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Use 10d (3”) or 16d (3½”) nails for framing, 10d or 12d (3¼”) for 5/4 deck boards and 16d for 2-inch planks, and 6d (2”), 8d (2½”) or 10d for railings. Always use galvanized or stainless steel spiral or ring shaft nails to fasten pressure-treated, cedar, or redwood boards.
What nails should I use for decking?
The best nails for decking are stainless steel nails as they offer the greatest resistance to rust with minimum discoloration to woods such as cedar. However, stainless steel nails are considerably more expensive than other nails.
Can you nail deck boards?
When installing decking boards, you can either use nails or screws. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages. Understanding each type of fastener will help you decide on what to use.
Is it better to nail or screw deck boards?
The Consensus: For a deck build it’s best to use a combination of nails and screws. Screws are superior for laying down the decking. They hold things flush better and have a better fastener/tensile strength, which keeps boards from popping up over time.
Can you use framing nails for deck?
The least expensive option for installing wood deck boards is to use framing nails, though we don’t necessarily recommend them. You’ll see a lot of builder-grade decks assembled with framing nails, which remains the fastest installation method, but can lead to maintenance headaches down the road.
How long should decking nails be?
The length of the nail depends on the thickness of the material being fastened. A good practice is to use nails at least double the length of the thickness of the wood – 1½” thick lumber, use 3” (10d) to 3½” (16d) log nails. Common nails have a wider diameter than box nails and may split 5/4” deck boards.
Should deck boards have a gap?
When using wood decking, you want a gap of at least 1/8 of an inch after your decking has dried out. If you’re using decking that’s already been dried out, you can leave a 1/8-inch gap when you install. Many decks will use “green” wood, or wood that hasn’t been dried down or kiln dried.
How many nails should be on a deck board?
Look at the ends of the boards and install the decking “barkside” up to prevent cupping. Install decking with 3″ pressure-treated compatible deck screws instead of nails. Use two nails for each joist to deck board connection.
Do you leave a gap between decking boards?
Proper Gap between Decking Boards When installing decking boards, make sure to leave 1/4 to 1/8 inch gaps in between them. This gap will make sure that the decking can breathe, have sufficient drainage, and make it easier to clean.
Can I use 1×4 for decking?
Width of material: We recommend only 1×4, 5/4×4 or narrower boards. Never use 1×6 or 5/4×6 material in close to ground applications. Spacing between boards: You must allow space for your deck boards to expand when they take on moisture, as they will inevitably do when exposed to wet weather, rain or high humidity.
What kind of nails do you use for pressure treated wood?
The manufacturers of ACQ, CA, ACZA and CCA and the treated wood industry are all recommending hot-dipped galvanized nails and stainless steel nails and screws with their treated wood products.
What size is a 16d nail?
What is a 16d Nail? A 16d nail is one that’s 3-1/2-inches long.
What can a brad nailer be used for?
A brad nailer is a light-duty tool. It might be used for adding narrow decorative moldings to plain panels or under stair treads. These tools are popular with crafters and model makers. They are often used for making birdhouses and bat boxes.
What size screw should I use for decking?
A good all-around choice is #10 decking screws—generally in 2 1/2- to 3 1/2-inch lengths. Decking screws are sharp, tapered, self-sinking, and coated for corrosion resistance. With a cordless drill/driver, you can drive them about as fast as nails.
What size screws 19mm deck?
For fastening 140 x 19mm decking it is recommended to use 10g x 65mm stainless steel decking screws. Pilot holes should be 15mm from the edge.
Which way should deck boards run?
On most decks, the decking boards run parallel to the house and across the joists (either perpendicular or at a 45 degree angle).
How do you stagger deck boards?
A common method for staggering a deck is to start the first row with a full plank, then cut one-third of the next row’s first board off the end. The row after that has an additional one-third cut off and then repeat when you get back to a full board.
How much should deck boards overhang?
The decking should overhang the joists between ¼ and 2 inches beyond the end joists and rim board. The amount of overhang you should leave depends on your deck board materials: Most wood decks: ¼” to 1 ¾”.
Can I use 2×6 joists for a deck?
2×6 joists should only be used on ground-level decks that do not require, and will not provide for, any guards. Most decking is not strong enough to support longer spans than 16″. Some builders reduce joist spacing to 12″ on center to strengthen the deck frame or to increase maximum allowable joist spans.
How many screws do I need for a 12×12 deck?
The general rule of thumb for standard deck fasteners is 350 screws for every 100 square feet of decking, which is based on standard 6″ wide boards (5-1/2″ actual), and 16″ joist spacing.
How many screws do I need for an 8×10 deck?
You will need 10d and 8d nails, which equate to 3-inch and 2 1/2-inch screws. You will need at least 300 of the larger fasteners, which attach the deck to the joists, and around 150 of the other type.
