Top 10 Caulk and Sealant, Collated Nail, Deck Screw, and Structural Screw Brands

The residential building products and materials market is diverse. A single product category may have dozens of manufacturers and brands from which contractors may choose. But which brands are preferred? 

That’s the question The Farnsworth Group (TFG) ventured to answer in its latest Contractor Brand Ratings, which surveyed a mix of residential construction pros, from remodelers to tradespeople to builders, asking their preferred brand across more than 30 product categories. 

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be going through those categories in a series of articles to figure out exactly what building products and materials contractors are choosing (as well as which they know about and prefer). 

Contractor Preferences for Adhesives and Fasteners 

In its first major section, TFG’s Contractor Brand Ratings showcase the top 10 most used, most preferred brands of “Caulks & Sealants,” “Collated Nails,” “Deck Screws,” and “Structural Screws.” 

In producing its survey, TFG researchers developed a rating scale for contractors to share their awareness, use, preference, and perceived value of any particular brand. A score of 4.6 or above represents a “good” rating while 4.5 to 2.6 represents “average” and 2.5 and below a rating of “poor.” In rating caulk and sealant brands, several achieved “good” ratings, but none was higher than DAP—a former MVP Award winner—which produces a variety of latex, silicone, hybrid, and specialty caulk and sealants. 

Of the 10 collated nail brands TFG included in its survey results, only a single product achieved a “good” rating: DeWalt—which had near universal (93%) brand awareness. 

Deck screws are vital to the integrity of a deck, carrying a much heavier load and facing much harsher weather long-term than typical screws. Two brands of deck screws achieved at least a “good” rating: Grip-Rite and DECKMATE. Both brands had “Brand Values” of over 20%, which is the only category in the Adhesives and Fasteners group to do so. 

Of the 10 structural screw brands TFG included in its survey, only a single product achieved a “good” rating: Grip-Rite. However, it did achieve a 5.6 “good” rating, which is the highest rating of any Adhesive and Fasteners product (a title shared with DAP’s caulk and adhesives). Grip-Rite is also the only product Adhesive and Fasteners group to earn a top rating in two separate categories.