Nails
Use Hot-Dipped Galvanized,
Aluminum or Stainless Steel
Hot-Dipped galvanized, aluminum and stainless
steel nails are all corrosion-resistant and can
be used to nail Western Red Cedar. Other types of
nails are not recommended. They can rust and disintegrate
and react adversely with the natural preservative
oils present in cedar resulting in stains and streaks.
Copper nails also react with cedar and should not
be used.
Stainless steel nails are the best choice, especially
if the siding is to be finished with transparent
stain. Use No.304 stainless for general siding
applications and No.316 for seacoast exposures.
Nails: Type, Size and Spacing
For best results use "splitless"
siding nails. These have thin shanks and blunt points
to reduce splitting. For greater holding power,
nails with ring threaded or spiral threaded shanks
are suggested. Nails with textured heads can be
used to reduce glossy spots at the nails when finishing
(see Figure 2 for nail types).
Nails should be driven with care. Heavy nailing
distorts the wood and may cause splitting. At
mitered corners, near edges and near ends, nail
holes may need to be pre-drilled to avoid splitting.
The size of the nails to use depends on the type
and thickness of siding. Good building practice
is to use nails long enough to go through underlying
materials, such as sheathing and insulation, and
penetrate at least 1-1/2" into solid wood
or 1-1/4" if using ring or spiral shank nails.
See Table 3 for recommended nail lengths for various
thicknesses of siding.
Siding should be fastened
to each stud or furring strip with nails spaced
at a maximum of 24" on center
Nail placement depends on the siding pattern
and width. The key is to fasten the siding securely
without preventing it from moving in response
to the moisture content of the air. In general,
each piece of siding must be nailed independently.
Nailing overlapping pieces together restricts
the natural movement of each piece and will cause
splitting.
Table 3. Minimum Recommended
Nail Lengths for Cedar Siding Over Wood Sheathing
(Nailed at Studs)
| Siding Type* |
Siding Thickness
(inches) |
Nail Type and Length (in.) |
| Smooth Shank |
Ring or Spiral Shank |
| Bevel |
1/2 |
2-1/4 (7d) |
2 (6d) |
| 5/8 |
2-1/4 (7d) |
2 (6d) |
| 3/4 |
2-1/2 (8d) |
2-1/4 (7d) |
| 7/8 to 15/16
|
3 (10d) |
3 (10d) |
| 5/4 rabbeted
|
3 (10d) |
3 (10d) |
| Boards, T&G and
Channel |
5/8 |
2-1/4 (7d) |
2 (6d) |
| 3/4 |
2-1/4 (7d) |
2 (6d) |
| 7/8 |
2-1/2 (8d) |
2-1/4 (7d) |
| Battens for Board and Batten
|
3/4 |
3-1/4 (12d) |
3 (10d) |
*For application over foam sheathing, add the thickness
of the foam to the tabulated nail length. |
