Types of Construction Nails: What To Use In Different Situations

Nails are arguably the most common materials used within the construction industry. Although simple in both their design and purpose (to act as a fastener for other objects), they come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and materials to suit a variety of requirements.

Here are some of the different types of construction nails available, and which situations to use them in. 

Common Nails

As the name suggests, common nails are familiar to most people as the everyday nail used for routine jobs and projects. Consisting of a slender metal shaft that’s pointed at one end and flat at the other, the common nail is ideal for a variety of different jobs – from basic DIY within the home, to more intricate assignments within the construction industry. Common nails are available in multiple lengths and sizes, starting at one inch and extending to six inches.

Roofing Nails 

Roofing nails are designed to be able to hold roofing materials in place, with heads that are larger in proportion to the shank in order to keep them firmly in position. Roofing nails can also come with a spiral shaft like a corkscrew so that they can be fitted onto a wider variety of materials. Some are also designed with a washer-like disc fastened under the head that is used to increase the surface area it’s fitted to, to keep it strongly secured.

Duplex Nails

Duplex nails, sometimes referred to as double-headed nails, are called so due to the two flat heads they have as opposed to one. While the first head is lower so that it can rest flush against the surface that it’s fastened on to, the second head sits above the surface for greater ease when you need to remove it.

Due to their simpler removal compared with common nails, duplex nails are popular choices for short-term constructions such as scaffolding or temporary structures.

Masonry Nails

Masonry nails are particularly popular within the construction industry because of their impressive strength. They are used to strike into hard and tough surfaces such as concrete buildings. Masonry nails are available in more than one style, with some shafts being fluted and indented and others being quadrangular in particular sections. These different features make them a super versatile nail, capable of being used for a range of different constructions without bending or snapping.

Box Nails

Box nails are available in a range of lengths and sizes, from one inch to three and a half inches. In appearance, they look fairly similar to common nails, though they’re slimmer so that they can be driven into materials such as wood without causing splits or splinters. This makes them ideal for smaller jobs; they’re not recommended for large-scale construction projects that require a substantial amount of structural strength, as they’re simply too thin to provide the power needed.

Finishing Nails

Finishing nails are commonly used in work that requires a professional and flawless finish, as the nails have smaller heads than most others meaning they’re not as noticeable when fixed into the material 

Wooden structures or decorative constructions that have a neat finish would benefit from finishing nails - so that they’re not obvious on a close inspection. Finishing nails come in a variety of different sizes, from one inch to four inches in length.

Collated Nails

 Collated nails are one of the most popular styles of nails used in construction due to their efficiency. They are linked in strips and used in a nail gun. While the specific type of nail can vary, the term mostly refers to the strip in which they’re attached and connected to - often consisting of plastic wire, paper or glue. 

Sinker Nails

Sinker nails are both short and thin in appearance and are most commonly used in areas that are hard to reach.

Sinkers have several rings at the top of the shaft and are then smooth to the point, with the top rings helping to achieve a secure and solid hold once it’s in the material. The nails are usually coated in vinyl or cement; this is so that once friction has heated the nail, the vinyl or cement coating can melt to create a smooth drive. This creates an adhesive bond once cooled.