How to Choose the Right Nails For Your Home Improvement Job

When it comes to selecting the right nails for your projects, you first need to know a little bit about each type of nail available. If you haven't completed many different home improvement jobs, you may be surprised at the variety and choice of nails that are available to you. While you may think that a nail is a nail, you'll be shocked how disastrous your project becomes if you purchase the wrong type. Most hardware stores sell many different types of nails, including the ones listed below.

Nails are generally made from steel, either plain or galvanised, but some are made from brass, aluminium, and copper. Nails come in many different sizes and lengths, as well. The most common type of stick nail features a flat head and works for most tasks. They come in various lengths and are fairly cheap. They do, however, leave behind a visible nail head. Common nails work fine for most small tasks, but they may not hold together well enough for other, larger and more structurally demanding projects.

If you need something a bit more specialised, you may want to look at these different types of nails:

?Box nails are similar to common nails in that they both have large, flat heads. However, box nails have a lighter gauge than common nails. You'll want box nails if you're working with wood that may split easily. However, box nails may not hold as well as other types of nails.

?Finish nails, on the other hand, have much smaller heads. They're the nail of choice for projects in which you don't want visible nail heads. Once they're hammered in, you can barely see finishing nails.

?A brad is a type of nail that is very similar to a finishing nail but with one exception: instead of a flat head, brads have rounded heads that are even smaller than those on finishing nails.

?For roofing projects, you'll want dedicated roofing nails which are designed to tack down shingles. Their heads are larger than those found on common nails, and they're specially coated to prevent rusting. For most roofs, one to two inch roofing nails are used.

?Coated nails are covered with a resin that works kind of like glue. These nails are great if you need some extra holding power.

?Threaded, or coil nails, are the strongest types of nail out there. They have as much holding power as wood screws, but they can be easily hammered in. These nails are excellent for more structurally demanding projects such as cabinets that will hold a lot of weight.

?Finally, masonry nails are made from extra-strength steel and feature grooves that give them extra holding power. However, because of these grooves, they must be driven in straight, and it generally takes a heavy duty hammer or small sledge hammer to drive them in. If they aren't driven in straight, there's a chance the nail could bend or even break.

It is very important that you use the correct fastener for your application otherwise you risk producing substandard work or even a structurally unsafe job.

Mark Scriven, marketing expert and author, writes articles on the internet, travel and home improvement. Stanley Bostitch offer a full range of Fasteners for construction and home improvement work including stainless steel nails, galvanised nails and many other type of fasteners.