3 Best Subfloor Screws Reviews – You Will Love These
The biggest craze in reality TV these days are home improvement or fixer-upper shows.
Oftentimes the décor, wallpaper, or window fixings are the highlight of the show.
For anyone who has actually done some of the work of fixing up a home, the most important part is your flooring.
Whether you need to replace or re-attach your subflooring, the challenge is to find the proper screws and glue to get the job done.
This article takes the time to review the top best screws for subfloors. We review each one, the pros and the cons, and we go over which ones will work with each type of subflooring material.
At the end of the review section, we have a buying guide that goes over how to assess the needs that you have and how to choose the best subfloor screw for you.
| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Senco 08200Y Length: 2" Shank: 8 Package quantity: 1000 | |
 | Simpson Strong-Tie WSNTL212R400 Length: 2-1/2" Shank: 8 Package quantity: 400 | |
 | The Hillman Group 48248 Length: 1-1/4" Shank: 8 Package quantity: 500 |
3 Best Screws for Subfloor (as of April, 2024):
1. Senco 08200Y Screw for Subfloor – Quick Installation, Lasting Hold Review
Designed to work alongside the Senco Duraspin Screw gun, these 2- inch screws have a few features that made them our top pick for this review article.
They have a 2/3 thread for extra hold.
They have a handsome yellow zinc finish.
The Senco 08200Y is also have small threads near the head of the screw that often makes a countersink pre-drill unnecessary.
Uses
At 2” these screws are designed to go through ¾” to 1” subfloors, wall plates, or even roofing sheets. They are not to be used on Hardi board or cement board though.
These screws are designed to work best with the Senco Duraspin Screw Gun and can install 1,000 screws very quickly. They are collated for quick gun use. They also have a square head so they can be hand tightened though that is not optimal.
Why We Recommend It
The Senco 08200Y is a great screw for a large project.
With sizes varying between 2 and 2-1/2 inches, collated into a 1,000 crew roll that works with a screw gun, this could be a great recommendation for large rooms that needs to be taken care of.
Main Features
- 2-inch length
- No. 2 square flat head with no. 8 shank
- Coarse 2/3 thread with wax
- Yellow zinc finish
- Square heads are hard to strip
- Screws are strong, nearly unbreakable
- Work seamlessly with the Duraspin with no reported misfires
2. Simpson Strong-Tie WSNTL212R400 Screw for Subfloor – Strength When You Need It Review
The second review on our list is for the Simpson Strong-Tie WSNTL212R400.
The twin-lead thread pattern allows for quick and secure installation.
The WSNTL screws have a strong holding power but can also be removed easily.
With the ability to countersink you can eliminate gaps between joists and subfloors while still allowing for future access to floor spaces later.
Uses
Perfect for subfloors or any sheathing to wood or Engineered Wood Products. Not for use with sheetrock or cement. Works well for eliminating squeaky floors and on wall plates.
There is a ply fastening for multi-ply trusses. It has a deep, square #3 head so the bit is held tight, but also reduces stripping the screw.
Why We Recommend It
The Simpson WSNTL is a solid screw with a few basic enhancements that make it reliable. A bit longer at 2-1/2 inches, it has the length and the bite to work on most subfloor applications.
Main Features
- Eliminates subfloor nail squeaking and costly call-backs
- Variety of lengths to cover subfloor, wall plates and stair treads
- Deep-recessed #3 square drive holds bits tight, reducing cam-outs
- Twin-lead thread for quick installation
- Yellow-zinc coating for interior applications
- Yellow-Zinc Dichromate coating for interior use
- #3 square drive in included in the package
- Twin threads
3. The Hillman Group 48248 Screw for Subfloor – Short and Sturdy Review
The Hillman Group 48248 screws from the Hillman group are short and sturdy.
They are well equipped to keep boards from moving and squeaking during installation.
With a recessed square drive, you can be assured you will not be at risk for stripping the screw during installation.
The tight bite of the thread has solid holding power.
Uses
The Hillman is strong but at only 1 to 1-1/4 inches, it is ideal for thinner subfloors and materials that can be countersinked ahead of time.
Why We Recommend It
Not every job needs a 2 to 2-1/2 inch screw.
The holding power on these smaller screws, along with the square drive installation makes this a powerful screw to have when working on thinner subfloor projects.
Main Features
- Prevents boards from squeaking
- Square drive
- Black finish
- Handsome black finish
- Square drive for easy installation
- Wide screw grip
Buying Guide
Old homes and new homes alike all share a common feature – subfloors.
Installed improperly, or given enough time, subfloors installed with nails tend to create gaps at the joists and this can create a nasty squeaking sound. Older subfloors start to sway and can be dangerous to walk on.
That is why it is important that the tools you bring to work on a subfloor are top-notch. Most construction standards have moved away from nails for the subfloor and towards subfloor screws instead.
The list above is to give you an idea of some of the top screw for subfloors and to highlight different types and sizes.
As with most things in life, the clearer the vision you have of what the project entails, the better chance you have of making the correct purchase.
To that end, we have included a few leading questions to help you gain clarity. We have also included a how-to guide for general instruction on installing your subfloor screws.
Questions To Ask
How Thick Is My Subfloor?
Not every screw is for every job. In fact, if you are attaching a thick subfloor to a thick joist you will want a long screw, 2” to 2-1/2”.
That way, you have enough to go through the subfloor and enough to bite into the joists without going through the joists themselves. It is important to understand the depth of the screw needed.
If you use too small or a screw, you will get a weak bite into the joists which will exacerbate any loose fitting and squeaking sounds. If the screw is too long, you may end up splitting a thin joist underneath the subfloor.
At this point, you will now need to do some joist replacement and get new hardware for that installation.
What Sort Of Materials Are You Using?
Almost more important than the measurements is the type of material that you are going to use. The standard is wood or plywood, but oftentimes MDF can be used, or even cement board.
Cement board will require its own type of screw, stronger and with a different tip and bit than any we reviewed above as its use is quite limited.
The Senco and the others reviewed can handle MDF and any type of wood. When working with wood though, you may need to countersink beforehand. This is not a consideration with MDF but should definitely not be ignored with plywood.
The Senco and the Simpson WNTL both come with threading near the top that makes countersinking unnecessary. The Hillman will require that extra step.
What Tools Do You Have On Hand?
Most of these screws come with their own square bits in the packaging so if you have a handheld screw drill, you should be fine with most installations.
The Senco is one of the better screws we looked at but it requires a separate purchase or rental for the Duraspin gun.
If you do not have glue, the Simpson WNTL and the Senco both claim that their screws eliminate the need for the glue diaphragm. Anytime you can reduce the extra supply and time cost of applying precise glue, the better.
How To Install Subfloor Screws
We will assume that you have already removed the carpet or tile over the particular spot in the floor that you wish to replace.
At this point, you can look for the line of nails or screws in the existing floor and that will give you an idea of how far apart the joists are. If the distance is 12 to 20 inches, then your subfloor is probably ¾’ thick.
Any wider and the subfloor should be around 1 ½’’ thick. At ¾’’ you are looking at a 2” long screw to get the job done.
When there are nails to be taken out, you can use the claw of the hammer or a nail removal prybar. If they are screws, use whatever matching head you have and you can remove the screws.
Then, a prybar will help you get the old subfloor out as there is often glue.
Pre-drilling a job beforehand can reduce friction or breakage of the screw but is not always necessary. The goal now is to get the new subfloor into place and over the joists as needed, generally leaving 1/8” space between the boards.
If you are using the Senco, the Simpson, or any other screw that says glue is not needed, you can skip this part. Otherwise, this is your time to glue your board to the joists to ensure an extra strong hold.
Now, you can use your screen gun, or your specialized Duraspin screw gun, make sure you have the right bits, and drill your screws into the subfloor.
Make sure to keep on the line of the joist, right in the middle of the joist so that you ensure the strongest bite into the joist.
Senco Screw Gun – DuraSpin Features & Benefits:
Quik Drive® for Subfloor Fastening:
You want to either countersink or use the threads atop some of the screws to countersink your screw heads into the MDF or Plywood. That way, any carpet laid on top or tile is not uneven and there is no room for snagging.
After installation, give yourself a high-five and walk over the previous problem areas to make sure that there is no more squeaking like before.
Conclusion
There are very few things that are as important as a good floor for your house, apartment, RV, or office building. The only thing worse than a weak floor is a squeaky floor due to a poorly installed subfloor.
Nails loosen over time which is why the industry has gone towards screws for installation. With a tighter, coarser bite, they can hold a subfloor to the joist easily and securely for longer and bypass the need for extra glue.
The type of subfloor materials and the thickness will determine which type of screw you should use.
As a reminder, if the joists are around a foot to a foot and a half apart from each other, the subfloor will be ¾” and you will only need a 2” screw. Any more than that requires a longer screw.
For wall plates or small applications, the Hillman group screws are small and sturdy for the job. It is our hope with the list above to provide some of the top-rated screws for subflooring out there.
The buying guide and questions should help you get a better understanding of what type of project you are looking at. We encourage you to go back through the list, click on each link, and see which of the subflooring screws is right for you.
