Cement boards can cause certain screws to rust - Tile Advice

Speedoman · May 22, 2014

I have read that the alkali in the cement board can slowly rust a screw over a period of time.

The screwfix turbo gold screw says it is zinc & yellow passivated for double corrosion resistance.

Could I please check if this screw is OK to use to fix cement boards?

Or should I be using the screwfix turbo ultra which are stainless steel screws?

Thanks for advice!

cam_low · May 22, 2014

I use zinc coated screws...never hardie...in fact I never use hardie come to think of it !!

Stef · May 22, 2014

The only screw I use for Hardi is a 25mm screwfix turbo gold.
I have tried the stainless ultra & the heads were snapping off them, not good.

White Room · May 22, 2014

If your screws were permanently bombarded with moisture then yes stainless would probably the route to take but if there was that much moisture then tanking would be required.

Which screws you use is a personal decision, the turbo gold are the ones I use.

Spud · May 22, 2014

Speedoman said:
I have read that the alkali in the cement board can slowly rust a screw over a period of time.

The screwfix turbo gold screw says it is zinc & yellow passivated for double corrosion resistance.

Could I please check if this screw is OK to use to fix cement boards?

Or should I be using the screwfix turbo ultra which are stainless steel screws?

Thanks for advice!

why not use the hardi screws they supply ?

Rookery · May 22, 2014

I use MDF Tite screws when fixing Hardie.

Speedoman · May 23, 2014

garythetiler said:
why not use the hardi screws they supply ?

Hi

I have used the hardieboard screws before when fitting walls.

I use screwfix turbo gold alot for other stuff, so wanted to try these.

widler · May 23, 2014

I've used drywall screws,doubt they would rust,as any screw unless it's a swimming pool

Stef · May 23, 2014

widler said:
I've used drywall screws,doubt they would rust,as any screw unless it's a swimming pool

I found that when screwing these into anything other than plasterboard & soft wood that the heads snapped off them.

One Day · May 23, 2014

The only real risk from a rusty screw is in very wet areas - in which case WHY ARE YOU USING HB?!

Or with translucent marbles etc where staining could potentially pull through over time.

Zinc passivated is normally enough to not worry about.
Stainless screws are expensive and A2 is generally quite soft so heads may snap when using on tough material like HB. A4 (marine grade) is far stronger but VERY expensive.

widler · May 23, 2014

Aye stef,some do,but ive always loads about, so just use em, if i knock em in a few mill

Diamond Pool Finishers · May 23, 2014

widler said:
I've used drywall screws,doubt they would rust,as any screw unless it's a swimming pool

Did someone mention swimming pool ! just for information purposes the screws mostly used in swimming pools are a very high -grade Stainless Steel....where i have seen any other screws they have always gone rusty......

High Peak Tiling · Jun 1, 2014

What's the NMP Board screws like?

John Benton · Jun 1, 2014

Hate them, used them once and the heads always stand proud for me

BillyD · Mar 8, 2023

I secured my half inch plywood to the subfloor with yellow coated, zinc, plated, construction screws. I was gonna go over the plywood with cement board to tile in the kitchen area and was wondering if the thin set that I apply under the cement board to bond the cement board to the plywood would cause any corrosion to the zinc, plated, yellow construction screw that I secured the plywood to the s?

Cement boards can cause certain screws to rust - Tile Advice

Speedoman

cam_low

TF

Stef

White Room

Spud

Rookery

Speedoman

widler

TF

Stef

One Day

widler

TF

Diamond Pool Finishers

TF

High Peak Tiling

TF

John Benton

TF

BillyD

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