Plywood floor - nail or screw? 1

[xyyy]

I have a light framed wood office building. The floor is two layers of plywood. I specified #8 nails for fastening plywood to wood floor joists. This is the typical way I saw. The contractor suggests using screws in lieu of nails. I did saw the nails popped out from outside deck for another project. Any suggestion? Thanks.

 

[jayrod12]

Screws. My new floors are always spec'd as glued and screwed.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Nail pops = squeaky floors, if given then option then glue and screw are a much better system that will result in much greater serviceability.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[msquared48]

Screws have to be the same or greater shank diameter and length of penetration as the nail to have the same rating.

I prefer gluing and screwing too. May get some squeakers, but not as many as nails over the years.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[XR250]

Most people nail around here and I have very few calls on floor squeaks
Probably has more to do with the type and installation quality of the adhesive.

 

[RFreund]

Screwing might be better but I had to glue and screw a few floors, man is it a PITA. Especially when you are used to flying through it with a nail gun. Although it could have been because I was young and just not very good with the screw gun.

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[chicopee]

Plywood floors do get nailed or screwed.

 

[xyyy]

Is there reference table for the shear capacity for Screw?

 

[jayrod12]

RFreund,

You should see the new screw guns they have for doing floors. It take a strip of collated screws and has a 4 foot extension so the trigger stays at belt height and you just walk along driving screws into the floor. Do a search for PAM floor screw gun.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

xyyy, my understanding was that if you get the screw diameter and penetration equal to or greater than the nail to be replaced you can use all the NDS design values without modification.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[OldPaperMaker]

xyyy,
For Simpson Strong Tie fasteners see page 25 of Simpson Wood Construction Connectors C-2013. Be sure and read the footnotes about wind design, etc.

 

[RFreund]

@jayrod12 Dang, thats some nice gear. I worked for the family business (residential stuff) and I'm pretty sure half the tools came over on the Mayflower. I still remember getting yelled at for stripping the drill bits so fast.

EIT

http://www.HowToEngineer.com

 

[jayrod12]

@ RFreund, Ya I know, The first time I saw this thing in action my response was "Whoever created this is a genius and soon to be millionaire"

It works great for drywall screws as well

 

[Signious]

@xyyy,

If you have a copy of Canada's OS86 (Wood design manual), take a look in the fasteners.

Make an excel sheet for the nails and screws and never have to worry about finding spec data on standard fasteners again