QA

What Size Nails For Deck Framing

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 to use for decking joists?

Toenail decking joists into position along the wall ledger using a galvanized 16d nail. Make sure the top of the joist is even with the top of the flashing on the wall ledger so that decking will go on evenly. For outdoor work, use hot-dipped galvanized nails; for indoors, use common (not sinker-type) nails.

Can you use nails for deck frame?

Screws or Nails is one of the biggest questions when it comes what type of fastener to use. For example, deck framing often uses nails. While nails often seem inferior to screws, they have three benefits that make them worth using in your framing: Shear Strength.

Should I use nails or screws for deck framing?

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.

What size screws deck framing?

Most decking screws are 8-gauge and, while 2 1/2 inches is the minimum length needed to hold decking boards to the joists, 3-inch screws are commonly used to provide extra holding power against the upward pressure of shrinking or warping boards. Specialty decking materials have different requirements.

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.

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.

How far apart should deck joists be?

For residential decking, the joist space should not exceed 16 inches as measured on the centre. But if you want a more rigid feel for your decking, you can space the joist by 12 inches on the centre. Additionally, for commercial deckings, the standard joist spacing is 12 inches on the centre.

Should deck boards be butted together?

We recommend butting treated deck boards together because as the moisture dries from the wood, the boards will shrink and naturally form gaps to allow water drainage. (Depending on moisture content, cedar, cypress and especially hardwood decking may require deliberate spacing for consistent joint sizes.)Jun 21, 2010.

How long should screws be for 5 4 decking?

Use these tips to get the sizing right for your deck fasteners: Decking: Fasten 5/4 decking with 21/2-inch coated screws or 12d ringshank or spiral nails.

What size screws 2×4 framing?

Screws that measure 2 1/2 inches are more appropriate for two-by-fours placed flat, allowing you to bury the head as needed. If you’re angling the screw, such as in a toenail application, or when end nailing—driving through the broad face of one two-by-four and into the edge or end of another—you can use longer screws.

What are the best screws for framing?

As for screws, two popular framing options are structural screws and construction screws. A good standard screw would be a number 9, 2.5-inch construction screw. A few other tips: When choosing the length of nail or screw, the fastener should be 1.75 to 2 times the length of the pieces you are connecting.

Can you use 2×6 for deck joists?

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.

Is toe nailing strong?

Toenailing not only makes a strong joint but also is a great way to coax stubborn boards into position. Photos 1 – 3 walk you through the basic steps of toenailing. The key to success is starting the nail in the right spot and angling it a little steeper than 45 degrees.

What size nails are used for wooden cross bridging?

Fasten Bridging Between Joists Use 6d or 8d nails for bridging.

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 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.

Can you use 1 inch boards for a deck?

The deck board thickness of all TimberTech Multi-Width Decking is 1”, making these boards ideal for builds with standard 16” joist spacing (but unsuitable for commercial applications with 24” spacing).

What is a 5 4 inch board?

5/4 means approximately 1-1/4″ thick. 6/4 means approximately 1-1/2″ thick. 8/4 means approximately 2″ thick.

Can I use 2×4 for deck boards?

For the deck surface, you can use 2x4s, 2x6s, or 5/4x6s. The 5/4 decking (pronounced “five-quarter”), available in cedar and pressure-treated fir, is 1 inch thick and 5-1/2 inches wide with rounded edges that make for a splinter-free surface.