Just realized that old timer on a framing crew was actually right about nails

Back when I started out 6 years ago, this grizzled guy named Pete told me to skip the screw gun and just use a 30 degree nailer for deck framing. I thought he was just being lazy. Last month I had to tear off a deck I built 4 years ago with screws because the joists started cracking around the heads. Every single one was a pain to back out. Meanwhile Pete's old deck from 2018 is still solid as a rock. Has anyone else had an old school carpenter give you advice that you brushed off and later realized was the better way to go?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sean2mo ago

Screws have their place but framing decks with them is asking for trouble, Pete was just saving you the headache. You really think a few cracked joists are worth getting worked up over?

noah_webb1mo ago

Idk man, I used to be all about screws for everything but after seeing a few posts like this I'm starting to think maybe nails really do have their place for stuff like joists.

the_phoenix2mo ago

My buddy Mike used them on his platform and it sagged like three inches in a year.