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Nailing Code
Standard wood-frame construction requires a lot of nails. Here are the nailing requirements for most timber-frame construction, along with a few other items worth knowing.
| Construction Detail | Minimum Length of Nail | Minimum Number or Maximum Spacing of Nails | |
| mm | Inches | ||
| Floor joist or blocking perpendicular to sill plate or top wall plate below – toe nail | 82 | 3.23 | 2 per floor joist or blocking |
| sill plate or top wall plate – toe nail | 82 | 3.23 | 150 mm (o.c.) |
| Wood or metal strapping to underside of floor joists | 57 | 2.24 | 2 |
| Cross bridging to joists | 57 | 2.24 | 2 at each end |
| Double header or trimmer joists | 76 | 2.99 | 300 mm (o.c.) |
| Floor joist to stud (balloon construction) | 76 | 2.99 | 2 |
| Ledger strip to wood beam | 82 | 3.23 | 2 per joist |
| Joist to joist splice (see also Table 9.23.14.8.) | 76 | 2.99 | 2 at each end |
| Tail joist to adjacent header joist | 82 | 3.23 | 5 |
| (end nailed) around openings | 101 | 3.98 | 3 |
| Each header joist to adjacent trimmer joist | 82 | 3.23 | 5 |
| (end nailed) around openings | 101 | 3.98 | 3 |
| Stud to wall plate (each end) toe nail | 63 | 2.48 | 4 |
| or end nail | 82 | 3.23 | 2 |
| Doubled studs at openings, or studs at walls or wall intersections and corners | 76 | 2.99 | 750 mm (o.c.) |
| Doubled top wall plates | 76 | 2.99 | 600 mm (o.c.) |
| Bottom wall plate or sole plate to floor joists, rim joists or blocking (exterior walls)(1- see note below) | 82 | 3.23 | 400 mm (o.c.) |
| Bottom wall plate or sole plate – in required braced wall panels – to floor joists, rim joists or blocking (exterior walls)(1- see note below) | 82 | 3.23 | 150 mm (o.c.) |
| Interior walls to framing or subflooring | 82 | 3.23 | 600 mm (o.c.) |
| Required braced wall panels – in interior walls – to framing above and below | 82 | 3.23 | 150 mm (o.c.) |
| Horizontal member over openings in non-loadbearing walls – each end | 82 | 3.23 | 2 |
| Lintels to studs | 82 | 3.23 | 2 at each end |
| Ceiling joist to plate – toe nail each end | 82 | 3.23 | 2 |
| Roof rafter, roof truss or roof joist to plate – toe nail | 82 | 3.23 | 3 |
| Rafter plate to each ceiling joist | 101 | 3.98 | 2 |
| Rafter to joist (with ridge supported) | 76 | 2.99 | 3 |
| Rafter to joist (with ridge unsupported) | 76 | 2.99 | See table 9.23.14.8 below |
| Gusset plate to each rafter at peak | 57 | 2.24 | 4 |
| Rafter to ridge board – toe nail – end nail | 82 | 3.23 | 3 |
| Collar tie to rafter – each end | 76 | 2.99 | 3 |
| Collar tie lateral support to each collar tie | 57 | 2.24 | 2 |
| Jack rafter to hip or valley rafter | 82 | 3.23 | 2 |
| Roof strut to rafter | 76 | 2.99 | 3 |
| Roof strut to loadbearing wall – toe nail | 82 | 3.23 | 2 |
| 38 mm × 140 mm or less plank decking to support | 82 | 3.23 | 2 |
| Plank decking wider than 38 mm × 140 mm to support | 82 | 3.23 | 3 |
| 38 mm edge laid plank decking to support (toe nail) | 76 | 2.99 | 1 |
| 38 mm edge laid plank to each other | 76 | 2.99 | 450 mm (o.c.) |
(1) Where the bottom wall plate or sole plate of an exterior wall is not nailed to floor joists, rim joists or blocking in conformance with Table 9.23.3.4., the exterior wall is permitted to be fastened to the floor framing by
a) having plywood, OSB or waferboard sheathing extend down over floor framing and fastened to the floor framing by nails or staples conforming to Article 9.23.3.5., or
b) tying the wall framing to the floor framing by galvanized-metal strips
i) 50 mm wide,
ii) not less than 0.41 mm thick,
iii) spaced not more than 1.2 m apart, and
iv) fastened at each end with at least two 63 mm nails.
Length of nails:
It’s important to note that “all nails shall be long enough so that not less than half their required length
penetrates into the second member.” [9.23.3.2 (1)]
Rafter nailing:
Sheathing requirements:
Nailing of beams:
Per 9.23.8.3(7), "where 38 mm members are laid on edge to form a built-up beam, individual members shall be nailed together with a double row of nails not less than 89 mm in length, spaced not more than 450 mm apart in each row with the end nails located 100 mm to 150 mm from the end of each piece."Bolts may also be used. See here for more on building and splicing beams.
Nailing of lintels:
Lintels shall be fastened together with not less than 82 mm nails in a double
row, with nails not more than 450 mm apart in each row. [9.23.12.2(2)] For more on construction and framing of lintels, see here.
Other considerations
When to use screws:
For the most part, screws - especially deck screws - are not permitted for use in framing situations. The only screws that can be used are those that are specifically tested for the situation. These will bear a designation "ASME B18.6.1". Some other engineer-approved screws may be used in certain situations (such as specific brands of fasteners for decks.) If in doubt, use nails.
Doors/Hinges:
Hinges to wood doors attached with wood screws 25 mm long or more; and to wood frames “so that at least 2 screws per hinge penetrate not less than 30 mm into solid wood.” (9.7.5.2(6)(a).) It’s important to note that in this case, the hinge-side attachments must find purchase in an adjacent stud, not just into the wooden door frame material.
Strikeplates for deadbolts:
Strikeplates for deadbolts ... shall be fastened .”to wood frames with wood screws that penetrate not less than 30 mm into solid wood...” (9.7.5.2(7)(a))
Handrail fastening:
Attachments must be no more than 1.2 m apart, and be fastened into framing or blocking with screws that have at least 32 mm of purchase. (9.8.7.7(2)(c))