What type of nails do I need for my fence?

What type of nails do I need for my fence?

When you’ve spent time and money choosing and installing your dream garden fence, the last thing you want is for it to fail or look unsightly due to nails not holding or going rusty making them weak. To help avoid this happening, this blog will answer some common questions about what nails are used for fencing and why. We’ll discuss the different materials and nail finishes, what the various types of nails are such as plain wire and ring shank and when to use them, and how rust can ruin your fencing. 

How rust can damage your fence

As you can see from the picture, this fence has been put together using low quality nails that have gone rusty and leaked rust down the fence. Rust is when iron (a compound of steel) reacts with oxygen and water. As fences are installed outside, they are guaranteed to come into contact with both, making them highly susceptible to rust. Fences in gardens near the sea are even more prone to rust, as the salt in the sea air accelerates the oxidisation process.

Rust on a fence has an ugly appearance. It produces an orangey brown substance which stains the wood as it bleeds down the fence. Not only does rust look bad, it also damages the integrity of the timber so that it will eventually splinter and break down, loosening nails and forcing them to fall out until the fence finally falls apart. Rust causes varying degrees of damage depending on the levels of oxide in the metal and will affect any treated or non-treated timber fence. While our fences are resistant to rot and insect attack, timber cannot be protected against rust, which is why it is so important to use high quality galvanised or stainless steel nails. If poor quality nails are used during the installation of your fence, this will affect your guarantee if it becomes damaged as a result of rust.

What’s the difference between a bright, galvanised or stainless steel nail?

Bright

Bright nails have no surface coating, and are very susceptible to rust and corrosion, so they should never be used for fencing or where they will be exposed to the elements. Bright nails should only be used for internal interior projects.

Galvanised 

Galvanised steel is regular steel that has been hot dip coated in zinc to make it corrosion resistant. The zinc layer creates a barrier between the metal and the surrounding environment, including water. Galvanised steel is a cheaper alternative to stainless steel and is suitable for use with pressure treated timber. Galvanised nails can become clogged during the hot dipping process, making it difficult to create a detailed surface; therefore galvanised nails are usually smooth rather than textured. We offer premium galvanised round wire nails in a variety of gauges and lengths suitable for many fencing applications.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is produced by mixing ordinary steel with 10% or more of chromium when it is in its molten state, which creates a strong metal that prevents rusting. Stainless steel is generally stronger than galvanised steel and has a bright, shiny surface giving a good aesthetic appearance. Due to the extensive manufacturing process, stainless steel is more expensive than galvanised steel. Fences being installed in coastal areas should opt for stainless steel, as it offers more protection from the salty sea air. Stainless steel nails are able to have textures and rings, providing a more secure fixing with increased friction. We offer stainless steel ring shank nails with a 2.65mm gauge and 50mm length, commonly used for attaching pales to rails on our traditional (kit-form) fencing ranges.  All our contemporary panels use stainless steel nails throughout.

What’s the difference between round wire and ring shank nails?

Ring shank nails

As the name suggests, ring shank nails have ridges or spirals which can increase the holding power substantially. The ridges grip into the wood, providing friction which helps to prevent the nail from loosening or falling out over time. 

• Good for attaching pales to rails in traditional fencing to provide additional holding power
• Harder to remove so need to be precise

Round wire nails

Round wire nails have an almost smooth shank which allows them to drive into the wood more easily. They provide strength and are generally used in areas that will not be seen.

• Suitable for most applications unless specified otherwise
• Easier to install and remove in case of a mistake being made

What size nails do I need?

The size of the nail depends on the application, but here are some general guidelines of when you might need different size/type nails when installing fencing and garden landscaping products.

30mm nails - galvanised round wire nails:
• Used when cutting down a framed fence panel

50mm nails - stainless steel ring shank nails:
• Used to attach pales to rails in our Traditional Featherboard system

50mm nails - galvanised round wire nails:
• Used throughout our Traditional Palisade system

75mm galvanised round wire nails:
• Used in our Jakoustic® systems for nailing boards to posts
• Used for fixing the gravel board to rails in our Traditional Featherboard fencing system
• Used with our Decking for fixing joists to posts
• Used with knee rail fencing to attach rails to posts and straps to rails

100mm galvanised round wire nails:
• Used in our Post and Rail (Nailed) for nailing rails to posts
• Used for attaching rails to posts in our Kissing Gates
• Used within our Chestnut fencing system.