Why use nails?

[headey]

This is a general quesry, which is: What are the relative merits of nails and screws?

Given that so many creaking floorboards or 'popped' plaster is the result of nails that have worked loose, why not always use screws? The builder of a friend's extension used nails on the roof joists. However, these were driven home with hammers, which seemed to me to be slower than using a power tool on a screw.

I've seen videos of builders in the US using nail guns, which are obviously very quick. Obviously, if the need is to prevent lateral movement, then nails are perfectly good. However, when boards are subject to a pulling force, nails can (and do) work loose. Then again, a screw head might become difficult to use if distorted or filled with glue or paint.

So, which to use and when?

[big-all]

the only nails i use are 18 and 16 gauge nails in my pin guns as the heads are so small great for pinning ply to backs and drawer bases and txg v groove cladding also fence panel stave pinning

everything else is screwed

[stevei]

Nails have a better tensile strength than screws, are easier to install and far less brittle so are preferred for construction situations.

[wine~o]

Just to add to what stevei, said it's mainly to do with the shear strength, nails withstand lateral forces much better than screws.

[dewaltdisney]

Nails are cheaper than the special connector screws designed for the purpose see https://www.strongtie.co.uk/en-UK/produ ... tor-screws. Nail guns are certainly used by framers and roofers as well as manual hammered nails. Plasterboarding out is more often held by drywall screws and you can get belt-fed screw guns to speed the process. Chipboard flooring is in the main glued along the tongue and groove joint and screwed to prevent creak.

DWD

[Grendel]

It was explained to me sometime ago that drywall screws in plasterboard will offer greater fire resistance. Basically a nail will heat up and burn it's hole enlarging it and leading to a quicker collapse.
I've worked with a number of architects in restoration who seemed to have the ability to change things around so screwing things together did allow relatively damage free taking down. Screws were also used where vibration was an issue such as above a delicate ceiling.
Nails as mentioned have good or better sheer strength but are quicker than screwing in general. They can also be driven through and clenched for extra strength.
During restoration we would commonly use stainless fixings. The screws are a bit softer than steels and will chew up the heads easier . They need specfic driver bits and often require predrilling. Funnily enough I remember the storeman saying one day that 4" stainless nails were more expensive than the screws although I only had his word for that.

[headey]

Thanks for all the answers. I hadn't known about the sheer strength of nails compared with screws. Good to know. I have had experience with steel and stainless screws of similar size and have managed to snap stainless screws far easier than steel ones - so that agrees with Grendel's answer.

[Grendel]

We almost exclusively used stainless in restoration and they were A2 . We have occasionally used A4 fixings although I think that might have been just bolts and coach screws. I can remember a conversation in the office one day. Some chippies had been sent to put some hoarding up but they only had stainless nails with them so of course thats what they used. One manager was complaining about the cost but another was defending them as they had really been sent without information as to what they were going to be doing... The stainless do bend and chew up and I'd collect them all untill Ihad a bagful and then they'd get weighted in down the scrappy.. On another positive side I have used them for a few outdoor projects at home and when all the wood rotted away the screws and nails are still good to use.