My old foreman insisted we use 16d sinkers for every deck ledger, no exceptions.

He said they'd hold better than any structural screw in a quake, but three years later I had to replace a whole ledger in Tacoma that had split every board. What's your go-to fastener for treated wood to concrete these days?

2 comments

2 Comments

blake3021mo ago

So the ledger just gave up and split itself? I mean, maybe try some actual structural screws next time.

josephj741mo ago

That old sinker rule is a classic case of doing things because that's how they've always been done. The problem isn't that nails can't hold, it's that they don't allow for any wood movement, especially with wet treated lumber that's gonna shrink. Those big nails basically lock the board in place and it tears itself apart as it dries. These days, for treated wood to concrete, you really want something that lets the wood move a bit. A structural screw with a proper washer is my go-to, because it can clamp down without acting like a rigid spike.