NAILS vs SCREWS - Which Is Best For Fence Building?

Nails or screws? An age old question that has been divisive in the fencing industry. Today I'm telling you which one my fence company uses and why! By the end of the video you'll now which is better... nails or screws?
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[@RedChief000]

As a DIY'r, I would go with screws; specifically a screw with a star/torxx head (not phillips) that I will drive w/ a impact driver.

[@rjdestiny-mx4ir]

Ring shank nails for the stringers and screws for the picket. I prefer screws for the pickets simply for maintenence if i need to yank a picket here or there because it warped or split then it makes it easier to replace. When it comes to factoring for production then nails will always win. But most of us watching are not doing fences for production. We are diy'ers trying to do this project as best we can while figuring it out as we go. So production is not normally a concern. Thats more of a business way of thinking. We are simply trying to get perfect results. Also being in the midwest and the four season climate, almost every older fence i see has some issues with nails pulling out. Between wind, dogs, kids. Toys, freeze and thaw etc etc. The fences with nails in my area deff have alot of stress put on them.

[@Pepe-dq2ib]

How many times have you had to remove a picket?

[@rjdestiny-mx4ir]

@Pepe-dq2ib not to often. If I'm lucky it's maybe once or twice a year. Kids and dogs pound on it

[@johnshanahan6439]

Screws for the stringers & nails for the pickets. Been doing it for a few years.

[@kamac1980]

Maybe not for a pro, but I’ve built 200linear feet of shadow box banging in spiral nails by hand. Simpson brackets with 8d nails for framing rails. Spiral nails for pickets. With toeing out the picket nails at opposing angles, it would be very tough for them to pull out. It was a lot faster than screws and easy to set the nail heads flush with the boards for a nice finish

[@Jerhyn7]

Seven words to make algorithms love you.

[@jayels3036]

Screw everything

[@Justalittleoutoftown]

I just started doing shorts on my fence work. The most comments I get are you have to use screws or it will fall down in a year or 2. There is a job in town I installed in 1994. Still standing with boards intact.

[@gpzjeffrey7974]

If using either nails or screws, choose stainless! Cedar has a compound in it that dissolves and rusts anything coated or galvanized, leaving ugly black streaks running down the pickets.

[@littleerve]

What if you angled the nails in the pailing, one slightly upwards and one slightly downwards? Sometimes I do that for gyprock fixings.

[@pjpbossin9457]

So basically depends if you have nail gun or not

[@larryharvey5818]

As always, YMMV but, my experience is this... 600 feet of shadowbox fence. Central Texas sun/heat. 5 years in, ring shank nails were pulling out at a rate of 20-40 nails per year. I replaced with screws, one by one as needed. 15 years later, nails were still failing... None of the screws had backed out or lost grip. Just pulled all pickets to replace and it was well worth my time to screw in all 1,000+ pickets. Again, YMMV. Thank Joe... You were my guide during my rebuild of the fence.

[@derekp6636]

tbh DFW homeowner here, same issue. I like to use the nail gun to line everything up then go back and hit it with screws to secure. I've never done a whole fence but many fixes....

[@myrhev]

I prefer screws so that it is easier to fix things when a panel rots.

[@Gerberous]

I tack the pickets with smaller nails, run a level chalk line then run in screws. Gives a much better quality look.

[@derekp6636]

@@Gerberous yep that nail gun is too handy to get em all lined up and square but it just wont hold long term to the micro-blasts in my neighborhood.;

[@Gerberous]

@@derekp6636 lol on a good day it’ll hold until after lunch

[@nosvibes9786]

Hey joe. Absolutely love your content, i finished my fence last year and still watch everything you post, just because you have such professional and educative content. Keep up your amazing work helping people all around the globe Much love from canada

[@JoeEverest]

Thank you so much, appreciate the support!

[@CVMGAM]

drive the nails or screws below the surface level of the picket (and the entire project in fact) & apply wood filler. Sand it off smooth & no worries about anything.

[@jr303official]

Customers always want screws. They don't want to pay the labor and material cost for screws tho.😂

[@user-lc7ob4qr4b]

CLASSIC HOME OWNER LOL, wants cheapest price with most expensive material/products,and in quickest time possible. Suuuuureee

[@WhiskeyPapa42]

If you have to replace a picket that was attached with ring shank nails, how does the existing nail hole impact putting in a new nail? I would assume pulling out the ring shank would open the bore enough that another nail in the same bore wouldn't have the same holding power. Should the 1st hole be plugged before putting in a new nail?

[@user-im4mo2zv8f]

We are a physical manufacturer in China, we produce fence machinery, nail making machine, wire drawing machine and other machines. Let me know if you need anything.

[@user-vo3ur4wd1s]

I’m building 700 feet of fence in central Florida… I want advice as far as moisture and hurricanes in central Florida we don’t get direct hits we get maybe a 60 mph gust I’m thinking of screws all around what do you think I’m going 36inch in ground with my post using concrete 6x6 corner post 7 foot tall

[@ranger2316]

Pinellas County here. I use deck screws. I've never had a problem.

[@ajdonally1522]

I think screws grab better..with cedar fence id prefer it...but the cost of stainless steel screws is wild..almost 0.25 each!

[@stevietazz4165]

Depends on the wind in the area, low wind ring shank, high wind or shoreline im recommending screws or even split rail with zero fasteners

[@elishasfire1969]

Does joe have a channel where he shows putting up a fence or working , i mean all i see is him reacting or criticrizing other channels, maybe his a fake , i never seen him put up a fence on youtube someone link me a video plz

[@woofy548]

I've never seen him actually build anything.

[@JerodMatlock]

Stainless carriage bolts or wood screws on wood-to-steel brackets and why?

[@Pepe-dq2ib]

might as well weld everything.

[@notsure7874]

Shoot in a ring shank nail, then get a cats paw and try to pull it out. That's all that needs to be said about how much different ring shanks are. You've got about a 50/50 shot at getting the nail out vs breaking off its head.

[@user-nt8he1sb9z]

BEST IS DRILL WITH TORQUE

[@ranger2316]

As a DIY guy... I always use screws. I don't have the fancy compressor or nail gun, so the point is moot with me. Speed is also not a factor. I have never had a problem with the screws in my fences.

[@JoeEverest]

Appreciate you sharing your perspective! Thanks for watching!

[@chris76-01]

I've seen some nails that are super hard to get out but i usually prefer to use screws when doing fencing. 😊

[@Greybeardmedic]

Dear Joe, I enjoy your channel, and as a DIY guy who likes to do a lot of research on projects I am very well versed on the characteristics of many different types of fasteners, and the deep opinions of the users. Unfortunately I think you have a problem ahead of you on this subject, because the veracity by which people will defend their method is merciless so even if you nail the subject on the head, you are still screwed. Good luck sir!

[@bobthedragon2105]

Hello

[@frankly2677]

Nails? Screws? I use nuts and bolts 🤣

[@Billpimentel82]

Srews all the way, they do take longer to install, but last!!!!

[@Funnyboy2402]

Screws for the rails and nails for the pickets. Then its easy to remove a panel if neede in the future. Some of the ringnails also come with glue on the tip and they are almost impossible to get out again compare to a nail. And as you say if you need to change a picket in some years it dosnt matter so much as its already broken or will break when you change in any how. And the pickets are not that expensive. What 5-10$ each or somwthing like that. What takes time when you install a fence is not so much the pickets. Its more the poles and the rails as thats what have to be straight for the rest of the fence to look nice the next many years to come.

[@user-im4mo2zv8f]

We are a physical manufacturer in China, we produce fence machinery, nail making machine, wire drawing machine and other machines. Let me know if you need anything.

[@brianbanks3044]

when I saw the title, I thought Screws definitely but after seeing the costs and productivity of the ringed nails, I would go with the nails now.....even if I had to drive the nails in with a hammer, they still would be faster than screws and with the rings on the nails, I don't see them pulling out too easily...sure, some screws could be used on the posts and rail boards but you could still use the ring nails with success although I would use bigger nails on them than the pickets

[@JoeEverest]

💯 thanks for watching and weighing in!

[@finallyfriday.]

Staples for pickets, nails for rails. 100 year old fasteners for a 25 year fence is pointless. Vanity only. "I use railroad spikes!"