Many years ago I wrote a blog mail detailing one of the about mutual deck defects that I notice: improper joist hanger nails. The issue detailed in that blog post was the use of 1-½" nails in places where full-size 10d nails are supposed to exist used. The prototype below shows the difference between these ii nails.

Joist Hanger Nail Comparison

The details on improper joist hanger nails

Information technology's acceptable to use these shorter nails to fasten the joist hanger directly into the ledgerboard, but most joist hangers likewise require nails to be driven at a 45-degree bending through the joist and so into the ledgerboard. When brusk nails are used at the joist they don't make it into the ledgerboard, so no support is added.

Nails in joist hanger

The easiest style to determine if short nails were used at this location is to look underneath the joists. In most cases there will be a few joists that aren't butted upward tight to the ledgerboard, and the tips of the nails volition exist visible if the short nails were used:

Decks - short nails at joist hanger labeled

The other way to tell is to simply pull a nail out. When the correct nails are used, they're actually tough to become out. When the incorrect ones are used, they come out pretty easily; I just use a mini pry-bar that I carry around in my tool pouch to pry a short blast.

Mini Pry Bar

What to practise when this defect is found

The reason for my update on this weblog mail is that the largest manufacturer of joist hangers, Simpson Strong-Tie, has put out a alphabetic character giving direction on how to right this item defect. In short, the set is to remove the brusque nails going into the joist and install Simpson's #9x2½" SD Connector screws.

Short joist hanger nail repair

Click the following link to see the full document: Repair of LUS Joist Hangers Installed with 10dx1-½" Nails. This document also lists the newly calculated load capacities, which I can't imagine myself always using every bit a home inspector. I get out that stuff up to the engineers.

Is this defect a big bargain? No, probably not ... but as you can encounter, the repair isn't a big deal either. For an average deck, the repair will probably take a $20 box of screws and about an hour of someone's time.

Writer:Reuben Saltzman,Structure Tech Abode Inspections

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