How to extract stripped screws from deck joist?

Sunda

I have a couple of stripped screws that I need to remove from the deck joists to lay the new deck.

The screw heads got stripped while I tried to unscrew them.

I have tried the rubberband method and bought the Craftright 3 Piece Screw Remover Set - Bunnings Australia, recommended by the staff at Bunnings.

I followed the instructions, and the screw barely moved.

The screw heads are getting worse than before.

I am getting really worried now, as the screws are sticking out and have to be removed.

Can you please advise what other method I can deploy to remove them fully?

JacobZ

Hi @Sunda,

Please don't worry, there will be a solution to your problem.

When you tried the screw extractor, did you drill a pilot hole into the screw, then hit the screw extractor into the pilot hole with a hammer so that it gets lodged in there?

If you did, it looks like the pilot hole might not have been deep enough to create the friction needed to rotate the screw out. Maybe try again, drilling a deeper pilot hole and really smacking the extractor down with your hammer. It needs to get lodged in the screw so it bites it hard enough to rotate out.

If this doesn't work, you can always drill out the head of the screw, then lift the board off, and then drill out the shaft of the screw. It will take a bit longer, but it is not too difficult to do. Grab a fresh drill bit that is the same diameter as the screw head. Start drilling slowly and apply light pressure to the back of your drill. Once the drill head has been drilled out, lift the board and use a fresh drill bit that is the same diameter as the screw shaft. 

Once the screw is out, you can replace it with a new screw. If drilling it out makes the hole in the joist a bit larger than it was before, then you can grab a couple of toothpicks, put them in the hole and snap them off. This will give the screw new material to bite into and secure the decking board in place. 

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob