11 Types of Nails Every Homeowner Should Know About


by Alexey | Tools Tips Decor Workshop | Monday, July 29, 2019

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It's hard to find a DIYer who doesn't use nails in his projects. It is even more difficult to find a person who understands all types of nails and their uses. Today we want to take you one step further into the “charming world” of nails and tell you about 11 of the most common types of nails and where to use them .

Finishing nails

Used for finishing work. The barrel-shaped heads of these nails are small and can be recessed under the surface of the wood. These nails are useful for attaching lightweight decorative items, repairing small wood pieces, and other times when you need to hide the nail head.

Larger finishing nails, which have increased holding capacity, are used to attach door and window casings, baseboards and lining.

Carpentry and furniture nails

Carpenter's nails, also known as cladding or trim nails, were specifically created for decorative work. They are characterized by a long head of a semicircular (usually) shape and a small diameter.

This shape makes the nails almost invisible after driving - so we can use them to install decorative strips, panels and visible furniture elements.

Dowel-nails

This type of nail has a metal shaft with a smooth surface without threads. The fastener itself is made of metal and expands in the wall hole during driving using a specialized tool. Fastenings using a metal dowel-nail are quite difficult to dismantle, so they require a long service life.

Such nails are used when installing suspended ceilings and all kinds of metal frames.

Special types of construction nails

There are several types of construction nails with very specific uses. We are talking, for example, about roofing nails. They are a subset used primarily in the installation of insulating bituminous coverings and also for joining thin metal members and sheet metal flashing members attached to wood supporting structures.

A characteristic feature of roofing nails is a flat and wide head. Its diameter is approximately three times larger than the diameter of the pin, making fastening roofing felt or other elements easier and more efficient. The roofing nail shaft itself can be of different lengths.

  • Some construction nails have a characteristic shape, determined by the specific location of application. These are mainly corner, ceiling and hanging nails.
  • Ceiling nails are shaped like hooks (check out galvanized hooks) and are used to attach a variety of materials to the ceiling, perhaps a wall or wood beams.
  • Loop nails are distinguished by the absence of a head, while corner nails can be used to install window corners or window sills.

Construction nails also include assembly nails, which are used, among other things, for working on load-bearing roof structures. They are twisted to form a strong bond with the material into which it is driven. They also have a conical bead at the base of the head to stabilize the nails.

Corrugated nails

The nails have special transverse notches on the metal rod, evenly applied over the entire surface. The corrugated nail is designed to increase the strength of the connection due to notches that do not allow the hardware to reverse. Designed for reliable, high-strength connections when installing wooden structures such as plywood, OSB and others.

GOST 4028-80

These products are galvanized. They can be used when working inside or outside the house when assembling wooden structures. Such fasteners guarantee the strength and reliability of the connection. There are irregularities near the nail head that improve the quality of the adhesion. To produce such products, carbon steel is used, which can resist rust.

Dimensions and diameter of construction nails

Table 2 - Dimensions of construction nails

SizeNail diameter, mmNail length, mm
1.2x161.216
1.2x201.220
1.2x251.225
1.4x251.425
1.6x251.625
1.6x321.632
1.6x401.640
1.6x501.650
1.8x321.832
1.8x401.840
1.8x501.850
1.8x601.860
2x40240
2x50250
2x60260
2.5x502.550
2.5x602.560
3x70370
3x80380
3.5x703.570
3.5x803.580
3.5x903.590
4x1004100
4x1204120
5x1005100
5x1205120
5x1505150
6x1506150
6x2006200
7.6x2507.6250
8x2508250
8x3008300
8.8x2508.8250
8.8x3008.8300

Screw nails

It has a curved rod with edges, as if twisted along its length. Used to connect wooden surfaces with increased levels of pull-off and bending loads. This type of nails is also used in the construction of structures with high levels of humidity, for example, piers, as well as in frame house construction and for the exterior finishing of buildings with wood.

Table 2. Theoretical mass of nails

Nail size dxl, mmWeight of 1000 round nails, kgNail size dxl, mmWeight of 1000 round nails, kg
0.8 x 80,0321.8 x 601,16
0.8 x 120,0512.0 x 400,949
1.0 x 160,1002.0 x 501,19
1.2 x 160,1472.5 x 501,87
1.2 x 200,1832.5 x 602,23
1.2 x 250,2193.0 x 703,77
1.4 x 250,3023.0 x 804,33
1.4 x 320,3853.5 x 906,6
1.4 x 400,4824.0 x 1009,5
1.6 x 250,3974.0 x 12011,5
1.6 x 400,6335.0 x 12017,8
1.6 x 500,7915.0 x 15021,9
1.8 x 320,6406.0 x 15032,4
1.8 x 400,7876.0 x 20043,1
1.8 x 500,9678.0 x 25096,2

Double head nails

A double head nail is a variation of a regular nail. It is used to create temporary structures, such as collapsible greenhouses, scaffolding, and temporary ladders. An interesting nail design, the bottom head of which holds the material in place. Subsequently, the nail can be easily pulled out without breaking the structure.

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Table 3. Wood thickness, depth of cut and permissible load on nails.

Nail sizes, dxl, mmMinimum wood thickness, mmMinimum face depth, mmPermissible shear load N1, N
without pre-drillingwith pre-drilling12d8dfor coniferous woodfor oak and beech
without pre-drillingwith pre-drillingalways with pre-drilling
2.2 x 45 2.2 x 5024242718200250300
2.5 x 55 2.5 x 6024243020250310375
2.8 x 6524243423300375450
3.1 x 65 3.1 x 70 3.1 x 8024243825375460560
3.4 x 90 3.8 x 100 4.2 x 110 4.6 x 13024 24 26 3024 24 26 2841 46 51 5627 30 34 37430 525 625 725540 650 775 905650 780 930 1090
5.5 x 140 5.5 x 1604035664497512201460
6.0 x 180 7.0 x 210 7.6 x 230 8.8 x 26050 60 70 8835 45 46 5372 84 91 10648 56 61 701120 1450 1640 20601400 1800 2050 25751680 2170 2460 3090

Anchors

The anchor nail is designed for connections using mounting plates. The tapered head gives a strong and non-playing connection. The working part has a notch, which increases the fastening force. The length of the nail is influenced by the required joint strength and the thickness of the material. Dimensions: 40x4.0 / 50x4.0 / 60x4.0 / 75x4.0 and 100x4.0.

Products for bituminous materials

A roofing or roofing nail has a very large head compared to the diameter of the rod - 8–12 mm. The length is small - from 25 to 40 mm. The large diameter cap allows you to hold soft material - bitumen shingles, roofing felt, other types of flooring, and prevent their deformation.

Only galvanized products can be used, since the roof is constantly in contact with rain and snow.

Bituminous material is attached to wood, fiberboards, etc., so there is no need for a spacer here. Installation is the most common - hammering.

Special types of fasteners are in fact no less common than universal ones. In addition, it is special nails that have the best balance of performance and durability, since they are designed for operation under very specific conditions.

Using a gun to secure fasteners

The most common type of fastener is construction nails, which come in different types according to the degree of protection:

  • black nails without a protective layer;
  • galvanized, coated with a layer of zinc;
  • copper-plated, protected from water and steam;
  • brass plated, absolutely resistant to corrosion;
  • chrome plated, characterized by optimal cost.

To increase productivity and speed of nailing, construction guns are used to help automate the installation process. In this case, it is necessary to select the correct mode of operation of the device and ensure full compliance with safety measures.

Varieties

There is a different type of nail for almost every purpose. For roofing - roofing, slate. For finishing - finishing, etc. Over time, some of the functions of nails were taken over by other hardware, such as self-tapping screws. But in some cases, nails are irreplaceable, more convenient, and easier to use.

We wholesale the following types of nails:

  • roofing They differ from conventional construction ones by having a wider cap and are used for attaching mainly soft roofs to the base.
  • slate. They are used for fastening slate and corrugated sheets to the roofing wooden base.
  • ruffled. The surface of the rod has notches that provide a tighter fit into the material and make it more difficult to disconnect. They are used in cases where it is necessary to create the most durable connection; sometimes they are used instead of self-tapping screws. The reliability of fastening is approximately 4 times higher than when using a conventional nail.
  • screw; They have a screw thread on ⅔ of the rod. Due to the thread, the nail enters the material, twisting, thereby providing greater adhesion force. Designed primarily for products that can bend under load: walkways, pallets, wooden containers, furniture structures.
  • finishing. They form a hidden fastening, since the cap barely exceeds the thickness of the rod and remains almost invisible, providing a decorative effect. Used for finishing work and installation of platbands.
  • galvanized and black construction. The simplest and most versatile. They can have a zinc coating or do without it. Uncoated fasteners are called black fasteners. They are cheaper, but have less strength and are more susceptible to corrosion, so they cannot be used in places with high humidity.
  • staples. U-shaped products with two pointed ends. Suitable for fastening beams and logs, laying floors, fixing supports, creating panels.

Packing of all types of nails except staples - 5 kg per package. The number of hardware will depend on their parameters.

Drywall hardware


To fasten plasterboard sheets, a special type of screw nail with a relatively large head is used. The hardware has a threaded knurl, so it is not driven in, but screwed into the material.

Depending on the thickness of the metal profile to which the sheet is attached, different types of products are used. Thus, when fixing to a profile with a thickness of less than 0.7 mm, ordinary pointed nails are used. And when attaching to a profile of 0.7–2.2 mm - products with a drill.

The choice is also limited by the frame material. Options for metal and wood differ in thread pitch.

  • When attaching anything to a wall or to drywall, the best option would be numerous and varied dowel nails: butterfly, molly, driva, and so on.
  • If the fastening is carried out on the wall and involves a small load - embroidery in a frame, a small painting, then drywall nails can be used as fasteners.
  • It is permissible to use only dowels on the ceiling.

To fasten plasterboard sheets, a special type of screw nail is used, which will be discussed in the video below:

Advantages of using fasteners when carrying out various works

By looking at the proposed photos of nails, you can visually evaluate their characteristics and choose the best fastening option for independent use.

In addition, when choosing the necessary accessories for connecting different elements and constructing structures, it is necessary to take into account the advantages of their use:

  • universal fastening of homogeneous or different materials in the process of carrying out all kinds of work;
  • correctly selected nails for their intended purpose can withstand different types of loads during operation;
  • a wide range of fasteners offered, suitable for performing various work processes and procedures;
  • ease of use and ease of installation with the ability to use not only a hammer, but also other tools;
  • long service life of the connected structures and the fasteners themselves, provided they are chosen correctly.

Products for mesh

A specific and highly specialized type of fastener. Mesh nails are U-shaped with points on both ends. A fastener is used to secure the mesh and cables. Easily dismantled.

Both black and galvanized hardware are available. The latter are used for external work. The most common sizes: 25*2, 30*3, 35*3, 45*3 and 50*4.2 mm.

Plaster dowel-nail for mesh

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