What are Nails?
Nails are versatile fasteners for joining wood, sheathing, roofing, and other building materials. We stock common styles for framing and general construction along with specialty options for roofing, siding, concrete, finish trim, and cabinetry.
How to choose nails
- Material: carbon steel for most framing, galvanized for outdoor exposure, stainless steel for coastal or corrosive environments, brass or silicon bronze for decorative or marine work.
- Shank type: smooth for general use, ring or spiral for higher pull-out resistance, threaded or annular for subfloors and softwoods.
- Head style: common or flat for strength, roofing heads for shingles, finish or casing heads for trim where putty can hide the hole.
- Length and gauge: pick length by substrate thickness and holding power, pick gauge by tool and material thickness.
- Coating: bright or plain for interior, electro-galv or hot-dip galv for weather exposure, polymer or cement coatings for smoother driving and added hold.
Common sizes, materials & finishes
- Lengths: 3/4 in to 6 in depending on type.
- Shanks: smooth, ring, spiral, screw, barbed.
- Materials: low-carbon steel, stainless 304 or 305 or 316, aluminum, brass, silicon bronze.
- Finishes: bright, zinc plated, electro-galvanized, hot-dip galvanized, polymer-coated, cement-coated.
Typical applications & industries
- Framing, decking, fencing, and temporary bracing
- Trim, casing, baseboard, and cabinet assembly
- Roofing shingles and underlayments
- Siding, fascia, and exterior millwork
- Concrete or masonry attachment with hardened nails
- Upholstery and light carpentry with brads and staples
Installation & best practices
- Select a nail long enough to penetrate the base material adequately for the load.
- Match shank type to pull-out risk, use ring or spiral where vibration or uplift exists.
- For exterior work, use galvanized or stainless to reduce corrosion staining and failures.
- Drive flush without over-driving, for trim set and fill as needed.
Troubleshooting & pro tips
- Splitting thin trim: Use 18 ga brads or pre-drill near edges.
- Nails backing out: Switch to ring-shank or increase length and penetration.
- Rust streaks outdoors: Upgrade to hot-dip galvanized or 316 stainless.
- Visible holes in finish work: Use brads or smaller heads and fill or paint.
Finish nails vs brad nails
Brad nails 18 ga are thin and leave small holes, ideal for delicate trim, bead, and light moldings where splitting is a concern. Holding power is moderate and often paired with adhesive for larger parts.
Finish nails 15 to 16 ga are thicker with more grip, suited for casing, baseboard, jamb extensions, and stair trim. They create slightly larger holes that are easy to fill. If parts are heavy or subject to handling, finish nails are the safer choice.
- Choose brads for thin stock, detailed profiles, and minimal touch-up.
- Choose finish when the piece carries load, gets bumped, or needs stronger attachment.
Ring-shank vs smooth nails
Smooth shank nails drive easily and are common for general fastening where withdrawal loads are low.
Ring-shank nails have raised ridges that lock into wood fibers, providing substantially higher pull-out resistance. Use them for subfloors, siding, roofing, and any application with vibration or uplift. Expect slightly more driving force and reduced removability.
Why buy Nails from AlbanyCountyFasteners.com
- Wide selection across framing, roofing, finish, brad, concrete, and specialty nails
- Interior, exterior, and marine-grade materials including hot-dip galvanized and stainless options
- Quick shipping with bulk pricing and contractor-friendly pack sizes
- Knowledgeable support to help spec the right nail for your job and tool
FAQs
What length nail should I pick for trim?
A common rule is 2 to 2.5 times the thickness of the piece you are fastening, while avoiding blowouts and hidden services.
Which nails are best outdoors?
Use hot-dip galvanized for most exterior projects. In coastal or highly corrosive environments, step up to 316 stainless steel.
When do I use ring-shank instead of smooth?
Choose ring-shank for subfloors, roofing, siding, or anywhere vibration or uplift can pull fasteners out. Smooth shank is fine for light interior work and temporary assemblies.
Are finish nails interchangeable with brads?
No. Brads are thinner for delicate trim and minimal holes, finish nails are thicker for stronger holds on casings and baseboards.
Do you carry nails by material and coating?
Yes. Options include bright steel, electro-galvanized, hot-dip galvanized, polymer-coated, aluminum, brass, silicon bronze, and stainless steels 304 or 305 or 316.