DECKFAST® Epoxy Coatings & ACQ

DECKFAST® Standard Epoxy and DECKFAST® Composite deck screws provide excellent corrosion resistance. They are first given an undercoat of zinc plate, over which the screws receive a coat of epoxy polymer specific for withstanding corrosion while providing a high level of adhesion. This section provides our consumers with guidance in selecting a deck screw for corrosion resistance.

By now you have probably heard of the changes with pressure-treated wood. The industry standard Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) pressure-treated wood is no longer being produced for residential use. We have been testing and will continue to test our epoxy coated DECKFAST® screws with one of the common pressure-treated wood alternatives known as Akaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ). ACQ lumber is particularly corrosive to metal. In conducting tests of our own fasteners and those of competitors in ACQ, we have determined that the adhesion of the coating to the fastener is sometimes the main factor in determining the comparative effectiveness of the various coatings. Some coatings are readily stripped from the fastener on insertion, leaving only the zinc plate to protect the screw inside the ACQ wood. Fortunately, the adhesion of DECKFAST®'s epoxy coating is one of the very best on the market -- it does not strip off to any significant degree in normal usage.

While not entirely scientific, it is often easy to test for adhesion on your own. Simply drive a test fastener into a deck set-up (a test piece of decking over ACQ), wait a minute and withdraw. A simple visual exam will often reveal wide differences between alternate products in the amount of coating that is removed. Our experience is that these differences are reflective of laboratory results based on testing various fasteners in ACQ, and that this simple test demonstrates the quality of epoxy coated DECKFAST® screws compared to most other brands.

At this time there are as yet no accepted industry test methods or test standards for conducting these types of evaluations. Industry associations have recognized this problem and are addressing it, but the adoption of officially sanctioned test methods and standards is not expected anytime soon.

We have tested our epoxy coated DECKFAST® screws along with several other similar products. Our results indicate that ACQ pressure-treated wood is more corrosive to metal fasteners than CCA pressure-treated wood. The test results indicate that our barrier coating appears to hold up in ACQ treated wood applications.

Due to the many variables involved, including the chemical retention level in the wood and environmental factors (such as nearness to the water and acid rain), estimates of the service life of epoxy coated DECKFAST® screws in these applications cannot be provided. We continue to recommend epoxy coated DECKFAST® screws in all types of treated wood applications. We guarantee the screws for the life of the project. However, where customers are concerned with this issue, we urge our dealers to recommend stainless steel fasteners, such as DECKFAST® Stainless and our HEADCOTE® stainless steel screws with color coated heads.

It should be noted that even stainless steel fasteners are subject to corrosion. Within the stainless offerings, the most common grade for deck screws is #305. However, the more expensive and more corrosion resistant #316 stainless provides still additional protection, and is generally recommended in marine environments. HEADCOTE® currently carries #316 fasteners in six of its colors -- Standard HEADCOTE® 316.

We are continuing to monitor the industry on this issue and are actively examining all new types of coatings that become available to us in order to further improve the DECKFAST®'s epoxy coated line of fasteners.