QA

Question: What Size Nails For Wall Sheathing

The demand/capacity calculations for sheathing-attached systems are based on 6d common or 8d box nails with 6” o.c. edge and 12” o.c. field nailing that fasten 15/32” or thicker plywood or OSB to rafters at 24” on center. Building codes since the late 1990s have required sheathing nails to be at least 8d box (.

What size nails are used for sheathing?

Traditional sheathing material typically comprises 15/32-inch plywood or oriented-strand-board (OSB) panels. Builders generally use 8d common nails, which are approximately 2 ½ inches long and 131/1000 inch wide in diameter.

What size nails do you use for 7 16 OSB?

For example, according to the table, 7/16″ OSB (Oriented Strand Board) wall sheathing may be fastened with 6d common, box or casing nails OR 1-3/4″ 16 gage staples at 6″ on center at the panel edges and 12″ on center in the field (special conditions apply for shear walls).

What nails should I use for OSB sheathing?

A hammer and 8d nails are standard for installing OSB, but you can speed up the installation by using a nail gun.

Can I use a framing nailer for sheathing?

The answer is, yes. Framing nail guns can be used for siding installation, if the nail being used is long enough to attach the siding firmly to your exterior wood sheathing. While it’s recommended to always use a siding nail gun for siding installation, in a pinch, you may be able to use a framing nailer instead.

How long is a 6d nail?

Answer: A 6d nail is 2 inches long. Note: The “d” means “penny.” For example, a 10d nail is a 10-penny nail.

Is 7/16 OSB OK for garage walls?

Both OSB and Plywood are strong enough to take a reasonable amount of load when used as sheathing for garage walls. So you can hang tools etc. directly on to them.

What is a #8 nail?

The “d” stands for penny, so 8d refers to an 8-penny nail, 16d to a 16-penny nail and so on. It was associated with nails when they were hand-forged, one at a time. Some say a hundred 3-1/2 inch nails would have cost 16 pennies and thus became known as 16-penny nails.

Should sheathing be vertical or horizontal?

On roofs and floors, sheathing is installed perpendicular to supports because this is the orientation that results in the strongest roof or floor. Wind loads perpendicular to a wall are similar to floor and roof loads, and installing sheathing horizontally makes walls better at resisting wind pressure.

Should I nail or screw OSB?

Nails are often preferred for structural joining, including framing walls, because they are more flexible under pressure, whereas screws can snap. Nails are also called upon when securing plywood sheathing for exterior walls, installing hardwood floors, and attaching siding and roofing.

Can you use screws on OSB?

You only need a #8 wood screw that is 1 1/2 inches long for 5/8 inch OSB or at most 2 inches long for 3/4 inch plywood. Also, deck screws have a coating that helps protect the screw from exterior exposure, which is not needed indoors. Deck screws will also cost more than the screws needed for your subflooring.

How thick should sheathing be?

The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that 7/16-inch sheathing is the minimum appropriate thickness for structural wall sheathing with an exception for gable end walls, where the minimum thickness is 3/8 inch.

Can I use a roofing nailer for sheathing?

1 Answer. Roofing nails are a bad choice for attaching sheathing. The wire gauge is too small and the hardness of the nail shank is much less than a framing nail.

How big are framing nails?

The best nails for framing are 3 1/2 inches long. These are called 16-d, or “16-penny,” nails.

Can you use a nail gun on OSB?

“You can bang together stud walls, laminate structural headers, attach plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing to walls and roofs, etc.”.

When I’m installing my studs in a wall what size nails should be used to do this?

The rule of thumb with nails 2 points if you get the pun is that you should choose a nail that is three times as long as the thickness of the material you are fastening. If you want to hold 1/2″ drywall to a stud wall, the length of the nails should be at least 1 1/2″. This is a reasonable guide most of the time.

Which side of sheathing goes out?

When installing in vertical applications such as wall sheathing, you’ll want to orient the smooth or stamped side facing out. The smooth side has a better moisture resistance and will ultimately provide better performance against weather.

How do I know what size nail to use?

The accepted rule of thumb is the nail length should be 21/2 times the thickness of the wood you are nailing through. Thus, for 1-inch-thick material, you would use an 8-penny nail and for 2-inch-thick material, you’d use a 16-penny nail.

What is the difference between 6d and 8d nails?

A 6d nail is 2 inches long and an 8d nail is 2.5 inches long. 12d nails are 3.25 inches long and 16d nails (16 penny) are 3.5 inches long.

When nailing 2×6 inch joists what size nail should be used?

In a 2×6 joist I’d use a total of 8 8d or 10d nails, 4 per side, typically 8d in size or in some cases 10d – these are the most-commonly-used nail sizes when toe-nailing 2x framing lumber as unless you’re using box nails, larger nails tend to split the lumber, especially when, as in your photo, they’re nailed too close.

How thick should plywood be for garage walls?

The exact answer is 3/8-inch, and it’s the minimum plywood thickness. The International Residential Code specifies 3/8-inch plywood for sheathing walls with a standard stud spacing of 16 inches, if the siding is nailed to the studs through the sheathing.

Is OSB stronger than drywall?

OSB is tougher and easier to hang, while sheetrock is easier to paint and looks neater. Fire-Rated OSB offers a great alternative to sheetrock, yet for a higher price tag. Regardless of which product you decide to use, your garage will be more comfortable and usable with finished walls.

What is the R value of 7/16 OSB?

7/16” OSB R-Value = 0.51.