A deck is a fantastic place to watch the sunset, have friends over, play outside, eat breakfast, and more. You want your deck to not only look great now, but also last for years to come. Whether or not it does comes down to which building materials you're using. The materials, right down to the very nails, are going to be a big factor in how sturdy the deck is. Speaking of nails, you have a big problem right now. You have some loose nails!
How to Fix Loose Deck Nails
Fasteners are what holds your deck together and so they are the most common point of failure in building a deck. One of the most common needs for deck repair involves nails popping out of the floorboards. These can not only compromise the integrity of the deck, but they are also a major safety hazard. You need to fix your loose nails right away.
Step #1 Remove the Lose Nails
Walk the deck slowly and inspect the deck, being sure to pay close attention to each board. Once you locate a popped nail you can use the pry bar section of the hammer to remove them.
Step #2 Replace the Nails
Hammering the popped nails back into the deck is only a temporary fix. Due to the fact that the nail popped out, the hole has already become slightly larger than the nail. At this point, it is much safer to replace the nail. Use stainless steel nails that are the same size as the other nails in your deck. Line the nail up close to the previous hole and nail it in place.
Step #3 Make Sure it Doesn't Happen Again
You can and should stop this from happening again. After the popped-up nails have been replaced, you can now make sure it will not happen again. In order to do this, place a deck screw next to the nail you drove into the deck and screw it in place. Make sure that it is close enough so that the head of the screw slightly covers the top of the nail. This prevents the nail from popping up again. Then, spread wood putty over the holes of both the screw and the nail. Use the putty knife to smooth the putty over the hole and make it flush to the boards. You're all finished!
Order Fasteners From Fastener USA
Deck repair is important to get done right. Do your nails keep popping up? There are a wide range of nails and outdoor screws made especially for decking, so how do you know which is the best for building a deck? Which fastener options will be able to withstand years of rain, wind, corrosion, and walking around on it? You can contact us by calling 1 (877) 593-2723 or emailing sales@fastenerusa.com. We're here to answer all of your nail-related questions!