Asked by: Bryant Agmir
business and finance construction industry

Is it OK to use screws on joist hangers?

25
The manufacturers agree: Never use galvanized deck screws or drywall screws to install joist hangers. Those screws don't have the shank size and toughness to support joist loads.


In this regard, do I need to use joist hangers?

You don't need joist hangers if you're not attaching to a structure and hanging joists off a ledger or if you don't have a flush beam. Deck screws have very little shear strength - they should NEVER be used to connect joists in any way shape or form.

Beside above, how do you fasten joist hangers? Attaching Joists with Hangers
  1. Hanger Nails. Use short joist-hanger nails to attach the hanger to a ledger or a single header.
  2. Longer nails for the sides. When driving through the sides of the hanger, use longer nails.
  3. Make a Scab Guide.
  4. Drive the tab.
  5. Drive Nails.
  6. Hang the joist with a bent over nail.
  7. Attach the hanger.
  8. Scab onto the joist.

Keeping this in consideration, is a joist hanger stronger than nailing?

According to McEntee, “A joist hanger or hurricane tie connector will provide a stronger and more reliable connection than toe-nails.”

How much weight can a joist hanger hold?

Because you want a deck that can hold at least 55 pounds-per square inch, you multiply seven by 55, showing you that you'll need a joist hanger that can support 385 pounds. Upon inspecting various joist hangers, you'll notice information stamped on the side of the hanger and on the bottom; this is crucial.

Related Question Answers

Abdelhabib Duvenkropp

Professional

What can I use instead of joist hangers?

The most popular option is a joist hanger. However, options other than hangers may need to be considered depending on what kind of deck is being built. Alternatives to using metal joist hangers are ledger strips, sliding dovetails or mortising and dowels.

Iru Imbrogno

Professional

Is it better to nail or screw deck boards?

Deck screws are the best, hands down. Nails will rise up and create a hazard and they tend to corrode more quickly. Screws are more expensive but hold better and won't corrode if you use the correct type.

Ghulam Lucaci

Professional

Are screws stronger than nails?

Another benefit of screws is their resistance to withdrawal pressure, or the tendency of surfaces to pull apart. That said, nails are stronger than screws of the same length, and are better able to withstand “shear” pressure—which is the tendency of two joined pieces to slide past each other.

Johnattan Garcia Loygorri

Explainer

What size nails should I use for framing?

Nail size is more important than you might think when framing interior walls. Nails that are too long or fat are difficult to drive and can split wood, while short or thin nails just don't do the job. The best nails for framing are 3 1/2 inches long. These are called 16-d, or "16-penny," nails.

Amjid Twieling

Pundit

Are deck screws structural?

Your normal wood screws are not structural. Standard screws are brittle. However, on one deck I built last year I used a ton of structural screws. I have a couple of times had the head snap off of a structural screw when driving them in, and three of them snap when a small machine hit some lumber.

Gonzalina Schlossmacher

Pundit

What length deck screws should I use?

Most decking screws are 8-gauge and, while 2 1/2 inches is the minimum length needed to hold decking boards to the joists, 3-inch screws are commonly used to provide extra holding power against the upward pressure of shrinking or warping boards. Specialty decking materials have different requirements.

Arcangel Monig

Pundit

Should you use screws or nails for joist hangers?

Outdoors use 16d double-dipped galvanized nails (or stainless steel when called for) for installing hangers. The manufacturers agree: Never use galvanized deck screws or drywall screws to install joist hangers. Those screws don't have the shank size and toughness to support joist loads.

Jolie Ilyas

Pundit

Is toe nailing strong?

Face-nailed joints aren't particularly strong (especially when the workpieces being fastened are perpendicular to one another), but the technique is fast and easy. Toe-Nailing. In contrast, toe-nailing produces a strong joint. The technique requires a pair of nails, driven at opposing 45-degree angles.

Lau Gaite

Pundit

Can you use screws for framing?

Framing lumber is typically fir or similar softwood, and screws often do not require pilot holes. With their coarse threads, screws hold better than nails and have more withdrawal force resistance than nails. Screws are less likely to pop out or surface than nails when wood expands or contracts.

Tamas Pecador

Teacher

When nailing 2x6 inch joists What nail should be used?

In a 2x6 joist I'd use 8 nails, 4 per side.

Yee Wouter

Teacher

How many nails are in a joist hanger?

* A common joist size in Multinail software is 40x90 joist hanger which uses 5 nails per wing into supporting member and 3 nails each wing to carried joist or truss.

Rozalia Dierkop

Teacher

What is blocking in framing?

Blocking (in American English) is the use of short pieces (blocks) of dimensional lumber in wood framed construction. Uses include filling, spacing, joining, or reinforcing members. Blocking is typically made from short off-cuts or defective, warped pieces of lumber.

Anisio Minge

Beginner

How much weight can a 2x10 joist hold?

In fact, each 2x10 will support 1,200 lbs. To be clear, spans are measured as "clear spans". That is to say, from face of support to face of support. Also, if your BBQ is located in the middle of the span so that people can stand around the BBQ, then there will be an additional "Live Load" acting on the joists.

Jianfen Manfredi

Beginner

Which is stronger c16 or c24?

C24 Grade - C24 graded sawn timber is a premium structural timber with fewer and smaller knots than C16 grade. It is stronger and therefore used where wider spans or higher loads are required. Due to its faster growth rates, homegrown UK timber can only be graded as C16.

Dandan Nagappa

Beginner

Can you use deck screws for joist hangers?

Using Deck Screws on Joist Hangers
Regular deck screws often consist of hardened steel, which might snap under such stress. Although specialty screws are available for joist hangers, hanger manufacturers typically advise against using common deck screws for installing their products.

Iona Grone

Beginner

What is the purpose of a joist hanger?

Joist Hangers, as the name suggests are designed to hold timber joists in place. If you install them properly, joist hangers will keep your decks and floors strong as wood dries, twists, shrinks and ages. They come in many shapes and sizes to fit different beams and framing configurations.

Marisca Dierksmeyer

Beginner

What size nails should I use for joist hangers?

Indoors or out, for standard-type single joist hangers, use only 1-1/2 in. joist hanger nails for nailing into the side of the joist (Photo 5); for double hangers, use 8d or 10d nails. For double shear single hangers (Photo 4), fasten the hanger to the joist(s) with longer 8d or 10d nails.

Florentino Angelique

Beginner

How much weight can a 2x12 hold?

One 2x12 can support about 180 lbs. per foot or about 2,100 lbs. total for a 12' span.