae, or send us an online enquiry!
We supply fasteners, fixings and trade supplies across Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog, with the largest range north of the Hunter River.
Select Fasteners is a specialist fastener and industrial supplies business based at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae NSW, serving Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog. This article is general information only and does not account for the specific conditions of your project. For advice specific to your job, get in touch with the team.
02 4020 7951
