BecomJnend ilt" tight -r , nailsTot all \Hi"t sales!

Ni"r"t, panel sales down with the correct fastener recomme n dations and you will have a happy customer.

In general, recommend 6d (3") and 8d (4") common and box nails for most subfloor, wall and roof sheathing applications. Panel thickness detemrines the size with 6d suggested for panel thicknesses ll2" or thinner and 8d for thicker.

APA Rated Sturd.I-Floor, however, uses 6d ring or screw-shank nails for glue-nailed fastening of panels 19132" and 23132" thick and 8d ring or screw-shank nails when panels arc 718" or 1-3132" thick. Common nails in 8d size may be substituted for the 6d ring or screw-shank or 10d for 8d ring or screw-shank with 1-1l8" panels. The same recommendations apply for Sturd-I-Floor that is nailed only, but common nails may not be substituted.

6d and 8d common nails should be sold for use with APA Panel Subflooring with the smaller size being used when panel thickness is ll2" or thinner.

APA Plywood Underlayment

1/4" thick applied over smooth subfloor or lll32" thick over a lumber subfloor or uneven surface requires 3d x l-114" ring-shank nails with a minimum l2-ll2 gauge shank diameter. If underlayment panels are 19132" to 314" thiclq 4d x l-1l2" ringshank nails, minimum L2-ll2 gauge shank diameter are necessary.

APA Rated Siding, either panel or lap, applied directly to studs or over nonstructural sheathing needs nonstaining box, siding or casing nails. Hot dipped or hot-tumbled galvanized steel nails are recommended for most siding applications. Stainless steel nails or aluminum nails provide the best performance. APA tests also show that electrically or mechanically galvanized steel nails appear satisfactory when plating meets or exceeds thickness requirements of ASTM A641 Class 2 coatings and is further protected by yellow chromate coating.

Size should be 6d for siding l/2" or less and 8d for thicker siding.

Recommendations for APA Rated Siding over nailable sheathing including APA 303 Siding are the same.

Galvanized fasteners should be avoided since they may react under wet conditions with the natural extractives of some wood species and cause staining. Staining is minimized when siding is finished or when a roof overhang protects it from direct exposure to moisture and weathering.

Common, smooth, annular, spiralthreaded or galvanized box nails in 8d size are recommended for all APA Panel Wall Sheathing. (This was recently changed from 6d or 8d.)

Recommended fastening for APA Panel Roof Sheathing specifies 8d common smooth or defonned shank nails for 5/16" and l" thiclness and 8d ring or screw-shank or 10d common smooth shank nails for 1-118" panels.

Plywood roof decks under special coatings use 6d common smooth or ring or screw-shank nails for lll32" and 15132" thicknesses with 6d ring or screw-shank for l9l32 and23l32" thicknesses. An 8d ring or screwshank is recommended for 7/8" thickness. Deformed shank nails may be used for curved surfaces.

APA Panels for a closed soffit or a nonstructural ceiling use require 6d nonstaining box or casing nails for lIl32" and 15/32" thiclness and 8d nonstaining box or casing type for 19132" thickness.

Interior paneling requires casing or finishing nails with 4d suitable for 714", 6d for 5/16" and lll32" -I12", and 8d for L9132"-314" and Texture l11.

Story at a Glance

Ways to improve panel sales by recommending the correct nails ... American Plywood Association specif ications for specific applications.

A salesperson's recorlmendations for nailing might include the caution that predrilling is occasionally necessary when nails must be very close to panel edges. Suggest selecting a drill bit of slightly smaller diameter than the nail to be used when doing the job. Remember to ask if the customer needs to add the correct size drill bit to his purchase.

Nails for most panel applications are normally spaced about 6 inches apart. Closer spacing is needed only when thin panels, which might otherwise buckle slightly between nails, are being used.