Deck and porch fastener question

[A930Rocket]

What would you use to fasten 1x4 slats on a porch/deck? It would have to be something used a nail gun and stainless steel (due to treated wood)

A finish nail seems too small even if nailed repeatedly. In the picture below, you can see only two nails and obviously not enough.

Thanks

[VINMAN]

I use 2 1/4 or 2 1/2" galvanized siding nails in my gun for that.

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[gregpark]

A finish nailer will work if you want to minimalize the nail heads showing. But shoot them in at a 30° tilt in opposing angles 2" apart. They'll hold that way with a clean look. Make sure you load up the galvanized for outdoors

[A930Rocket]

Thanks, guys.

I was thinking something like a six - eight penny nail.

[gduke2010]

I would use deck screws. Pilot drill with a tapered counter sink and screw with Teflon deck screws. Nails will work loose over time. Weather will cause the boards to twist and move working the nails loose/ screws will hold longer than nails.

[drcoastline]

An 8d would work.

Be careful what fastener you choose; the new treated lumber (last twenty years or so) is copper impregnated. you need an ACQ fastener to prevent galvanic corrosion. We have a big problem here with the fasteners disappearing and decks falling down. Not all Galvanized nails will hold up. look for the little yellow oval with ACQ in it.

There is a little info here, take a minute and read.
http://www.treeisland.com/company/news-events/what-fasteners-work-acq

[flatbutt]

In my limited experience I've found that most gun nails lack a large enough head to prevent thinner boards from popping loose due to weather changes. FWIW.

[Reg]

Look up ‘trim head screws’ as they’re great.

[ckelly78z]

I have always used square head deck screws, and had good luck.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by gduke2010

............ Nails will work loose over time. Weather will cause the boards to twist and move working the nails loose/ screws will hold longer than nails.

Correct.

[john70t]

Small pilot hole with self-tapping coated/stainless?
I've become a fan of the torx drive.

https://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/fasteners/drive-screws-that-dont-corrode

[gregpark]

It's usually not the nail working loose but rather the board working loose due to repeated expanding and contracting with temperature swing. Nailing at opposing angles rather than straight in allows the nails to keep the board holding tight. Even with my framing nailer I nail at a slight angle. The shank of the nail then can help hold the board tight instead of just the nail head.

I screw deck boards down at a slight angle too but for additional reason. Rain water follows the deck screw down and the screw thread path eventually rots out in the joist. A slight opposing angle to the screws and the deck boards can't pop up even when the screw thread is not doing its job anymore.

[A930Rocket]

I wish we could screw everything together, but these are are mid 600k+ tract homes, so I think a bigger nail with head will work. All nails are stainless steel, nothing else.

I like the idea of installing them at a slight angle.

[look 171]

Sounds like there are lots of nailing in your future. Be nice to that quiet compressor.

Stainless 18d ring shank mail will do the trick. Yep, like always nail at slight angle to lock em' in place. I drive two in slight opposite angle and go and collect your big fat pay check

[gduke2010]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I wish we could screw everything together, but these are are mid 600k+ tract homes, so I think a bigger nail with head will work. All nails are stainless steel, nothing else.

I like the idea of installing them at a slight angle.

Stainless ring shanks hold well, too. Are they expensive?