I've run into a problem with one of my deck stairs. It wasn't sitting flush with the deck frame, and when I tried to fix it, I discovered that a 3" screw broke off about an inch down. Now, the head of the screw is stuck in the deck board while the other part is lodged in the frame. I removed the whole board and tried using a screw extractor tool, but it's been a nightmare. The bit just keeps spinning, and I can't get it to grip the screw properly. I even tried using vice grips, but they won't turn at all. I'd like to avoid using liquid nail to glue the board down since I need access for deck lighting underneath in case I need to replace it later. Any suggestions on how to remove that stubborn screw?
2 Answers
Since the board is already off, a simple method you could try is to take a nail and insert it from the back side of the frame, then tap it lightly with a hammer. This can sometimes nudge the broken screw out since it's not gripping with threads anymore. Just make sure you're aiming for the bottom part of the screw in the frame!
If the screw extractor isn't working and you want to avoid glue, you might think about drilling a small hole into the center of the broken screw and using a left-handed drill bit. This could help grab the screw and turn it out since it's designed to grip tighter in reverse. It's tricky, but it might just do the trick!