Would you rather have the installer of a 6' wood fence use nails or screws to attach the pickets to the horizontal boards, and why?
Does it even matter? I'm thinking screws would be easier to take out if a picket should ever need to be replaced. My guy is using nails, no doubt because it cuts down on his costs, which means more profit in his pocket. But I don't know too many people who would think to ask or want to know such detail when getting quotes on fences.
Answers ( 1 )
You are right that nails are less expensive, so the contractor can pick up a bit more profit, however, your idea screws are better has less merit.
Not only are screws more expensive, the contractor has to use a drill to put them in; that power tool will need either an extension cord or a fully charged battery pack- with extra battery just in case- so more expense. He'll have to start a pilot hole to place each screw because trying to do it without that step is miserably frustrating for even the best carpenter (my Father, matter of fact). The kicker, though, is if you have to replace a board, it won't matter if a screw is "easier" to remove: You aren't saving the board; it's dry-rotted, broken or just plain bad, so you are trashing it. You're likely going to have to pry it a bit to get it free, but its fastener at that point doesn't matter because it's going on your scrap heap.
Let your contractor have his or her few extra bucks (the difference isn't all that much) and use eight-penny nails (nails that are about 2.5" and used to cost a penny for 8 of them) or ten-pennies if he is going into four-by posts and two-by-four rails. In the long run, it won't matter for any repairs you may have to make.