Criteria for choosing the right carpentry connectors – a Guide with Marcopol’s offer from Chwaszczyno

Choosing the right screws and carpentry connectors is a key element of every construction project, as it affects the strength and load capacity of wooden structures. Marcopol company from Chwaszczyno offers a wide range of screws and carpentry connectors, which allows us to choose the appropriate connections of load-bearing elements in wooden structures.

In this article, we will discuss the factors that should be considered when choosing screws for wooden structures, available in the offer of Marcopol company.

The design of various types of wooden structures should be carried out in accordance with the guidelines that can be found in the Eurocode 5 standard (EN 1995). It contains principles and requirements for design, considering its safety and durability.

Type of material we want to connect.

Depending on the type of wood from which the structure is made, it may be necessary to use different types of screws. Hardwoods, such as oak or ash, are harder than softwood, like pine or spruce.

Marcopol offers connectors dedicated to various types of wood and wood-based materials. In terms of wood, we connect solid, laminated or glued products. Standardly, for connections of solid wood elements, we use construction screws. In the case of wood-based materials, our connectors can be used for plywood, OSB chipboards, furniture chipboards, and chipboard-cement.

Key elements of carpentry connectors. Strength and atmospheric requirements

Wooden structures may have different strength requirements depending on their use and the loads they are subjected to. Marcopol’s offer includes screws of various diameters and lengths, which will allow to achieve the appropriate strength of the connection.

Construction screws can be exposed to various weather conditions, such as humidity, rain, or UV radiation. As Marcopol, we produce screws made of corrosion-resistant steel (stainless steel) and ordinary steel, protecting them with special coatings with high corrosion resistance.

The connectors available in Marcopol’s offer can be used in two usage classes. The first one is characterized by the moisture content of the material corresponding to a temperature of 20 °C and the relative humidity of the surrounding air exceeding 65% only for a few weeks a year.

Class 2 is characterized by the moisture content of the material corresponding to a temperature of 20 C and the relative humidity of the surrounding air exceeding 85% only for a few weeks a year. The highest – class 3 requires the use of a protective coating with higher anti-corrosion parameters.

Aesthetic requirements for carpentry connectors

Depending on the project, carpentry screws can be visible on the outside of the structure or hidden. Marcopol offers screws with various surface finishes, which not only protect against corrosion but also determine the appearance of a given structure. Speaking of aesthetics, it is impossible not to mention the basic types of construction screws available in our offer. We offer countersunk and washer head screws. The former will be perfect if you are looking for a solution that allows for countersinking the screw head with the surface of a given element.

Screws with washer heads achieve higher load-bearing capacities on head pull-out. If aesthetic values are not decisive, then it is worth using these screws because the connection will achieve a higher load capacity which in turn affects the number of connectors. We use these screws where there is no need to countersink the screw head with the plane of the wooden element.

Summary

Choosing the right carpentry screws for a specific application requires considering many factors. Marcopol from Chwaszczyno offers a wide range of screws that can be adapted to the type of wood, strength requirements, atmospheric conditions, and user preferences. If you would like to purchase ourvscrews, we invite you to visit www.marcop or contact our technical and commercial advisors.