Screws, Nails, or Adhesives? When to Use Each Fastener

Walk down any DIY supplies aisle and you’ll see walls lined with screws, nails, and various types of adhesives. They all hold things together—but they don’t all do the same job. Choosing the wrong fastener can mean a wobbly shelf, a failed repair, or even structural damage.

Here’s a no-nonsense breakdown of when to use screws, nails, and adhesives—and why it matters.

Screws – For Strength, Precision & Removability

Screws are your go-to fastener for most woodworking, furniture assembly, and anything that needs to hold tight over time. They grip wood and other materials with their threaded shaft, providing excellent holding power.

✅ Use screws when:

  • Assembling furniture or cabinetry

  • Installing shelving or brackets

  • Securing decking boards or fencing

  • Hanging heavy fixtures on walls

? Pros:

  • Strong and secure hold

  • Easy to remove or adjust

  • Excellent for joining wood to wood or wood to metal

⚠️ Watch out for:

  • Over-tightening can split wood

  • Slower to install than nails

Top tip: Use pilot holes for hardwood or delicate materials to prevent splitting.

Nails – For Speed and Flexibility

Nails are quicker to drive in and better at handling movement in materials, especially in large structures like walls or roofing. They’re ideal for situations where a small amount of flex is beneficial.

✅ Use nails when:

  • Framing walls or timber structures

  • Attaching skirting boards or architraves

  • Nailing down flooring or underlay

  • General construction where speed matters

? Pros:

  • Fast to apply (especially with a nail gun)

  • Slightly flexible under stress

  • Cheaper than screws

⚠️ Watch out for:

  • Weaker holding power than screws

  • Can work loose over time, especially with vibrations

Pro tip: Use ring-shank nails for extra holding strength in floors or decking.

Adhesives – For Clean Fixes & Invisible Bonds

Adhesives (like grab adhesives, wood glue, or epoxy) don’t require drilling or hammering and are great when you want a clean finish without visible fasteners. They’re best for lightweight applications or when used alongside screws or nails.

✅ Use adhesives when:

  • Bonding skirting, mouldings or panels to walls

  • Gluing joints in woodwork (e.g. dowels or mitres)

  • Fixing tiles, splashbacks, or cladding

  • Combining with screws for added strength

? Pros:

  • Invisible finish

  • No holes or marks left behind

  • Excellent for mixed materials (e.g. wood to metal, tile to plaster)

⚠️ Watch out for:

  • Cure time varies—some take hours

  • Permanent—hard to undo once dry

  • Not ideal for heavy structural loads alone

Important: Always choose the right adhesive for your material (wood glue for wood, grab adhesive for walls, etc.).

Final Verdict: Match the Fastener to the Job

Still unsure? Here’s a quick summary:

  • Screws = precision, strength, and removability

  • Nails = speed and flexibility for structural or framing jobs

  • Adhesives = clean finishes and hidden strength for lightweight or decorative fixes

In many projects, a combination works best—for example, adhesive plus nails for skirting boards gives both instant grab and long-term hold.

Need help picking the right fasteners for your project? Visit our store or browse our online range—we stock high-quality screws, nails, adhesives, and the tools to go with them.