Thread: Treated pine lapped fence palings - can they be screwed

paling fences should always be put up with screws. nails do not work in the long run.

screwing a paling fence up is much quicker than nailing it.

use treated pine screws i get tehm in boxes of 5000 pretty cheep.

paling fences should always be put up with screws. nails do not work in the long run.

screwing a paling fence up is much quicker than nailing it.

use 40mm treated pine screws i get tehm in boxes of 5000 pretty cheep.

Originally Posted by weisyboy

paling fences should always be put up with screws. nails do not work in the long run.

screwing a paling fence up is much quicker than nailing it.

use treated pine screws i get tehm in boxes of 5000 pretty cheep.

Thanks for the advice.
A box of 1000 screws would almost be enough for me.
And they are not that more expensive than nails.
I might use 65mm screws, for the top lapped palings.
They would never move, though 50mm would probably be sufficient.

Another advantage would be that you could remove individual palings, if required.

One disadvantage is the screw heads are pretty big and prominent, compared to nails heads.

I have put up dozens of treated pine paling fences. Although the nails dont look like they will hold, over time, they corrode slightly and the wood dries out. This has the effect of holding them in very tightly. In fact, after a few months, you will be breaking the paling off around the nails before they come out. That is, using 65 mm flat head nails. You can use gal ones if you wish, but the posts have often rotted before the nails give way.

If you have a long length to do, hire or borrow a coil nailer, you will find it heaps faster.

There is nothing wrong with screws, just a lot slower.

Make sure you leave 25 mm overlap, and that you don't screw or nail the cover paling to the bottom one. The palings will shrink heaps - I mean HEAPS, and if you havent allowed enough overlap, you will have gaps. if you have nailed through the two, they will split.

Happy fencing!

Originally Posted by quercus

I have put up dozens of treated pine paling fences. Although the nails dont look like they will hold,

especialy when half teh palings are lyign on teh ground.

over time, they corrode slightly and the wood dries out. This has the effect of holding them in very tightly. In fact, after a few months, you will be breaking the paling off around the nails before they come out. That is, using 65 mm flat head nails. You can use gal ones if you wish,

if you use bright steel nails the rusting will crack the paint or leave dirty brown makes on unpainted fences.

but the posts have often rotted before the nails give way.

all good treated pine products now have a 40 year guarantee against rot and termite damage a bright nail will be well on its way to rusting threw after 40 years

If you have a long length to do, hire or borrow a coil nailer, you will find it heaps faster.

and a lot weaker fence after half the heads shoot threw the paling's.

There is nothing wrong with screws, just a lot slower.

slower than a nail gun but not slower than hand nailing

Make sure you leave 25 mm overlap, and that you don't screw or nail the cover paling to the bottom one. The palings will shrink heaps - I mean HEAPS, and if you havent allowed enough overlap, you will have gaps. if you have nailed through the two, they will split.

Happy fencing!

not trying to have a go here i just completely disagree and if i didn't say anything and this advice was taken then i would feel bad when hearing how they have to fix the paling's that the kids cricket balls have knocked of every weekend.

Originally Posted by quercus

Although the nails dont look like they will hold, over time, they corrode slightly and the wood dries out.

Very valuable practical experience and it sounds correct to me

Originally Posted by quercus

There is nothing wrong with screws, just a lot slower.

I have actually now decided to go with the screws.
I started by buying 2kg (570) of flathead gal nails from Bunnings, cost $18,
plus some packets of gal screws, for other parts of the job.
Then I found that large boxes of screws, weren't much more expensive than nails.
For example 1000 gal scews for $33 at this online store
http://elraco.com.au/index.php?cPath=11_45_316
So it was cheaper to just use screws for everything.
Thankfully Bunnings have such a good refund policy - I just returned the nails, no questions.
Also no need to hire a nail gun, or the loud banging from a hammer.
Just a cordless screwdriver.
I don't mind taking a bit of extra time.
And it should be easier to remove palings, if needed (especially if I grease the screws?).

Originally Posted by quercus

Make sure you leave 25 mm overlap, and that you don't screw or nail the cover paling to the bottom one. The palings will shrink heaps - I mean HEAPS, and if you havent allowed enough overlap, you will have gaps. if you have nailed through the two, they will split.

Thanks for that tip, I did read somewhere that you shouldn't nail though two palings, but wasn't sure.
Now I am certain, that I shouldn't do that.

Originally Posted by quercus

I have put up dozens of treated pine paling fences. Although the nails dont look like they will hold, over time, they corrode slightly and the wood dries out. This has the effect of holding them in very tightly. In fact, after a few months, you will be breaking the paling off around the nails before they come out. That is, using 65 mm flat head nails. You can use gal ones if you wish, but the posts have often rotted before the nails give way.

If you have a long length to do, hire or borrow a coil nailer, you will find it heaps faster.

There is nothing wrong with screws, just a lot slower.

Make sure you leave 25 mm overlap, and that you don't screw or nail the cover paling to the bottom one. The palings will shrink heaps - I mean HEAPS, and if you havent allowed enough overlap, you will have gaps. if you have nailed through the two, they will split.

Happy fencing!

exactly right