Stainless nail PSA

[mcbane]

Just thought I would share a cautionary tale. Code now requires super corrosive PT for sill boards, and requires either HD galvanized nails or SST nails to resist corrosion.

But there at least a few observations of nail gun HD nails failing, so SST nails seem safer.

Probably true but there is a hazard not reported by code officials: SST nails go through nail guards like butter.

See photo of non-SST vs SST nail fired by nail gun into nail guard behind 1/2” sheathing. Old style steel nail crumples. SST nail punches through like the guard wasn’t there. Good thing code officials are watching out for our safety.

 

[Jeff C]

What kind of treated? I’m surprised the stainless nails go through the nail plate. But… to be honest I don’t recall ever seeing anyone rough in plumbing or electrical prior to sheathing the walls. I’ve only ever seen nail plates on the interior side. Maybe some type of shear wall for earthquakes I don’t know about or other west coast differences???

 

[mcbane]

What kind of treated? I’m surprised the stainless nails go through the nail plate. But… to be honest I don’t recall ever seeing anyone rough in plumbing or electrical prior to sheathing the walls. I’ve only ever seen nail plates on the interior side. Maybe some type of shear wall for earthquakes I don’t know about or other west coast differences???

The PT has copper azole. Unfortunately stub ups out of slab for DWV and electrical conduit are there before the wall is framed, so sheathing must get nailed after the pipe is there.

Lots of ways to avoid problems with SST nails if you are aware of what can go wrong. I just thought I would share the info in case it saves someone else a headache.

 

[Zeke]

Copper stub ups should favor the near side of the exterior wall. Is that a 10d or 16? With today's 2 x 6 standard ext walls, neither should reach the copper. Not to say it won't reach 2" plumbing, so there is a good point here.

Now, how to fix this other than roughing in correctly?

 

[egdede]

What kind of treated? I’m surprised the stainless nails go through the nail plate. But… to be honest I don’t recall ever seeing anyone rough in plumbing or electrical prior to sheathing the walls. I’ve only ever seen nail plates on the interior side. Maybe some type of shear wall for earthquakes I don’t know about or other west coast differences???

I agree, I dopn't think it is contemplated that nailing plates protect against framing nails.

 

[Jeff C]

Lots of ways to avoid problems with SST nails if you are aware of what can go wrong. I just thought I would share the info in case it saves someone else a headache.

I really would have thought it would be the opposite and the galvanized nail go through. I don’t have much experience with stainless framing nails but the stainless screws I’ve dealt with have not been very strong. They’ve always been prone to snapping off. Could be the torque on a screw vs the straight driving force on a nail. Someone with a metallurgy background could probably enlighten us.

 

[mcbane]

Copper stub ups should favor the near side of the exterior wall. Is that a 10d or 16? With today's 2 x 6 standard ext walls, neither should reach the copper. Not to say it won't reach 2" plumbing, so there is a good point here.

Now, how to fix this other than roughing in correctly?

Need a Time machine to fix by roughing in correctly In any case, the pipe I needed to repair was 3” ABS in a 2x6 sill. Not much clearance either side of pipe. And hit by 10d nail.

Fortunately lots of foam around the pipe where it exited concrete so possible to glue a coupler below the damage.